EARLY PRESS SCREENINGS GARNER PRAISE FOR UPCOMING FILM VERSION OF DREAMGIRLS

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:58am

The press preview happpened on Monday night and some analysis has popped up from some well known film columnists and critics. Jefferey Wells has an extensisve analysis of why DREAMGIRLS will be up against Flags of Our Fathers during Oscar 2007. Here are some highlights from the analysis:

"But I'm all but convinced it's going to come down to a Flags vs. Dreamgirls thing -- a mano e mano on Melrose Ave. I'm saying this because of fresh perceptions of extremely strong emotional currents in both. And because, as one strategist notes, "there's such a shallow pool of obvious [Best Picture] contenders from our current vantage point of mid-August."

"And having seen portions of Bill Condon's knockout Dreamgirls again last night I'm dead certain it's a Best Picture lock. Four scenes were shown, and each was emotional, exuberant, tight as a drum, perfectly staged and performed, and edited with the skill of a diamond-cutter."

Tom O'Neil of The Golden Derby wrote this in the Wired section of Wells column.

"For Hudson's performing of "the most anticipated scene in one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year, director Bill Condon fretted so much over shooting it that he saved it up for last and shut down the set so no one could spy on the scene," O'Neill writes. "All early buzz indicates that Dreamgirls is about to transform Hudson into a superstar," he adds. "[And] she's already the frontrunner for the Supporting Actress Oscar." O'Neill is correct about this -- Hudson is the one to beat right now. I saw the Dreamgirls scenes Monday night at the Pacific Design Center and listened to Hudson belt out three tunes like a champ. She's got the hot role in Dreamgirls -- the one with the most soul and punch and heartache. I didn't think I'd be saying this, but the great Meryl Streep needs to put herself into the Best Actress category after all for her Devil Wears Prada performance. If she goes for Best Supporting Actress she'll almost certainly lose to Hudson."

SOURCE: DREAMGIRLSFANS.BLOGSPOT.COM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 2:54am

Are they serious about Meryl being nominated for Devil Wears Prada?

[broadway86]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 9:28am

Are they serious about Meryl being nominated for Devil Wears Prada?

She was brilliant, and gave - possibly - the most acclaimed performance of the year, so far.

Why wouldn't they be serious?

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 9:38am

Streep deserves a nom for Prada and belongs in the supporting category. I hope Hudson's performance and the Dreamgirls movie live up to all the hype.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 11:22am

I hope Streep ends up in the leading category if they're gonna put Hudson in the supporting category; but that's just me hopin' JHud wins an Oscar because she's amazing! :-P

Cheers,

Christopher

[Wildcard]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:02pm

I agree that Streep's "Prada" performance is worthy of a nomination and is better than some previous winners. However, I would be happy if Jennifer was nominated (or won) just bec. I would be happy for critical support for more musicals.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:11pm

I think everyone needs to be very careful with their predictions.

Dreamgirls may be blowing everyone's socks off, but there are still a LOT of movies to come out and im starting to fear that we're setting our hopes too high.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:18pm

These predictions are based on what people in the film industry are saying and have taken into account all the future releases. Ofcourse, they are only predictions and may not necessarily come true.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:30pm

I agree that she gave a great performance in Prada...but I didn't see that movie to be one of Oscar material.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:47pm

Oscar regularly recognizes supporting roles from movies that might otherwise be considered 'non-Oscar' films. Think of Marissa Tomei in 'My Cousin Vinny' and Kevin Kline in 'A Fish Called Wanda'.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:10pm

Just to keep a little perspective on this: Wells and O'Neil have only seen SCNES from DREAMGIRLS. If you took selected scenes from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, it would have looked like a sure fire Best Picture winner too. What matters is what surrounds those knock em' dead numbers - the pacing, flow etc.

I think DREAMGIRLS will be good but probably not quite live up to some of this early hype.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:16pm

Based on what few Oscar potential films have come out already and speculation on the rest of the year, Dreamgirls has been and maintains frontrunner status on the Oscar buzz sites. Could that lead to a letdown? Of course. But, there has only been growth in that buzz and Condon is likely to give the goods. He has a great track record.

Meryl Streep WILL be nominated for Prada. I have no doubts about that. The film may not be an Oscar film, but her performance is 100% gold.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:22pm

Speculating on the Oscar chances of the "rest of the year's films" is always a little precarious though - there always are surprises and numerous Best Picture winners have come seemingly out of nowhere at the last tick tock of the year's Oscar deadline, while certain Oscar-sure-bets like MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA and COLD MOUNTAIN have fallen flat.

The buzz on DREAMGIRLS seems to be real and genuine though; it would be nice to see another musical at least be nominated for Best Picture.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:22pm

Streep's last moments alone (in the scene where she has no make up on) in Prada should make her a lock.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 1:26pm

"Speculating on the Oscar chances of the "rest of the year's films" is always a little precarious though..."

Really? No ****.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 2:42pm

If Johnny Depp can be nominated for Pirates, I can see Streep getting a nomination.

I hope Dreamgirls is a big hit. I'm really excited to see it.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 10:35pm

And the raves are still coming in from that surprise press screening in San Diego! This one's from EURWEB.



EURWEB'S DREAMGIRLS REVIEW