| Product: |
Dreamgirls (DVD) |
| Date: |
27.06.07 (147 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Acting, Music
Disadvantages: Lost me at a certain point
Dreamgirls is a thinly veiled telling of the Diana Ross and The Supremes story, with all the names changed. Though there is no doubt in the viewers mind that this is who the main characters are based on obviously the makers deny this and say that it is all fiction, though an appearance later on in the film of a band that is so like The Jacksons it cant be a coincidence makes it hard to believe their assertions.
Originally a massive stage hit Dreamgirls makes a seamless move to the big screen. It manages to circumvent the differences between the two and works almost as well as a movie as it must have done as a stage play.
We follow the story of the Dreamgirls… Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Deena (Beyonce Knowles) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) from their first public appearance in a talent contest through to their successes in the charts.
It also focuses on the man who spots them and becomes their manager… the ambitious Curtis Taylor, a man who will do whatever it takes to get them to the top of the music business.
Dreamgirls is a good film that becomes a showcase for two actors, one mega famous and one newcomer. The newcomer, Jennifer Hudson, gives her heart and soul to the part of Effie and she is the character you really want to see more of, to learn more about. Her presence on screen is just electrifying and her voice is divine.
The mega famous one is one Eddie Murphy. He plays James ‘Thunder’ Early, a 50’s rythym and blues star who first employs the girls as his backing singers. This is a role unlike any you’ll have ever seen him in before, and he is a revelation! Who would have ever thought that he could be such a great straight actor, I know I would have never imagined it. He is so good that the rumours were that he would have got a Best Supporting Actor nomination if not for the god awful ‘Norbit’ coming out at around the time for nominations. If he had of done he would have fully deserved it, as it was it was Hudson who ended up being recognised by the academy.
The film is, unsurprisingly, very music orientated, especially the first half. The story concentrates on them building their career, their performances on stage and their tours. Once they have made a name for themselves and have achieved some success the focus becomes more on the people they are. The musical performances start to become less frequent, and this is where the film lost me.
Up to a certain moment all the songs are them performing on stage or rehearsing, in other words acting like normal every day people. Suddenly it reverts to the expected musical thing of the characters singing about their woes and disagreements. At that moment my feelings for the film suddenly changed, the first scene this happened just annoyed me so much because it too away the reality of what I was watching. It ruined my enjoyment because it threw up that third wall between what I was viewing and me.
I guess this shows how good the film was up until that point. I was thoroughly enjoying the film as a whole, even though I am not a great Motown music fan. Sadly once that wall was broken and that sudden pulling back into reality happened I couldn’t quite get back into the film again.
I could have dealt with the film if it had all been ‘normal’ musical style but the fact that it wasn’t and all the music was them actually performing was just too much.
From that point on it was never going to win me back, no matter how good it was. Although some of the scenes later on were great none of them managed to bring me back to that state of enjoyment, or the give me the same feelings as I had early on.
Overall Dreamgirls is a good film, enjoyable, full of good music and some tremendous acting performances. For me it doesn’t quite get to be rated more than average but I’m sure if you love the Motown music you’ll love this film a lot more than I did.
Summary: A great movie that slips into mediocrity
|
|
