"We're your Dreamgirls" -- And Boy, Do They Ever
Make You Happy: Motown Musical Memories in Bill Condon's Magnificent Movie
PopcornReel.com Movie Review: "Dreamgirls"
By Omar P.L. Moore/December 15, 2006
The Dreamettes Supreme: Anika Noni Rose, Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson, in
"Dreamgirls".
(All photos: David James/Paramount Pictures)
An exhilarating experience will transform
audiences everywhere beginning today in three American cities, on Christmas Day
around America and across the world on January 19. And all the world is a
stage for Bill Condon, for he has crafted a superb motion picture in "Dreamgirls",
beautifully translated from the legendary 1981 Broadway stage musical by Michael
Bennet with the great original lyrics by Tom Eyen. "Dreamgirls" is
spectacular, galvanizing, inspiring, enriching, compelling, expertly acted and
most importantly -- a downright riveting crowd-pleaser.
Motown is captured in all its heyday glory, with Jamie Foxx as the no-good
Curtis Taylor, Jr., a businessman who plies his trade in the car dealership
arena. Taylor always has his eye on something bigger and when it is not
the record industry that he makes a foray into, it's one of the women that he
makes The Dreamettes (Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose and Jennifer Hudson) -- a
trio of dazzlingly beautiful, attractive ladies of song who have dreams and
aspirations of making it to the top as well.
And when you add James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy) -- an obvious homage to
the legendary Godfather Of Soul James Brown -- to the repertoire, you have a
pulsating, exciting and humorous adventure. Jimmy is all thunder and lots
of lightning, but has nowhere to put all of the talent he has. He is
popular for sure, but needs something, some "je ne sais quoi" if you will, to
stay at the top of his game. Jimmy's manager and agent, the veteran Marty
Madison (Danny Glover) isn't quite cutting the mustard these days, and Jimmy is
looking for someone new to enliven things.
Enter Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Ever the opportunist, Taylor pairs Jimmy Early and The Dreamettes and -- before
you can say, "hot-diggity-dawg!" -- magic is made. The good times are
thriving. Curtis, in pursuit of more happiness, makes crucial decisions
that affect the gravy and glory trains on which these four individuals are
dining and riding on. Jamie Foxx -- who is so good here that you love
hating him -- is arguably the most indispensable ingredient to "Dreamgirls",
because his character sets things in motion, things that compel the other
characters to respond. Mr. Foxx helps the other actors and they in turn
shine. Beyonce is a revelation here as Deena Jones, Curtis' main squeeze.
The superstar sensation's persona disappears here, and her transformation is
amazing. That Beyonce looks remarkably similar to Diana Ross at some
points is no accident. After all, the Broadway musical is loosely based on
and inspired by the story of The Supremes.
Curtis has big plans for Deena, whose dreams of bigger success are combined with
various other pursuits.
Scintillating sensations: The Dreamettes in "Dreamgirls"
Eddie Murphy turns in a special performance as James "Thunder" Early, and should
be recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his
terrific work here. (Note: Mr. Murphy was nominated for a Golden Globe
yesterday.) There are times where Mr. Murphy is heartbreaking, and if "The
Pursuit Of Happyness", a similarly-themed film, emphasizes the pursuit of dreams
despite obstacles then Mr. Murphy's character represents the pursuit of a dream
that may or may not be deferred to eternity. Jennifer Hudson makes Effie
White -- who was gloriously inhabited by the one-of-a-kind Jennifer Holiday 25
years ago on Broadway -- all her own with the gut-turning, soul-pounding "And I
Am Telling You I'm Not Going". While that particular solo number
crystallizes an Oscar win for Jennifer Hudson, her portrayal of her headstrong
but earnest character's complexity is a marvel -- especially in this her first
big screen acting. The former "American Idol" television contestant shows
the world with this performance what much of America refused to acknowledge a
couple of years ago.
Ms. Hudson works Effie -- works her image, her identity, her pain and her
triumphs -- and burnishes them into our hearts. She is the soul, the heart
and the majestic presence of this electrifying film. The only question now
for Ms. Hudson (who also was nominated for a Golden Globe yesterday) is whether
she will cry tears of joy in her acceptance speech for best supporting actress
Oscar next February or whether she will instead sing the acceptance speech.
As Effie sings in "And I Am Telling You . . ." -- "you're gonna love me!"
And the Academy will.
On the technical side, the production design,
costumes, score, sparkling cinematography are exquisite. Mr. Condon's
direction is fluid, bright and snappy. Watching "Dreamgirls" is akin to
watching a live stage production and while the immediacy of the thrill of live
stage is always a supreme advantage, the exuberance of this film, with its
dynamic cast is an overwhelming triumph. If "Chicago", a moderately-good
translation of a Broadway musical into film can win several Oscars including
best picture (as it did in 2003), then what of "Dreamgirls" chances in February?
How many Academy Awards will (or should) it win??
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Soul Brother Number . . . the excellent Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) in Bill Condon's "Dreamgirls".
A special mention should be made of Keith Robinson, who quietly performs miracles in his role as C.C., the creative brain behind the songs of Effie and the Dreams. He happens to be Effie's brother as well, which creates a separate dynamic within the story's narrative, one which is richly infused by the two characters' onscreen interactions. Mr. Robinson cultivates (sorry for the pun) a most excellent neighborhood with his award-worthy performance.
To say that the music is
excellent in this film is to state the obvious. And there is also no
accident that Hinton Battle (one of the original performers in the musical),
Anika Noni Rose (who won a Tony Award for the original musical) and plays
Lorrell; Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and of course Beyonce,
are all or have been at one time or another, musicians or singers.
They all pull off the great feat of truly singing and acting here.
Ms. Hudson herself will be the first to admit to you that she can't dance to
save her life, but when she sings here she is dancing her way into our
hearts.
Look out for the great number sung by Mr. Murphy "I Meant You No
Harm/Jimmy's Rap". It will bring your movie theater's house down.
There are so many remarkable songs by Tom Eyen from the Broadway production,
and they are expertly reborn here. "The Five Heartbeats", Robert
Townsend's superb 1991 film filled with great music and acting, is an apt
companion to this film, but when it comes to great recent musicals
translated to the big screen, Bill Condon's "Dreamgirls" stands alone on a
lofty pedestal.
"Dreamgirls" is one of the very best films that the year 2006 has to offer.
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"Idol"-ized: Jennifer Hudson as Effie. Her performance as
Effie speaks for itself.
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Diana . . . Deena: Beyonce, brilliant as Deena Jones in "Dreamgirls"
Copyright 2006. PopcornReel.com.
All Rights Reserved.
"Dreamgirls", apart from being a scintillating experience for all
moviegoers, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for
language, some sexuality and drug content. The film is approximately
two hours and ten minutes long. *Today it opens in New York, San
Francisco and Los Angeles; on Christmas Day in many other American cities,
and on January 19, 2007 around the world.
Click here for special in-depth
"Dreamgirls" coverage