DREAMGIRLS MOVIE Review - And I Am Telling You: Oscar's Gonna Love It- Page 2

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:04am

I am so glad to hear all of this. I cannot wait to see this movie.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:14am

If you read my review on my other post/thread...I mention that Bill Condon pays homage to Michael Bennett's original quite a bit, especially in those 'cinematic' moments Michael Bennett created for the original Broadway production.

Yes...Effie's 'quickchange' IS in "I Am Changing". It's exactly how Michael Bennett staged it, but this time...it's done cinematically (they way HE would have done it). During that bridge of the song, the camera slowly does a 360. It starts on her as she's still singing the song in the brightly lit niteclub and as the camera goes around her from behind, when it comes around she's now in the darken niteclub and there are hords of people there.

Also, "Heavy" IS in the film, just the famous 'argument' sequence in the middle of it is now spoken instead of sung-thru. I feel it works better.

Also, the "I ain't going" - "it's all over..." repetitions right before "And I Am Telling You..." are still in there -- intact. And yes..."It's All Over" is intact and has NEVER looked nor performed as electrifying as it is in the film. The intimacy of the camera adds SO much to the actor's performances. Just seeing the veins in Beyonce's neck bulge as she's screaming at Effie. 'Nuff said.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:23am

'Dreamgirls' Fulfills All Oscar Dreams

Thursday , November 16, 2006

By Roger Friedman

'Dreamgirls' Fulfills All Oscar Dreams

It is with great relief that I can report the following: My enthusiasm for Bill Condon’s film version of the musical “Dreamgirls,” which we saw a portion of last May at the Cannes Film Festival, was well founded.

Last night, at the very first screening of the film, the invited audience cheered, laughed and applauded throughout the show. It’s not a leap to say that “Dreamgirls” will be a huge hit, an Oscar nominee and the de facto winner of the Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical.

More importantly: “Dreamgirls” will bring Eddie Murphy his first nomination ever for a phenomenal performance as a soul singer who combines the personalities of Wilson Pickett, James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

And the movie introduces a megawatt talent in the form of Jennifer Hudson, a singer who lost out to Fantasia on “American Idol” and now will likely be giving acceptance speeches for months to come.

For months I’ve been telling you that "Dreamgirls" was the film to beat at the next Academy Awards, and several other pundits have followed in suit. So yes, it is very satisfying to report that Condon, in his directorial debut, has made a wildly entertaining, exciting and moving film that should draw all kinds of audiences when it’s released next month.

But the highlight of the endeavor is Hudson, playing the part of Effie White, which Jennifer Holliday made famous on Broadway. That’s not just because Effie gets to sing the two best songs in the show.

But you can’t change the fact that when Hudson launches into “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” all hope is lost for any actor who wants to come close to her in this movie or any other this year. The song is sensational, the presentation is dynamic, but the performer is simply stellar, bar none.

Ironically, I’m not sure that Hudson even has a recording contract to this day. She didn’t have one when we met her at Cannes, and I’m told she’s still on her own. Considering the piss-poor state of the record industry, this news is appalling. Hudson has the potential to be Whitney, Mariah, Natalie and a dozen others all rolled into one.

This is not to say that "Dreamgirls" is perfect. It’s not. In fact, the film is a tad too long and suffers from strange production infelicities that perhaps will be rectified before its official release. There are a few problems with the sound, especially in the synching, that can be distracting. And maybe it was the print we saw, but I thought the colors could have been sharper. There was a dullness to some of the lighting.

If you don’t know the story of "Dreamgirls," here it is: A group of girls from Detroit called the Dreamettes — played by Hudson, Beyonce Knowles and Anika Noni Rose and modeled on the Supremes — are taken under the wing of a Berry Gordy-type rising record mogul, played by Jamie Foxx. Like the Supremes, they start out singing background vocals for a local star. The Supremes did it for Marvin Gaye; the Dreamettes harmonize behind James Earley (Eddie Murphy).

Effie (Hudson) is the talented lead singer of the group. But Foxx switches her with Deena (Beyonce), who is the stand in for Diana Ross in this roman-a-clef retelling of the Motown fable. Eventually, Effie is pushed aside entirely, which is what happened to the Supremes’ Florence Ballard, who died in poverty and sickness in real life. Deena goes on to make movies and become an international superstar.

To say that "Dreamgirls" is the Motown story only limits it. It’s the story of all show business, and encompasses many facets of the classic R&B and pop worlds. There are numerous stories in rock history of bands firing members and replacing them, of one member becoming a huge star while the others languished in obscurity. In that sense, the lessons learned from "Dreamgirls" are universal.

"Dreamgirls" also boasts a wonderfully talented cast. In addition to Hudson, Murphy, Beyonce and Foxx, there is nice work from Danny Glover, Sharon Leal, Hinton Battle, Keith Robinson, and original Broadway cast member Loretta Devine as a sultry singer.

For now, though, the important thing is that "Dreamgirls" has finally been seen, and it lives up to all expectations. Paramount should be pleased. Put it right at the head of a list of best films of the year so far including “Bobby,” “The Departed,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “World Trade Center,” “The Last King of Scotland,” “United 93,” “Babel” and a few that are still to be seen. There’s another, too, called “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which I will tell you about tomorrow.


Source!

[kyle.]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:27am

Jennifer also sang Happy Birthday to some guy at the Chicago Q&A. I whipped out my camera and taped it. It's uploaded to a certain site....just search Jennifer Hudson Happy Birthday.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:35am

Is anyone watching Oprah? They're showing behind the scenes stuff on the show today and they just had footage of Beyonce, Jamie, and Jennifer backstage before and after they shot their appearance.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:38am

No offense to you, Me...but what kind of reviewer of films would make that statement "Condon's directorial debut" and also leaving out his impression of Rose...maybe he disliked her, but he gives a review of Loretta Devine's performance, but not Rose's...odd.

People are obviously allowed to make mistakes, but claiming this is Condon's first film as a director seems silly.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:21am

From David Poland at moviecitynews:

Dreamgirls landed in Beverly Hills (and across the country) last night… and left a giant crater in the Oscar season.

The film was everything promised and more.

More than a traditional musical, as there are only three or four numbers that really feel like traditional musical numbers, and the first of those comes an hour into the film.

More than an all-black movie, which it is, but with a cast of many familiar faces and not real self-awareness of its blackness. It's like the old question, is Chinese food in China "Chinese food" or just "food?"

More than Chicago, which some worried was too cynical to win. Dreamgirls is an emotional musical with highs and lows and real generosity to all of its characters. (Forget the silly talk about Diana Ross being angered by the film. Her character stand-in, played by Beyonce, is a full character who grows into her womanhood. If she were to complain, she would be laughed at.)

The evening, produced by Team DreamAmount, could not have gone much better. It would only be fair to note that it was very much like a premiere, filled will friends and family… and it was not unlike a gay cotillion. When wild applause broke out a few times during the film before the anticipated number started, you knew you were in a room with plenty of theater queens.

That said, it was the enthusiasm after many of the numbers that was amazing. At least seven numbers got applause breaks, including the famous take-away at the end of "I Am Telling You," where as the Michael Bennett did with the musical, Bill Condon jumps immediately into the middle of another number. The show must go on.







There isn't a bad performance in the movie. But the powerful surprise is Jennifer Hudson, who will be winning an Oscar this year, no matter what category they run her in.

The studio long ago decided to go supporting, but the HFPA is considering moving her to lead and she is, indeed, the lead of this film. There is a fear of Dame Helen, but the reality is that this performance would win in any category, whether Actress, Supporting Actress, or Best Short Film. The reason to move her to lead would to make an opportunity available for another performance…

Beyonce absolutely deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Dreamgirls. But given the brutal fight for Best Actress slots, I don't believe she can be sure of even a nomination there. As you watch the early parts of the film, it's not real clear that she deserves Academy recognition, but she really soars in the third act with a number of sequences, particularly with her performance of a new Henry Krieger song, "Listen," done almost completely in close-up.

And again… Jennifer Hudson will have an Oscar before the end of February.

Eddie Murphy is terrific here. He is not playing "Eddie Murphy." It is a nuanced performance and his singling leaves people wondering whether it was actually him. He, too, gets a new number, "Patience," on which he duets with Anika Noni Rose. Sign him up for a nomination, though the odds on him winning will have a lot to do with who else ends up in the category.

Jamie Foxx really plays the bad guy in the movie. He kind of devolves from well meaning scumbag to megalomaniacal scumbag. He does a nice job, but he is the one character to whom audiences just won't be able to cozy up. Thing is, the film really needed - and got - his strength and presence in the role. It just isn't very forgiving.

Did I mention that Jennifer Hudson can win whatever Oscar she is up for?

The film feels more like something like The Commitments than a full out movie musical. The numbers are big, but most of them are performance. And the storytelling is surprisingly personal. The three acts - 1. Making It, 2. Breaking It, 3. Seeking Redemption - are distinct as in most non-musical dramas. And each of the major characters gets their opportunity to step up.

In classical Condon, the film doesn't scream at you. But it does envelop you and draw you to each character and the overall arc. Anika Noni Rose's character, for instance, is on some level a classic caricature. But then, she turns into a very real young woman. And her choices, even when there are no words to call attention to them, are a part of the film experience.

The thing that really sticks with you about the Dreamgirls experience is that there is a real joy of performance and show business and artistry. There are many terrific films in play for the Oscar season right now. But none has the size and the fun and the revelation of performance that Dreamgirls offers.

The most nominations ever for a film is 14. Here are the 16 that I think Dreamgirls is capable of receiving… and *s on the ones I think it can realistically win.

* Best Picture
* Actress - Jennifer Hudson
Supporting Actress - Beyonce Knowles
Supporting Actor - Eddie Murphy
Direction - Bill Condon
Adapted Screenplay - Bill Condon
* Production Design - John Myhre/Tomas Voth/Nancy Haigh
* Costume Design - Sharen Davis
* Editing - Virginia Katz
Cinematography - Tobias Schliesser
Make-Up - Shutchai Tym Buacharern/Francesca Tolot
* Sound - Michael Minkler
Sound Effects Editing - Richard E. Yawn
* Best Original Song - Listen
Best Original Song - Patience
Best Original Song - Love You I Do

Of course, there is still a debate to come on slotting of the actresses. Jack Nicholson in Supporting Actor will be very difficult to beat… even for Eddie Murphy.

It still looks like Scorsese's year in Director and musical screenplay adaptations don't tend to win, so Mr. Condon could go Oscarless. But I guess winning Best Picture will just have to suffice.

[Mischief]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:54am

Yes, “Ain’t No Party” has been cut, but truthfully it is not really missed. On stage it works well but I knew when they were going to make a film of Dreamgirls, ANP would get the axe.

It would not have worked in the context of this film and would have slowed down the overall pace of the film.

Anika Rose does get to shine – appropriate to her character and the importance of her role the film. She has a duet with Eddie Murphy in the new song, “Patience”.

Movies are stories told with pictures and Condon opted to show the tension of the triangle between Lorrel, James “Thunder” Early and his wife not vocally with looks while Early sings, “I Meant You No Harm” on stage – to Lorrel offstage with his wife figuring out the affair while she watches from the audience, not by using the song, ANP.

I totally agree with and support his choice.

I understand there are people on this board who are fans of Anika Rose from her Broadway work who feel she was ripped off by not allowing her to perform ANP, but the film does not suffer the lose of this song being removed.

Kringas – I’m sorry too that we were not able to meet this time. Maybe some time in the future we can sit down and talk about Dreamgirls.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:57am

This gushing is terrific, but perspective must be attained away from a night of screaming show queens (and I'd be screaming, too, if I were there). To insure a win, they would be wise to keep Hudson in "supporting," citing the billing. Hollywood is rather fickle about rewarding such a performance with Best Actress. Actors vote for actors. Remember, Judy Garland lost for A STAR IS BORN. Judy Garland. Judy Garland.

[Mischief]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:59am

Jennifer Hudson stated in the Q&A after the Chicago screening last night that she begins recording her album in Jan. She has some film offers that she is considering, but she has yet to commit to anything

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:13pm

I agree with keeping Hudson in the supporting category, like Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon, she can actually win. But against Mirren, etc, forget it. Lead oscars rarely go to newcomers/non actors...and Mirren is thought to be overdue as well, I believe.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:40pm

She'd never beat Mirren, an actor's actor in an exquisitely nuanced performance at the top of her game, in a role that tops a career in three mediums.

A debut, and a singing role, would not help the cause. There are exceptions to breakouts -- Swank in BOYS DON'T CRY -- but it's rare, and almost never in a musical role. They should remember, too, that Anne Baxter was shoved in Best Actress in ALL ABOUT EVE, and neither she nor Davis won. Hudson's shot is in supporting -- the billing alone tells the tale. She's in last place on the poster, below the title.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:48pm

I don't know...the Academy DOES love to shock us. Look at CRASH's win last year. If Paramount campaigned full force for Hudson in Leading, she'd definitely get a nomination, but the question is would she win? Either the Academy will vote to hand Oscar over to a seasoned actor, or this breakthrough charmer.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:52pm

They would be wise to keep Hudson in the supporting category.

Helen Mirren will win the Oscar this year, and I don't think a newcomer like Hudson could trump her.

The supporting category is wide open this year. If she's as brilliant as everyone is saying, she should win the supporting Oscar with not much of a problem. Putting her against Helen Mirren would be a BIG mistake.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:37pm

Whoops, playing catchup in this thread today.

Midwest, have you had a chance to hear Anika singing from "Footloose"? She pounded "Let's Hear It for the Boy" into the pavement. My guess is she probably lacked something (rehearsal time?) or maybe a little vocal trouble if she sounded a bit shrill.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:48pm

I've heard her singing "Let's Hear it For the Boy", but it was a while ago. She sounded wonderful, but it seemed like the song was a bit lower than I've heard it before. I could be wrong about that, though. I certainly wouldn't mind hearing what her ANP would be like.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:48pm

According to the official FYC ads from DREAMGIRLS, the only performers in the film being considered for a leading role are Jamie Foxx and Beyonce Knowles. Murphy, Hudson, and Rose are supporting.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:56pm

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 2:02pm

Here's my input on the film:

I was watching this movie from two points of view. The first was as a fan of the original material... the second as a moviegoer seeing the film for the first time. The biggest difference that I saw from the original play and the movie was the intimacy involved. As grand as the sets and locations for the film were, it was a much more intimate experience seeing it on film. Everything seemed to be on a smaller scale even if they were not. Part of that is the magic of theater where we are not given all the elements and we have to make up the rest of it in our minds. This is not a bad thing for the film though, we become more involved with the characters this way.

The film also felt more of an ensemble piece than the play did. On stage, when the Dreams perform, they are all we see. In the film, we can still see what is going on around them, hence CC, Curtis, and Jimmy are still around even though the focus is not on them. Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy getting top billing does not seem out of place after seeing the film. The focus was not just on the Dreams, it was on everyone. This was a very interesting observation from the film given that they were using mostly the same lines and songs from the play. However, removing the focus on the Dreams' performances is also a negative, given that the title of the film is "Dreamgirls".

I felt that the pace of the film was very fast. Not because the songs were sped up but because a lot is going on while the songs are being sung. This is a good thing, especially to sustain the interest of today's movie goers. When seeing such numbers on stage, it is about the live performance. On film, it is about plot development. If nothing was going on in the scene, it would make for a dull number (such as "Phantom of the Opera", "Music of the Night", and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" in "The Phantom of the Opera"). The only time when things slowed down was during "Family". There were a few giggles in the audience during this scene.

One worry I had about the original material was why we should care about Effie. She was a diva and was so demanding, she seemed to deserve getting kicked out. That worry was put to rest with both Jennifer Hudson's performace and Bill Condon's direction. Her Effie was very nice, despite being a diva) and that scene with Curtis' sisters gives us a feel of what she is really like. As a viewer, I felt for her. I was rooting for her and I wanted her to succeed.

Beyonce's performance as Deena was a revelation. She captured nuances of Diana Ross that discerning audience members can see whereas the general young moviegoers will see her performing not as Beyonce but as a different artist. The only time she "Beyonce'd" a song was during "Listen", in my opinion.

Personally, I don't like Jamie Foxx. I used to but after his perceived arrogance during "Ray's" awards sweep, I lost interest in him. Thankfully, he was the "villain" in the movie and did a good job. Some have said that he seemed to have phoned-in his performance but to me, it was because it was so subtle. Everything he did, including the way he spoke, seemed so calculated and that is something I would've expected of Curtis. His Curtis is not loud or in-your-face like the play (which may have been necessary to project to the back of the theater). His Curtis was still just as manipulating and sleazy nevertheless.

Eddie Murphy. This performance harkens back to his "Coming to America" prime. He was Eddie and Jimmy at the same time. This role seems to have been made for him. He is funny and sympathetic at the same time. He has SOUL!

His counterpart Lorelle, played by Anika Noni Rose, was not on the screen enough for me. She commanded presence in her scenes in the film. She also exhibited a transformation equal to Effie's and Deena's. As she says, she's a mature woman now. Her Lorelle was in no means just a back up singer of the group. She was an equal member of the team. The one cut song that I did miss is the quintet during "I Meant You No Harm". That song said so much, which although these messages are still in the film, it could've been filmed beautifully this way.

I am definitely seeing this film again and it is very worthy of all the praise it is receiving.

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 2:07pm

I missed the quintet, too. I also missed the recurring "show biz, it's just show biz" choral, but I still think the film was fantastic.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 2:09pm

So Patience is a duet? I thought I remembered reading that Sharon Leal and Keith Robinson were in it, too. Just curious if it's always been a duet or if their parts were cut.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 2:11pm

Patience starts with CC singing the song, then Jimmy & Lorelle pick up on it as a duet. Michelle is in the scene too but doesn't sing in this song.

[Mischief]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 3:27pm

...and a gospel choir jumps in at the end of "Patience" too.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:12pm

According to the official FYC ads from DREAMGIRLS, the only performers in the film being considered for a leading role are Jamie Foxx and Beyonce Knowles. Murphy, Hudson, and Rose are supporting

Isn't Effie a bigger part than Deena?

How was Anika?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:40pm

Just an aside....Did anyone see "Ugly Betty" tonight with the nod to Dreamgirls? It was short...but quite fun!