Everyone goes
into the movie talking about Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Beyonce, but
everyone
walks out talking about how Jennifer Hudson is going to win that Oscar
(and how
Urkel looks all grown up!). Make
no
mistake about it, Dreamgirls is THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR!
In
this movie,
based on the smash Broadway musical, which is kind of based on the rise
of
Motown and The Supremes, Beyonce stars as Deena Jones – one
of three members of
an aspiring Detroit-based female singing group, The Dreamettes. Effie (Hudson), Lorrell
(Anika Noni Rose
a/k/a that other gal who was in Dreamgirls) and Deena want to be stars,
and try
to win an open mic night competition, when their performance earns them
a
chance to tour as the back up singers for the popular James
“Thunder” Early
(Eddie Murphy). Eventually,
manager and
record label owner Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx) gives them a chance
to
strike out on their own, but this new opportunity and success will also
be
accompanied by heartache, broken dreams and betrayal.
Can the
Dreamgirls weather the storm? Who
will
be left out in the cold?
Dreamgirls is
one of the best, most exciting, most uplifting movies of the year, and
one you
must see if you call yourself a movie fan.
It has everything from energetic musical
performances to classic
betrayal that makes your heart break to an epic story that has an
ending that
leaves you cheering.
Director Bill
Condon, who wrote Chicago,
shows why he is a man who has helped to bring the musical back into
style by
revolutionizing how these movies are made.
Much like Chicago director Rob Marshall, Condon
makes sure the musical
numbers help tell the story instead of serving as breaks from the movie
(you
might want to go to the bathroom, but don’t miss a song, or
you will miss alot). Each
song is accompanied by a montage of
action that shows the audience how the Dreamgirls’ career,
and others, are
rising and falling, while also including the personal drama going on
behind the
scenes, so you always are wrapped up in story developments. Of course, the acting
helps make Dreamgirls
thrilling as well.
While everyone
performs at good to excellent levels, Hudson
is
plain awesome in making what might be the greatest debut performance in
the
history of Hollywood. Hudson is a show stopper
when singing or
acting as Effie, and delivers an Oscar winning performance as she
figuratively
pushes Beyonce, Foxx and Murphy out of the way when she sings, And I Tell You I Am Not Going, a
sequence that might be the best of 2006, and a moment that will be with
you
years after you see the movie and someone asks what you think of Dreamgirls.
Others come off
fairly well, too, and Murphy might be joining Hudson at the
Oscars. He shows a
new, more serious side as James,
while also getting the audience to tap their toes and dance in their
seats as
he gives a performance James Brown could look at and say,
“that kid reminds me
of me.” However,
the best part of his
performance is when Early has to face the end of his career, and Murphy
makes
you feel his pain. It’s
a great depth
you always kind of knew was there for Murphy if he ever wanted to go
for it,
and he goes for it in Dreamgirls.
Dreamgirls is my
favorite movie of the year.
5 Waffles
(Out
Of 4)
Dreamgirls is
rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug
content.
Copyright
2006 - WaffleMovies.com
