Dreamgirls Film questions (Margo please respond!)

[catstagestud]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 7:28pm

OK; so now that the leads have been cast I know it's like eons away but do you think the material will lend itself to an award-nominated or winning performance by Jennifer Hudson or do you think that people will simply say that nothing will ever compare to Jennifer Holliday's and therefore not be anything special? Will the public give Hudson the chance to prove herself?

Question #2: The teaser trailer is supposed to be running w/ "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Brokeback Mountain" beginning December 9th...have they layed down any tracks so we can hear a little snip or what to expect a year from now since filming doesn't begin until January I'd hate to simply hear the snip from the website of Holliday...what are your thoughts. And particualarly Margo I'm interested in your opinions since you're well versed in Dreamgirls as a whole!

Cheers,

C.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 8:25pm

Award worthy? Yes. It's a Bill Condon film. The man who directed the Academy Award nominated/winning films Gods & Monsters, Kinsey, and who adapted the screenplay for CHICAGO - which WON best picture.

And then there is Jamie Foxx, who comes from winning an Oscar in another music role in RAY.

Right now, I can see Condon being nominated for directing and his adapted screenplay, and Foxx for his role. Everything else we'll just have to see.

I trust Condon. From everything I heard about the film thus far, it's looking good.

[isntitromantic]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 8:59pm

Of course Jennifer Hudson will receive accolades galore and be lauded for her work as Effie -- its a foolproof part. Frankly, Jennifer Halliday was rather grotesque in the role breathing like a dying elephant. The real revelation who illuminated Effie's pathos was Roz Ryan. Even though she was a smoker.

[timote316]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 9:27pm

Foolproof? Not quite - that's saying that everyone that plays the part gets rave reviews, regardless how they are. If I'm not mistaken, Frenchie Davis' turn in Pittsburgh last year was not well received at all.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 9:36pm

I would LOVE to have seen Roz Ryan's Effie?

She is an amazing Mama Morton. I'd imagine her Effie was great. How was her AND I AM TELLING YOU?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 10:07pm

It will be interesting to see how Condon handles "And I Am Telling You". The song will have to have a different dynamic on film than it has on the stage. It will have to be opened up more.

I hope it's not Effie walking out of the theater and down the street while we see flashbacks of Effie and Curtis walking in the park, Effie and Curtis rehearsing a song, Effie and Curtis rolling around in bed.

[ellenoshalom]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 10:07pm

Jennifer will deliver. I can't wait.

[my2cents]

Posted: 12/6/05 at 10:23pm

or will beyonce get the glory? and the trailer is up as the other threads mention.

http://www.dreamgirls.dreamworks.com/

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:36pm

using j. holliday in the trailer? talk about being set up to fail. that was not smart. j. hud can only disappoint.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:43pm

I totally agree with Margo.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:58pm

I don't really think it's fair to say Roz Ryan "can't sing."

She has been one of the favorite Mama Mortons from the CHICAGO revival for quite some time.

Each time I saw her Mama she blew the audience away and received thunderous applause and cheer. Her voice was also fantastic.

And we'll be seeing more of her this spring, in THE PAJAMA GAME. Yay, I love Roz.

[ellenoshalom]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:03pm

MargoChanning, you sound like you have a lot of wisdom. Thank you for sharing. I hope Jennifer Hudson captured the soul of the song as well. If not...its pointless.
And I too remember Jennifer Hudson's version of I am telling you, and she did seem like she didn't understand want the song was about - no soul yet she just had the sound.

So her coaches better get that checked soon.
Updated On: 12/7/05 at 05:03 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:05pm

She BETTER capture the soul of that song or I'm hunting her, Condon and anyone else involved with this movie if they ruin my favorite musical of all time!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:25pm

For some reason, the whole cast frightens me. Just too many really big names.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:33pm

No, no, no! That's the exciting part about it for me! It has STAR POWER!!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:35pm

Capn are you seriously predicting award nominations for this already?

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:40pm

It's just the stars they chose that I don't care for. And I think it has too much star power. But that's just my opinion.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:42pm

For the love of Michael, please don't mess it up.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:43pm

Amen Gothampc! Amen!

[DG]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 6:21pm

". . . let's hope they quietly retire the trailer and any marketing featuring Holliday soon for Hudson's sake. She already has enormous shoes to fill without reminding everyone of the legendary original performance who's memory she has to compete with."

I said this same thing in the other thread, Margo. I SERIOUSLY wouldn't want people reminded of that performance if I were about to step into the role!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 6:26pm

Predicting directly? Not at all.

It has great potential. The buzz is there already - a year in advance. Amazing.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 7:16pm

I saw Roz Ryan as well, but honestly can't remember her performance (Jennifer Holiday was out that day). The one person in that show who left an impression on me was Sherly Lee Ralph. I wasn't as blown away by the show as I was expecting to be.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 7:21pm

Jennifer's "And I am telling you" was okay. i totally agree with Margo ( no surprise there) about her connecting with the lyrics and even moreso that music. whats funny is her clips of AIATY are void of connection, but her "Easy to be hard" was simply phenomenal.great connection, delivery, it was all there.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 7:40pm

Looks like they took down the trailer!! I want to see it.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 9:11pm

random question- what will this be rated? i really wanna see it, but if it is PG-13 for lotsa bad stuff, or R, then i cant see it!
and mind you, i know NOTHING about this show/movie, so I have no clue what it will be rated, and please dont stone me!!!