Dreamgirls

I saw "Dreamgirls" last night. I must say it was really good. I may love it someday.



The movie is based on a hit Broadway play that did well critically and commercially. I know it won around six Tonys. One of those went to Jennifer Holliday for her portrayal of Effie White (the break-out role). The story follows a girl group named The Dreamettes and later The Dreams, a group much like the Supremes, as they enter a talent contest, and soon find themselves back-up singing for Jimmy "Thunder" Early, an artist much like James Brown. The group of three girls have been singing together since they were girls. Effie, the lead singer, is every sense the diva. Deena Jones is the glamorous eye-candy that the audiance likes to look at while they listen to Effie sing. Finallly, there's Lorrell Robinson, the quiet member that falls for Jimmy. The group find a manager in Curtis Taylor, a used-car salesman every bit a slythering seedy snake. He even convinces Jimmy to leave his manager and "Step Into the Bad Side" with him. The group eventually find fame and fortune on there own with Curtis controlling everything. He determines that in order to accomplish riches and gold records, he makes Deena the lead singer. This makes the group more accessible to the white audiences. Effie, who has been sleeping with Curtis, is crushed and left out cold when his affections turn to Deena. Effie is eventually ousted and replaced. She is forgotten. The Dreams take off.



The movie was solid. The performances top-notch. I've never been more proud of Beyonce. She really puts her heart and soul into the role of Deena. Her Deena is fragile, timid and niavely beautiful. Unfortuately, Deena is not the focus of the story.



What performance stands out most is Effie. It's the kind of role that makes stars, and yes, wins Academy Awards. Jennifer Hudson, an American Idol reject, soars as Effie.



Jamie Foxx is wicked and vile as Curtis, a man so remenescent of Ike Turner and Joe Jackson, that we all know where his loyalties lie, to the almighy dollar.



Eddie Murphy as Jimmy and Anika Noni Rose as Lorrell are charming and delightful as the doomed lovers. Eddie Murphy impresses. Who knew he could act??



As for acclaim, Dreamgirls will be the one to beat. It just feels good. Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy may get those golden knights. But I must address the Jennifer Hudson love that is all over the place. My loyalties lie with my B. Of course the performances and roles where completely different from each other, you can tell B wanted the acclaim more. She put herself out there and you can tell. Jennifer Hudson really isn't well-known in the public, so really there's no way of telling which aspect of Effie is her and which aspect of Hudson is Effie. No doubt, Hudson knocks it out, but I just wish people would give my girl some props! I do think she has a chance at best original song for "Listen" (a great song and a knock-out scence).



The only problem with this film is not the dialogue, which critics claim the movie does "too much" of. There are, to my recollection, two musical numbers that are awkward. Much like Chicago, the musical numbers play out in front of an audience. And when they "randomly burst into song" like musicals do, the scene seems really awkward. It's like, "Why are these people singing?" But that is forgiven because the story, which the audience is familar, is so good.

The cinematography is juicy with sparkle and rich colors. The costumes are gorgeous and eye-popping. Truely amazing. Bill Condon, the director and writer did an excellent job translating the musical from stage to screen. He wrote the adaptation for Chicago. He has such a good eye and attention to detail. Well done. *** B ***