Dreamgirls IS "Brokeback Mountain 2006"

Posted: 1/14/07 at 4:09pm

On another thread, there was concern that Dreamgirls is perceived as a gay movie, this year's Brokeback Mountain. Is there any doubt? Google "Brokeback & Dreamgirls" and you get 251,000 reponses, most of them comparing the two films. What does a movie about two cowboys have in common with a Motown-esque girl group bio pic? Hmmm-- give you one guess. Google Dreamgirls and Gay and you get 1.4 million pages-- starting with Amazon's awesome selection of "Gay & Lesbian" subjects, including Dreamgirls.

[fflagg]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 4:20pm

The other common factor is that they are both overrated films.

DREAMGIRLS' lock on the Oscar for Best Picture is rusting slightly, even if it wins Globes. Mr. Scorcese has a lock on Director. Ms. Hudson has the lead for Support Actress, not necessarily a lock.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 4:30pm

"Mr. Scorcese has a lock on Director." Oh how often that has been said in the past. And you know how often that's come true? 0.00% of the time.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:00pm

fflagg,

Why are you ALWAYS so negative?

Stick to commenting on the Game Show Channel or Nick-At-Night as that's all you seem to have anything positive to say about.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:19pm

fflag isn't normally negative, only when it comes to dreamgirls. I've never actually gotten around to seeing BB.

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:30pm

Namo I wish I had a nickle for everytime I read about how "Popular" Scorsese is among his fellow film makers-- I always think "Yes, he's so popular that he loses EVERY time he's nominated!"

I think Hudson is indeed a "Lock" for her Oscar-- and Eddie Murphy is looking better and better.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:41pm

I don't really see the point or the comparison.

Both movies are oscar worthy, both have gay audiences. So?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:46pm

Did I miss the gay sex scene in Dreamgirls?


How DO you compare the two?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 5:48pm

If you didn't see Jake G's SNL monologue, not just the song portion, you would miss how they became linked topics.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:03pm

fflagg is ALWAYS negative. He enjoys being a nasty bitch.

Dreamgirls is NOT Brokeback Revisited because Namo and Kringas like it.

[Parks]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:20pm

they both cause nasty catfights on these boards! rawr!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:21pm

People will make comparisons about anything if it will get an argument started or whatever.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:27pm

What's the "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" 2007?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:32pm

Whichever ****ty-ass song gets nominated and wins the Oscar over the one that deserves it.

Basically, anything but "Listen."

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:32pm

That's what I had narrowed it down to too, Munk.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:33pm

I think "Listen" is the only one that merits a nod. "Patience" did nothing for me and "Love You I Do" reminds me of Natalie Cole's "(This Will Be)An Everlasting Love>"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:55pm

I don't think DREAMGIRLS has been the front runner to win the Best Picture Oscar since the film was actually reviewed. Right now I'd say that THE DEPARTED is the frontrunner but that BABEL might be this year's CRASH.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:06pm

Right now Dreamgirls is losing steam for nominations and wins among the film community. The "sure-thing" swagger Dreamgirls walked with previously has evaporated and now that the nominations must be in, the rest of the race will depend on a limited number of influences.

First, the influence of the Golden Globes. A generally strong indicator of the Oscars, this differs because this years Dreamgirls main competition comes in two forms, the fact that a win for Dreamgirls won't indicate anything as far as nominations goes if The Departed wins since those two are already neck and neck. The second variable is Little Miss Sunshine. LMS has been gathering steam recently as Dreamgirls has been losing it (lack of Guild wins and even nominations especially indicative in the Golden Globes not nominating Condon for Screenplay or Director). Little Miss Sunshine, if it wins the Golden Globe for Musical/Comedy means that Dreamgirls will have to fight a lot harder to resist "the little movie that could" ala Avenue Q in theatrical terms.

Dreamgirls had a tremendous amount of goodwill and buzz going into the nominations but the loss of that with mixed to good reviews (excepting the raves for Hudson) and the lack of nominations/wins from the major guilds means that the goodwill and buzz may turn into backlash. If Little Miss Sunshine steals the goodwill that Dreamgirls had going for it, then the awards and perhaps, however unlikely, even the nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Director.

The fact is that Dreamgirls faces extremely stiff competition from a variety of angles. Scorcese has returned to form with The Departed and when Scorcese is in form, he is a force to be reckoned with. This is especially prevalent in the Supporting Actor categories (though hopefully for Dreamgirls, if they are both nominated Wahlberg and Nicholson will split the vote) and the Best Picture category. Dreamgirls also faces stiff competition from Little Miss Sunshine, Babel, United 93 and The Queen which all feature either star turns or fantastic ensembles.

In my opinion Dreamgirls has an upward battle to regain the momentum it once had and hopefully clever marketing and some wins at the Globes can pull it off.

[NiteOwl]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:16pm

Awards and Award shows are OVERRATED.

I say if the movie is a good one it's going to be a good one regardless of any such awards it might win or be nominated for.

JMO

Updated On: 1/14/07 at 07:16 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:20pm

CRASH is last year's CRASH. The Academy isn't going to go for two similar movies two years in a row. It's just not going to happen. I feel with 110% certainty that BABEL will not win. It's not a serious threat.

I don't think DREAMGIRLS is losing any steam. It JUSt won 4 awards the other night. Important awards. It may appear to us that DREAMGIRLS is losing steam because us theatre queens are watching DREAMGIRLS' every move, but out there in the scene, I feel like it's still going strong. It's the last movie to open of any of the serious Oscar contendors. Another thing to take into consideration is that no all-Black film has ever been awarded the best picture Oscar. (John Lithgow's cameo, I know.) Maybe they feel it's time?

That's not a good reason to give something an award, but it's been done before.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:22pm

DREAMGIRLS has done really well with the guilds, sumofallthings, and Bill Condon received a DGA nom which more than makes up for his GG snub.

We'll see how it all plays out Munk - but I'm in Hollywood at the moment and among people who really count (which is never you, me or anyone who comments about it on the internet) there is a lot of buzz surrounding BABEL. I really think it could be the surprise winner tomorrow night at the GG. And for the most part I don't think AMPAS members look at last years winner to determine the "type" of film that should win. Frankly, the BP Oscar has gone to small films THREE years in a row - as MDB was a heck of a lot smaller than the one time frontrunner, THE AVIATOR. Its entirely possible that 3/5 nominees this year will qualify as "small" films. So the odds of another small film winning are pretty darn good.
Updated On: 1/14/07 at 07:22 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:27pm

So, if DREAMGIRLS doesn't win, will that mean that Hollywood really is racist? if so, doesn't that prove CRASH was right?

Or, if DREAMGIRLS doesn't win, does that further prove Hollywood is homophobic, since the movie seems to have such a huge gay following?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:28pm

"That's not a good reason to give something an award, but it's been done before."

Yeah, just look at Halle Berry and Denzel Washington's wins.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:29pm

The Golden Globes mean nothing to me.

Quite a few films have won best picture at the Globes, then lost and/or not even been nominated for the Oscars.

What I am truly hoping for is a complete upset year. And ideal for me would be something like this:

Best Picture: UNITED 93
Best Actor: Will Smith, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, LITTLE CHILDREN
Best Supporting Actress: Abigail Breslin, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Best Supporting Actor: Djimon Honsou, BLOOD DIAMOND

That's not who I think should win, but I certainly wouldn't cry foul if any of them did.

But. Sadly, I think this will be a very, very predictable, boring year. All this fuss will prove to be much ado about nothing.

THE DEPARTED will undeservingly take picture and director, and everything as predictable will follow. Everything from Hans Zimmer to Eddie Murphy.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 7:31pm

There hasn't been a complete upset year in the history of the Academy Awards. And Oscar voters do not care about reviews. And frankly, never underestimate the community's dislike of Martin Scorcese.