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 Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) :: 1581345461
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| The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena. Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
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Author: Guest
A few notes on this film and the DVD release to help you make your purchase:
THE PERFORMANCES:
1. Beyonce Knowles : Obviously modelled on Diana Ross, Beyonce flits in and out of this movie, holding us only with her beauty. This woman has no acting ability, lets face it, and her singing is only barely tolerable.
2. Jennifer Hudson : A very overrated performance, in my opinion. She sings her heart out, but to me it seemed like a whole lot of nothing. At the most, it seemed like a young woman who wanted people to notice her performance and therefore went over-the-top. I didn't like this performance.
3. Eddie Murphy : Adequate, but badly scripted. This role could have been done by any black actor of that age group, and Eddie does not add anything special to the role.
THE DIRECTION & FEEL
I loved the direction, the sets and the orchestrated choreographed dance and song numbers. It all felt a bit overblown and HEARTLESS but hey thats just me. You'd probably love it more than I did.
THE MUSIC
We all know this was the weakest aspect of this movie. Even Hudsons' showstopper number (am I the only one waiting for her to shut up?) had no melody really. And other than "Listen" by Beyonce, I don't see anything here worth humming.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My only sensation after watching this was "What Happened to the Great American Musical?". What happened to classics like "The Sound of Music", "Carousel" and "State Fair"? Those were real musicals. "Dreamgirls" felt like a gigantic ornamental pom-pom stuffed in my face, and I just couldn't bring myself to like it.
If you are a fan of this movie, sorry. I just have to say that I love musicals, and this was NOT a musical. It disrespects what a musical ought to be.
Note to directors : Please do not cast Beyonce in the lead role in films anymore. Its a total waste of precious film.
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Author: Guest
i couldn't wait until i heard that Dreamgirls was going to be a movie... especially when i found out that my girl Jennifer Hudson was going to be starring in the movie... i have been a huge fan of hers since american idol. i have never watched the original Dreamgirls but i have watched sparkle and it was really similar to Dreamgirls.
this movie was so good... eddie murphy was at his best since the first nutty professor movie. the songs were amazing. 'and i am telling you' is probably one of the better songs to come out in a while and its a remake...
IM so glad that its coming on DVD in about a month cuz i am tired of watchin it on bootleg... LMMFAO!!!!
5 out of 5 stars: brilliantly done
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Author: Guest
I claim the record for a Texan seeing the original DREAMGIRLS on Broadway well over 50 times, and at least that many more in various roadshows between the August '85 closing and the movie. The Imperial Theatre was packed that Sunday afternoon with DREAMGIRLS junkies, all of us having long before decided we'd be there for "the farewell performance." The live musical ended with Deena saying "Thank you, and goodnight." Except, this time, it was "Thank you. And Goodbye!" I'll never forget the guy in front of me yelling "GOODBYE!!!" The huge sign DREAMGIRLS in front of the Imperial was turned off that evening, for me much of the charm of Broadway and NYC was forever gone.
A roadshow director, introducing the performance, noted "This musical affects people in unique ways, many of them see in it parts of their own lives." He nailed it.
My concern with the movie was 'how badly would they screw it up.' I saw an early preview, was stunned that Bill Condon hadn't. Adding Loretta Devine, the original Deena on Broadway, as the singer in Chicago who performs at Jimmy Early's memorial was a huge surprise, she's gained a wee bit of weight.
Jamie Foxx was the only failure in the movie; he looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else than in it. The final cut of the movie trimmed even more of his role from the early preview I first saw. Just not enough.
I got "Little Miss Sunshine" to see why Alan Arkin won Eddie Murphy's Oscar. Life isn't fair. Eddie wuz robbed! Although, it's produced a trivia question, what two nominees died from the same thing in '07.
I see periodically in the NYC papers that producers are working to bring the original production back to Broadway. If you enjoyed the movie, you'll love the live-theatre version. The song Loretta sings was originally sung by a chorus at a recording studio where Marty has Effie waiting for the arrival of a songwriter who's got a great new song for her, "Marty, I been waitin' for hours, I heard so many doo-wops I'm ready to scream." "I'm sorry, his plane was late." "Who's plane? What's this all about?"
All Broadway shows are video'd for a reference library open only to scholarly researchers. It's not likely the rights for a commercial video release of the early 80's live performance could ever be obtained.
In the interim, get the September, 2001 two cd set from the 'one night only' benefit performance. The original soundtrack from the early 80's, when cd's were relatively new, omitted at least half the musical so it would fit on one cd. You'll understand what I'm writing about when you hear the September, 2001 two cd edition.
When the opportunity arises, add your votes for a video of the revival that, hopefully, will be coming back to Broadway within the next year. If you think the movie is powerful, see it live! And, hopefully, the producers will arrange to shoot the actual stage version.
"All you got to do is dream ..."
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Author: Guest
I saw this film on its' Christmas Day release. The audience was hooked from start to finish. This loosely based story about The Supremes really shed some light on Diana Ross, Berry Gordy and Florence Ballard. Facts and long rumored fiction are wonderfully spun in this by now classic time capsule of American music.
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Author: Guest
Dreamgirls is phenomenal, the performences, the music, and some lavish set designs make for one great movie. i still dont know why Dreamgirls was snubbed for Best Picture and Director, that to me is just one big Effie-sized shutout. but that still cant hurt the movies merit. the film, based on the popular Broadway show, tells of the Dreamettes, Deana Jones, Effie White, and Lorrell Robinson who have just been discovered by car salesman Curtis Taylor who is determined to make them famous. when the Dreamettes become backup singers for regional hotshot singer James "Thunder" Jones, there careers suddenly take of and soon, they become the Dreams. however, fame has its price as outspoken Effie begins to disrupt Cutris's plans until she's ousted compeltly and Deana is made lead singer. what follows is what the price of fame will do to best friends and to the ones they love. the music in the film is definenlty in vein with Motown, each number is just full of energy and flare you cant help but get up. all the actors are great but the standouts are definently Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. Murphy redeems himself after some lackluster films and shows off dramatic chops he hasent bothered to used in years. it still baffels me he lost the Supporting Actor award. but it is Jennifer Hudson's Oscar winning role that steals the show, she totally embodies Effie with all her sass, heartache, and big voice, and i mean BIG voice. when she sings her solo "and i'm telling you i'm not going", she just brings the house down, no she actually destroys the house and sends chills up your spine. take that American Idol! so if you want to see one of the best films of the year, then Dreamgirls is the film for you.
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