DREAMGIRLS trailer!! — Page 2

It looked totally awesome. I am so excited.

Although not highlighting Jennifer at all did seem strange. Oh well.

Well, it didn't highlight Jamie Foxx either, and he's one of the leads too.

It's a teaser trailer, not the whole film.

They were right to feature Beyonce singing the title tune. She's a star that everyone knows today. Watching her sing in a film trailer, when people are already used to her as a singer, isn't asking too much of a nationwide TV/film-going audience. Seeing Jamie sing, on the other hand, will raise a few eyebrows (until they realize he's GOOD), but they're not used to Jamie that way... yet. And Jennifer Hudson isn't as well known as the other two, as the parade of former Idol contestants grows bigger each day.

And for those of you not familiar with the musical... there are THREE leads: Effie, Deena and Curtis. It's not like they showed "Marty" as if he was the focus of the story.

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Will someone post a link to the trailer when it's online? I was getting food when it aired and got there for Eddie Murphy's name flashing by.

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You rock my world, Ghetto.

As it is, Beyonce sounds too good. Deena isn't supposed to have this good of a voice. Beyonce is rocking it.

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Beyoncé sounds phenomenal. And if you liked her interpretation of the show's title song you will absolutely be blown away with her take on the other classics from this show. "When I First Saw You", "Steppin' To The Bad Side", "Heavy" and especially "One Night Only" are standouts. All three women give this score an exciting fresh new feel.

I also have to commend Merv Warren for doing some slammin' new arrangements on the songs. This movie is going to take the movie musical to the "next level".

Updated On: 6/12/06 at 05:45 AM

As someone who knows almost nothing about "Dreamgirls," I'd have preferred the traditional kind of trailer where you see clips from different scenes. Maybe I'm just a conventional person. But all I got from that was that it's about a female singing group, and that's the one thing I already knew.

The bottom line is that Beyonce will NEVER sing or sound like Hudson. Yes Beyonce was a little more "singy" than what alot of people prefer Deena be, but all Jennifer has to do is open her mouth and we will clearly hear the differences in the voices and know why Hudsons Effie has been moved to the back. Her HUGE gospel sound and belt is something that Beyonce does not have and simply wouldnt work in the crossover market. Beyonces look and voice would. Also for those who remember, Alisa Gyse(the last Deena on BROADWAY with Lilias as Effie was VERY "singy", and she was fierce and it worked!! There is a line in the show where Effie says "she cant sing like I can" and that couldnt be more true when it comes down to Hudson vs Beyonce. Beyonce will never be able to represent what Hudson brings to the table. So regardless of how some people think she is oversinging, it will still work. Lets no get up in arms over beyonce's singing. it worked ON BROADWAY with Gyse and it will work on film!!!!

Updated On: 6/12/06 at 09:59 AM

Curious to know what you felt was "today-ish" about her singing last night. ???

Updated On: 6/12/06 at 10:22 AM

Yeah, the fact that Streisand didn't even attempt to sing Fanny Brice's songs in the right period style really hurt her overall performance in "Funny Girl" on stage and screen. That girl went NOWHERE.

I'm sure poor Beyonce will meet an equal fate here.

EDIT: And the fact that Deena is a lesser singer than Effie seems to be EFFIE's point of view, as well as Deena's. The opinion that Beyonce is almost sounding "too good" to be Deena can be justified in the script if Deena initially doesn't have the confidence to be up front. I think you're going to watch her "blossom" to the point you see on film here. Remember, the scene in the trailer, where Deena first steps to the center mic is HARDLY at the beginning of the story. It takes a lot of coaching from Curtis and others to get her to that point.

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Updated On: 6/12/06 at 10:33 AM

I agree, b12b...Deena has been working it out and should be a lead singer by the time "Dreamgirls" is sung. She's the one who becomes a star, after all.

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doodlenyc---Exactly. As a singer, Effie has a powerful gospel & R&B voice. One of the best around, and no one in her "camp" disputes it.

But Deena has the cross-over potential, great looks, and a pop voice that combine to make her the nation's newest "superstar" ala Diana Ross. The number "Dreamgirls," featured in the trailer, is showing that very moment where Deena steps to the center mic and takes control for the first time. It's the moment where little backup singer Deena becomes the country's newest sweetheart. The scene immediately following this is a big press conference where everyone is "buzzing" and asking her how it feels "to be the lead of the hottest new group today." If she didn't completely WOW us in that "Dreamgirls" performance, there wouldn't exactly be a pack of eager journalists or photographers trying to get to her.

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Updated On: 6/12/06 at 11:00 AM

I agree with you to a point. She should definitely "evoke" the style of the '60s period, which I think she does beautifully. But I also agree that she should bring some of herself to the performance, which ANY actor/singer should when they play a part. Otherwise, why don't you just go play a Diana Ross or Mowtown girl group record and be done with it? She's not a Vegas impersonator here.

Speaking of Diana Ross, she sounded as much like Billie Holliday in "Lady Sings the Blues" as I do. Yet she gave one of the most remarkable and "truthful" on-screen performances of a singer EVER, and rightfully received her Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Speaking of Oscars... I'm reminded of another actress/singer who was initially criticized for singing "too well" to play a certain role in a certain film set in 1930s Berlin. It hurt her too... all the way to the podium on that very same Oscar night, unfortunately competing against Diana Ross for "Lady Sings the Blues." Poor Diana... and poor Liza.

I'm not saying that Beyonce will be on the same road as those two ladies. It's too soon to tell. But it's pretty silly to shoot her down for the same issues that faced Streisand, Ross and Minnelli. These advanced, knee-jerk criticisms aren't going to mean ANYTHING to the world's film-goers when this movie opens. Only one thing will... Is it a good movie, or isn't it?

We shall see.

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Updated On: 6/12/06 at 11:50 AM

"To have her adapt a strict 60's girl group sound would leave us (the audience) less than wowed. I dont wanna hear her do her best 60's girl group impression. that would be boring. U hire beyonce because u want beyonce."

Then the film has lost its point entirely and becomes The Beyonce Show. The character's name is Deena, not Beyonce.

"But I also agree that she should bring some of herself to the performance, which ANY actor/singer should when they play a part."

Which she already does with her voice when she sings straight, which sounds beautiful. She doesn't need to add the modern riffs to make it her own, which wouldn't even make it her own considering every pop star is doing exactly the same thing (though they didn't in the 60s). It doesn't add originality, it only makes it modern. If she wants to riff, she should listen to more recordings of the 60s and hear how it was done then. She could still riff and make it original without sounding modern, which I what I heard in the trailer. It is quite distinctive.

"Yeah, the fact that Streisand didn't even attempt to sing Fanny Brice's songs in the right period style really hurt her overall performance in 'Funny Girl' on stage and screen."

True, but there were far fewer "performance" period numbers, far less music, the entire plot did not hinge on Fanny's vocal performance, and Beyonce is not creating the role, which was what rocketed Streisand to success and why Funny Girl is not revived. It's apples to oranges.

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