Dreamgirls (B+ or 3/4 stars)
All you have to do is dream in 'Dreamgirls', the latest Musical directed by Bill Condon. He adapts the film from a popular 80's stage musical of the same name. This film chronicles the rise & fall of 60's/70's female group 'The Dreamettes' (loosely fashioned after 'The Supremes'). After sleeping with manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), Deena Jones (Beyonce) is catapulted to lead singer status. This knocks the sassy, spunky, & chunky Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) out of lead, and inevitably out of the group altogether. A new 'Dreamette' is added. And as the new 'Dreamgirls' succeed in riches and fame, Effie White slips in obscurity and poverty. Nothing in this film is deep or groundbreaking; but it's an entertaining spectacle, for sure.
The film starts, conveniently, at a talent competition. 'The Dreamettes' are discovered & Curtis Taylor Jr. offers them the opportunity of a lifetime ... back-up singers to energetic headliner, James Early (Eddie Murphy). Effie wants to be a star, but Curtis assures her that this job is their 'break' into the music industry; individual fame will come naturally. The girls' style and sound is honed by Curtis. And while he initially favors Effie, she becomes problematic, and his keen eye soon turns to the slender, more attractive Deena as the future of the 'Dreamgirls'. Curtis dumps 'has-been' James Early and focuses on his new stars. James and Effie are wildly talented, but they don't fit the mold of the music that's being cranked-out for the times; they're out. Much success and tragedy strikes the ensemble. And everyone realizes that the cost of fame & fortune is higher and more tedious than ever expected.
One theme of the film that is fascinating is the wheeling-&-dealing that goes on in the music industry (both back then & now). Talented singers & songwriters go by the wayside for more commercial pop. The music business (as evidenced by the loathsome, domineering Curtis Taylor Jr.) is unforgiving in the way it 'produces' stars. We hate Curtis Taylor Jr. by the end of this film, so Jamie Foxx does his job well. Danny Glover is stellar as an old school, old-timer producer. Anika Noni Rose is the 3rd dreamgirl and creates a good balance between Deena & Effie. She brings humor & restraint to the group amid their turmoil. Keith Robinson (Effie's songwriter brother) impresses. Beyonce is adequate in both singing & acting, but there's no big revelation here. Eddie Murphy is a great surprise as he brings both the 'funny' AND the singing chops that could rival the recently departed, James Brown! That said, James Early is also a tragic character; and Eddie brings real heft to the role, as well. Great performance.
But the heart & soul of the film is Jennifer Hudson's Effie. Whenever she's not on the screen, you're looking for her to come back. Effie's been done wrong so many times that we 'feel' every guttural emotion she throws at us. Whether she's pouring her heart out in song, sitting in pensive depression, or snapping a quick-witted one-liner, she makes us pull for her. And I've never sat through a movie before, to hear an entire theater applaud a performance mid-way through the film and/or when her name appears in the end credits; both happened quite emphatically. I've read reports that this has occurred in theaters all over the country, but never did I think it would actually happen.
'Dreamgirls' starts, continues & ends with stellar musical numbers. It's also great to see the parallels btwn. Curtis Taylor Jr. & Berry Gordy Jr., the man credited for 'creating' the likes of Ms. Diana Ross & the Jackson 5. There's even a scene where a group of young guys resembling the Jackson 5 take center stage. And the implied birth of soul/R&B music is interesting to see unfold. The film is pure spectacle & little else. So 'Best Picture', it is not. But a lack of meaty storyline & refined dialogue is more than made-up by satisfying, entertaining fluff. The energetic music, snazzy editing, astute camerawork, amazing singing, flashy dancing, beautiful costumes, great sets, and the glitz-&-glamour truly are fantastic.
The film starts, conveniently, at a talent competition. 'The Dreamettes' are discovered & Curtis Taylor Jr. offers them the opportunity of a lifetime ... back-up singers to energetic headliner, James Early (Eddie Murphy). Effie wants to be a star, but Curtis assures her that this job is their 'break' into the music industry; individual fame will come naturally. The girls' style and sound is honed by Curtis. And while he initially favors Effie, she becomes problematic, and his keen eye soon turns to the slender, more attractive Deena as the future of the 'Dreamgirls'. Curtis dumps 'has-been' James Early and focuses on his new stars. James and Effie are wildly talented, but they don't fit the mold of the music that's being cranked-out for the times; they're out. Much success and tragedy strikes the ensemble. And everyone realizes that the cost of fame & fortune is higher and more tedious than ever expected.
One theme of the film that is fascinating is the wheeling-&-dealing that goes on in the music industry (both back then & now). Talented singers & songwriters go by the wayside for more commercial pop. The music business (as evidenced by the loathsome, domineering Curtis Taylor Jr.) is unforgiving in the way it 'produces' stars. We hate Curtis Taylor Jr. by the end of this film, so Jamie Foxx does his job well. Danny Glover is stellar as an old school, old-timer producer. Anika Noni Rose is the 3rd dreamgirl and creates a good balance between Deena & Effie. She brings humor & restraint to the group amid their turmoil. Keith Robinson (Effie's songwriter brother) impresses. Beyonce is adequate in both singing & acting, but there's no big revelation here. Eddie Murphy is a great surprise as he brings both the 'funny' AND the singing chops that could rival the recently departed, James Brown! That said, James Early is also a tragic character; and Eddie brings real heft to the role, as well. Great performance.
But the heart & soul of the film is Jennifer Hudson's Effie. Whenever she's not on the screen, you're looking for her to come back. Effie's been done wrong so many times that we 'feel' every guttural emotion she throws at us. Whether she's pouring her heart out in song, sitting in pensive depression, or snapping a quick-witted one-liner, she makes us pull for her. And I've never sat through a movie before, to hear an entire theater applaud a performance mid-way through the film and/or when her name appears in the end credits; both happened quite emphatically. I've read reports that this has occurred in theaters all over the country, but never did I think it would actually happen.
'Dreamgirls' starts, continues & ends with stellar musical numbers. It's also great to see the parallels btwn. Curtis Taylor Jr. & Berry Gordy Jr., the man credited for 'creating' the likes of Ms. Diana Ross & the Jackson 5. There's even a scene where a group of young guys resembling the Jackson 5 take center stage. And the implied birth of soul/R&B music is interesting to see unfold. The film is pure spectacle & little else. So 'Best Picture', it is not. But a lack of meaty storyline & refined dialogue is more than made-up by satisfying, entertaining fluff. The energetic music, snazzy editing, astute camerawork, amazing singing, flashy dancing, beautiful costumes, great sets, and the glitz-&-glamour truly are fantastic.