Beyonce as Deena- Page 2

[justagirl2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:18am

Updated On: 3/9/17 at 12:18 AM

[LostLeander]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:07am

No, Beyonce wasn't horrible, but she wasn't great either. Part of it, of course, is the role, which isn't terribly interesting, as MB has previously stated.

However, I kept thinking, "Gee, Beyonce isn't as bad as I thought she would be." I wasn't impressed at all, and thought she was merely passable and gained immensely from a great director, but I never thought she was great.

Yes, she has improved, but she's still not a very good actress, and there's no way around it. In 30 years, people aren't necessarily going to know Beyonce's back story and the parallels between her career and the character of Deena.

I completely understand her casting though, and she was essential in making this movie and certainly drew a huge audience.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:08am

I thought Beyonce did a fine job. I personally don't think it was a Golden Globe or Oscar performance. But she was good.

[sondhead]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:40am

"I completely understand her casting though, and she was essential in making this movie and certainly drew a huge audience."

Ya, I forgot to say that. We basically have her to thank for the movie even existing. I really don't even think Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy would have been enough with Beyoncé there as part of the front three.

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:44am

I really did enjoy her performance, and I am DEFINITELY not what you would call a fan. In fact, i pretty much despise her music aside from this movie. But, i must admit, like many others on this board, while i expected to hate her version of Deena in the movie, I must admit that I liked it and, at times, loved it. Though "Listen" does seem a bit like an attempt to give Deena a showstopper like Effie's "AIATYING", I thought the song to be satisfying in a different way than the latter. I got chills as the scene played... and Beyonce giving ME chills is a big deal! All-in-all, it was a noteworthy performance from Ms. Knowles... but AWARD-worthy? I don't think so...

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:10am

I have to say, i thought she did really well. At first i was kind of iffy because whe seemed kind of quiet and submissive and just not really packing much of a punch. And then i realized that that was Deena. For so much of the movie, Deena is being run over by Curtis and told what to do, and after so much of that i'd be quiet and submissive too.

And i was talking to my brother after, who is an aspiring film deirector just out of college, and he agreed that her eyes were incredibly expressive. There were so many quiet moments where she didn't go for the over the top emotion but would just make these subtle movements with her eyes that told you exactly what she was feeling.

And you'd think her best moments would be the flirty, fun, young girl moments at the beginning of the story, but i really thought she most came alive in the dramatic scenes at the end. Where Deena came alive and finally took some charge of her life.

And "Listen" was an absolute knockout, and considering how tremendous "AIATY" had been earlier in the film, i was pleasantly suprised by how much i was emotionally affected by "Listen".

and p.s. my brother and i were incredibly impressed with how well the movie functioned as both a musical and a movie, which was cool since i come from so much of a theatre bachground, and he comes from a film background.


Overall i loved the film and the all the performances. YAY!

[chino]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:37am

I liked her performance. I expected worst. But she was fine. She was able to put out a proper Deena.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:24am

You know what the performance was? Not win-worthy, but GG nomination-worthy.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:43am

I don't get all the back lash? So, Rav, if you were nominated for a Golden Globe, you wouldn't care? That's bull. The Golden Globes may not be the Oscars, but hell, it's something. I wouldn't call myself a fan or a hater, I'm just indifferent when it comes to Beyonce. I think she's got some true talent. The fact that she writes her own songs is a plus to me. And if you've seen her performance of "Listen" on Oprah, you know that she can really sing. I thought her performance was great. I think people don't understand how understated it was. Just because she isn't given the big moments in the film and she's very subtle doesn't mean there isn't anything going on with her. Everyone's a critic and no one's right, but I just think it's dumb to say she "can't act" or blah blah blah. I really felt for her when Curtis went off on her or when she found out about Effie's child. I didn't find the song "Listen" to be pointless at all. I think Deena kept everything inside her for so long and was very passive, and so at that time she just let loose and ripped it.

Also, adamrich, I'm not sure if you've done comedy, but comedy is hella hard to do. I think Emily Blunt did a brillant job in Prada and I'm glad comedy is getting a nod this time around - with Little Miss Sunshine, also - instead of the usual tear-jerkers getting nominated.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:44am

For whatever reason, (her father's management style, her mother's hideous styling, the way the other girls were replaced in Destiny's Child, etc.) it has become very fashionable to hate on Beyonce.

I'm being threadjacky, I guess, but I simply do not get why the people who hate her have such a vitriolic reaction to her. It just doesn't make any sense to me. If people really hate her because of her father's management style or her mother's designs, I think that's completely ludicrous.

I never hear about the girl running around town getting wasted at clubs; she doesn't seem to be exploiting her body to sell her music; her last album is women-empowering; hell, she even travelled with an all-female band! Seriously, I don't get why the f--k people get all knotted up over this girl.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 10:44 AM

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 11:07am

I'm kind of Neutral, I didn't hate her performance, but she didn't blow me away. She was good, not great

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 11:24am

I enjoyed her performance, and thought it was pretty damn good. Her performance of "Listen" is one of the highlights of the film.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 11:29am

I thought she was great! Perfect casting and a stellar performance.

[JRybka]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:57pm

I just saw the show on NYE and thought that Beyonce was good. People say that her character is supposed to be very thin and moldable. She was in everyway. She was not supposed to be this talent. I mean that is the whole point right? And she is supposed to be a singer and be glamourous on the state. That she was too. I will always love the braodway cast (as It was the 2nd show I ever saw on broadway) but she was well cast and did a very fine job I felt.

[sondhead]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 1:50pm

"Also, adamrich, I'm not sure if you've done comedy, but comedy is hella hard to do. I think Emily Blunt did a brillant job in Prada and I'm glad comedy is getting a nod this time around - with Little Miss Sunshine, also - instead of the usual tear-jerkers getting nominated."

THANK you. I think a lot of people need to go back and watch Prada because it is really well made and Meryl Streep AND Emily Blunt are both pretty spectacular in their roles.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 2:36pm

I also loved her performance. The only reason why it's not an award-winning performance is because it's not an award-winning role. But she produced a lovely performance that I think perfectly embodies Deena. I've now seen at least several productions of Dreamgirls (ranging from horrendous to wonderful) and never has any other actress' portrayal of Deena left a mark with me except for Beyonce's. I actually thought from the moment they announced her in casting that she would be perfect. As Michael Bennett said, there is no actress out there who could pull off the role as well as have box office appeal.

[kevs]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:48pm

"But the fact remains that she is not only beautiful but also has a fine voice & is a great performer.

Hate on her all you want, you cannot take these facts away."


Those are not facts, those are opinions.

[admanrich]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 3:48pm

I never said that I didn't like Emily's performance-- I loved it, but I just don't think it was an awardwinning performance.

Meryl Streep on the other head 100% deserves her nod.
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 03:48 PM

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 6:54pm

Miss B did a great job as Deena. My only issue with her is that Beyonce can actually sing while Deena, at best, is supposed to be minimally vocally talented. For instance, the difference between Sheryl Lee Ralph's and Jennifer Holliday's voices is so stark, so the contrasts between the Broadway Deena and Effie are tremendously palpable. And, yes, there are differences between Beyonce's and Jennifer Hudson's voices as well, but to the extent that technique and vocal quality are concerned, Beyonce can sing and she sings pop and R&B rather well. "Listen" is obviously a concession as a showcase number for Beyonce the singer, not Deena the character, in order to balance out Effie's incomparable anthem, "And I am Telling You." That's my nit on her playing the Deena Jones character.

And as mentioned before, Beyonce does cut a striking and beautiful figure onscreen. She really is a beautiful woman, and the camera adores her.
Updated On: 1/19/07 at 06:54 PM

[silent]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:11pm

"We basically have her to thank for the movie even existing."

I think the statement above is utter bulls**t!

Anyways, she was just alright in the role. Her Deena was very country ("u swear?"...i hate that dreadful line) and very bland without the musical numbers. I didn't miss her when she wasn't there. When Hudson wasn't in a scene, you could feel it.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:20pm

""Listen" is obviously a concession as a showcase number for Beyonce the singer, not Deena the character, in order to balance out Effie's incomparable anthem, "And I am Telling You." That's my nit on her playing the Deena Jones character. "

Thats MY problem with the song. People always remark thats its a great song, sure it is but is it appropriate? No way! Its just an opportunity for Beyonce to sing a ballad and remind the audience that she's the star of the movie. By the way, I thought she was fine, nothing great but not terrible either. I do feel that she did not deserve the nomination as she was average in my opinion.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:12pm

I thought she did the best she could have for the role, which is commendable. I enjoyed her performance well enough, with the exception of a few lines that I rolled my eyes at. I agree that "Listen", though it is a beautiul and ve3ry powerful song (My new anthem!) it definitely did not fit into the plot where they tried to put it. When she started singing it I felt like it was just floating in some sort of alternate universe. It made no sense in the context of the film, and the setting was confusing (it didn't become clear until the end of the number, and even then it didn't really make sense.) I enjoyed her, I love the song, but it didn't seem to fit right.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 10:33pm

sing while Deena, at best, is supposed to be minimally vocally talented.

No, Deena's supposed to have a lighter sound than Effie. Nothing in the show ever implied that Deena was only minimally vocally talented.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/5/07 at 12:23pm

Ol' Bambi Eyes just didn't have much of a character to play for me to pass judgement on her acting.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 1/5/07 at 12:29pm

Listen would've been better as a book song, instead of a performance song. During the song, all I could think of was, "Curtis wouldn't let her sing this!"