[OneSongGlory]

Well Dreamgirls just opened today (er.. yesterday, technically), so I imagine SOME of you must have gone to see it. What did you all think?


I personally was blown away... by everyone. I came into this movie expecting a lot - first of all, I LOVE Anika Noni Rose.. ever since I saw her as Rusty in Footloose, I've been a fan, so I was very very happy to see her play Lorrell, and thought she did an awesome job. Jennifer Hudson has also been a favorite of mine ever since I saw her in American Idol (though I honestly didn't pay the show much attention after the first season or two), but wasn't quite sure she had the voice to play Effie and blow me (or anyone) away, but I was proved wrong... by FAR my favorite voice in he show, that bitch can belt. And the third Dreamette, Deena. Now let me say, I love Beyonce - I think she has such a gorgeous voice, and is definately some nice eye candy, but able to play a Dream? Eh.. I was rocky at first, and then I heard a review on here saying that her acting was definately not up to par. Long story short, I wasn't expecting much of anything from her, but again I was proved wrong! Deena is supposed to have such a different voice from Effie and yes, to a point, 'characterless', or however Curtis puts it, but I think she really gave Deena life and had the perfect voice for it - sweet and almost pop-py when it was called for, but off of the stage, it was so much more real and rough, and really rounded out the three Dreams perfectly. And the acting was definately not bad - it wasn't phenomenal, but I'd at least give her a good.

Now onto the boys. I really didn't expect much from any of them. Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy.. both awesome actors, so I thought they'd be good acting-wise, and decent vocally. But again.. wrong. Eddie Murphy was awesome, had a great, fun, exciting voice for Jimmy, and while Foxx' voice seemed sort of whiney at certain points in his songs, I really enjoyed him. And Keith Robinson.. pshh, blew me away. I LOVED his voice, it was sooo rich and smooth, I couldn't get enough of it.

If anyone were to really take home an award for this show, I'd like for it to be Hudson, definately. Not only was she the best singer in this show, I thought she realllllly showed off her acting skills as well. However, what is she nominated for? Best Supporting Actress. I honestly don't get it, Effie is a bigger role than Deena, and Beyonce's been nominated for Best Actress, so could someone please explain this to me? Other than Hudson, I'd love to see Murphy win Best Supporting Actor. Everyone keeps saying Foxx will win everything, and I'd like to see him nominated for Best Actor, but when it comes down to it, there were probably better lead actors in other movies throughout the year.

Now, onto things that bugged me (pretty much you can stop reading here if you want )

It really, really bugged me that everytime I'd see a commercial or some advertisement for this film, it would say starring (and in this order): Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Robinson, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose. This bugged me for several reasons. First of all, it usually only lists two 'starring actors', so it's always (so I've seen) been Foxx and Beyonce. I don't think this is fair at all. First of all, I see Effie as being a more important and just overall bigger character than Deena, and then there's the question of whether she or Curtis are the bigger role, because Curtis is indubitably a bigger character than Jimmy or CC. So, I suppose "Starring: Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx" would be good enough, but then since Beyonce's such a big popstar, of course you've got to have her name in the starring line as well. But then if you're going to have two of the Dreams, why not the third? She's not a huge, integral part to the script, but she is there most of the time and a principal character, n'est pas? But if you're going to have her, you definately need to put Murphy in as well.. so why not just include the sixth principal (IMO, at least) role, CC as well? But then Danny Glover is more known than Keith Robinson, so... Hm. I'd like to see who's on the front cover of the box whenever this movie comes out.

The second big thing.. the theatre. Okay, PLEASE tell me it's just a tonight only (one night only! haha) thing, because this theatre was ---- OBNOXIOUS. I haven't been to a movie theater for at least a few months, but there was honestly not a minute during the entire two and a half hours I was sitting in my seat where some ghetto hoochie didn't get her weaved ass up and scream into her cell phone or listen to some ringtones or scream about coke when Jimmy takes his little stash out or laugh when they sing. AHH. That absolutely drove me crazy. I mean.. COME ON KIDS. You're going to see a musical. Do you know what they do in musicals? THEY SING. I mean sure, Dreamgirls is a lot like... like Camp or High School Musical, for example, where many of the songs are sung AS songs, not to elaborate the story.. like, the characters are on a stage or just sitting down, and singing a song to an audience. BUT, there are also many songs in the show where they'll start singing to each other or singing as a reflection, and people seem to think that this is HILARIOUS. I don't know, maybe Connecticut's just more ghetto than people give it credit for.



ANYWAYS.

What did you all think?

[shakalakababy]

I haven't seen it yet but i'm definitely going to try and go with my friend to see it tomorrow. I'm quite excited, especially since you seemed to like it so much.

I totally know what you mean about people being obnoxious in movie theaters though. Every single time i go to the theater there is always someone talking on their cell phone or some ghetto teenagers talking hella loudly and it always really pisses me off. Our main movie theatre is in a pretty ghetto area though

[Matthew]

Thanks for the input One Song Glory.
I think I will be checking it out soon.
I really must catch up on movies.

[DramaRobin2002]

I'm going this week to see it (was supposed to last night but plans fell through ). I think I'm actually more nervous about the "obnoxious audience" than not enjoying the movie. After the experiences I had at both Rent and The Producers and the fact that when I went to see another movie someone loudly booed after the Dreamgirls preview, I'm almost expecting some sort of disruption.

[sleepy7653]

[Jordan]

We have a Dreamgirls forum on the boards now as well

I hate people that talk during films. It's half the reason why I'd rather wait for the DVD. I once said to somebody in the cinema "If I wanted a commentary, I'd wait for the DVD to come out and listen to the director!"

[OneSongGlory]

[BwayJuvinile]

Loved the movie. Murphy will win for supporting, hasnt been a stronger canidate this year, and i see like 3 movies a week at the movie theatre. Hudson's vocals were great. The movie was just overall really really good.

[kakoforever]

Loved it loved it loved it. I especially loved "And I am telling you....". I wasn't familiar with the music besides what was in CAMP, so when I heard that song, i kept thinking "This song isn't going anywhere, but Hudson is rocking the shit out of it and MAKING it go somewhere". And that's what my workshop teacher keeps saying. When the lyrics don't move the arc of a song, you MAKE them move it. I was super impressed with Hudson, she did it in every single song in addition to rocking vocally.

[katethegreat]

[DramaRobin2002]

[Robinflamingo]

[katethegreat]

[Mumsytype]

Two things put me off going to the cinema;

1. The behaviour of other audience members, and
2. The volume of the soundtrack. Nobody's yet figured out that these little multiplex cinemas with small auditoria don't actually need the soundtrack to be set loud enough to fill a huge hall. I can't cope with that volume - so I simply don't go to cinemas.

As for other audience members - why do they need vats of drink and buckets of popcorn? Why the noisy non-stop guzzling? It's offputting, distracting, and disgusting.

[Quique]

[katethegreat]

^
^
Hot dogs and nachos are the worst because they stink aswell!
I like to go the cinema to lose myself in the film, and I usually get used to the sound. I'll have to just lock myself in my room with my tiny telly and a dvd rental card til after new year methinks!

[DaddyDiesel]

[OneSongGlory]

[katethegreat]

Ok, paid £12.50 ( yes, stupid I know! ) to see a film in the west end today. But my friend was here (she's been studying in Grenada for 4 years and I haven't seen her in about 7...)and after a fruitless search for decent tickets we could both afford, we decided to just go to the cinema.
We went to the Apollo West End (lower regents st next to tesco metro!) and you get an amazing cinema for your money, huge seats that would rival 1st on some airlines, beautiful toilets with strange colour changing rocks...and the best thing...not one person spoke or made a noise through the ENTIRE FILM!
Pity I can't pay £12.50 all that often


*The film was great too - called Perfume. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!*

[shadowdancer]

OK back on topic...

I saw Dreamgirls last night. Overall, i thought it was good. Amazing? No Good yes. definitely overall, not as good as I thought it would be with all that hype. First off, Jennifer Hudson is AMAZING! There is juts no denying it. Whether it was And I'm Telling you...or a random one line her vocals were just inspiring. She was not this good on AI. She owned that part. Yes OK Jennifer Holiday owns the part too, but they can share it. I have seen a video of Holiday's Effie and they were different so it both works. Yes she deserves an award. Obviously Effie is the lead role, but I think they are putting her in supporting because she will have an easier win that way. However, I think she could win lead actress. This brings me to Anika Noni Rose. Now she should be nominated for best supporting. I absolutely loved her. She had me cracking up and what pipes she has. It was obviously the least showy or well-defined of the dreams but she was great. Now to Beyonce. First let me say, I am a huge fan. I have both her solo albums and was a huge Destiny child fan. I always thought her voice was amazing. Now she was fine in the movie. Her part did not take much to be honest. Be happy and innocent here be a bitch here. Her big number, Listen would honestly have been awesome....except Hudson completely makes you forget about it. i was impressed w/ Beyonce during Listen but when you match it Hudson, nope. When the three sang dialogue, it was pretty clear that Beyonce was the weakest singer. She would add some rolls and stuff that were way off. However, I think she made a fine Deena, which is kinda blah role. I thought Jamie Foxx was fine. Do not love the part itself. Eddie Murphy was so great. He was so funny and entertaining. An award though? Not so much. It just wasn't a meaty role at all. He may win for namesake and come back reasons, but I can think of more deserving people. I liked Danny Glover and the guy who played CC just fine. Glover was good, it was nice to see him again. I thought CC's voice was good, once again not amazing. Now the best parts for me were the opening sequence with the other 4 member girl group, who rocked it out and then of course whenever Hudson sang. The emotion in her voice wow. Now the things that kinda bothered me: I thought once the girls' careers started taking off it got slow. Hudson got to And I'm telling and I was like wow this is the half way point. But then I felt that the ending was so rushed and sloppy. Overall, I kept thinking a lot of the cuts and transitions weer so choppy. Some really bad flow. They also use news clips to show passage of time. I got the idea but they were so jerky, and did not fit with the tone/feel/style of the movie. My only other complaint is that the story takes place over many many years, the costumes and hair changed appropriately with the times, but the girls never appeared to age, especially Hudson who after being outed from the dreams, took out her weave and suddenly looked like she was 16 and living today. Then she comes back and becomes a diva and they dress her like she is 40. So that is it. Do I think it is the best of the recent movie musicals. Honestly I do not overall. Do i think it was the best movie of the year, not even close. Did I like it and was I entertained...for the most part. Would I recommend it. Well buy the CD it is so worth it just to hear the awesome music and tight harmonies. As for the movie, see it just to see Hudson if nothing else. Best performance of all the recent movie musicals. The movie just rocked when she was on screen singing or not. When she wasn't on screen you were just waiting for her. OK that is all. Thanks for reading if you got this far!

[OneSongGlory]

^^Good to see I'm not the only person who really appreciated Anika's voice. It seems like everyone I see who's not theatrically-inclined didn't even notice her.

[shadowdancer]

[OneSongGlory]

[OneSongGlory]

Any more reviews?

[MademoiselleMusicals]

[Jordan]

OK, I moved this cos we need to keep it in the right place and more people visiting this forum. A 'shadow' remains in the main forum.

[Celeste_SM]

I really enjoyed it. I thought Eddie Murphy was great, as were all three Dreamgirls. I don't know Beyonce at all (took me awhile to figure out who was who), but I think all three of the women did a wonderful job at their roles. I couldn't pick among them for "best" but obviously Effie is the meatiest role.

[arctic_orange]

I thought the movie was fabulous (already seen it twice!) the performances, as others have noted, were fantastic, and even though I was not already familiar with the story, I was absolutely enthralled. The thing that impressed me most about the movie, however, was how well the passage of time was conveyed. Without being obliqely political, we got a sense of what was happening in America throughout the twentyodd year span of the movie--and the way music changed in that time. From motown to disco, guys.

Also, the serious content (Eddie Murphy's character being the best example) of how Black music was forced to change itself to "cross over" at the risk of the performers losing their identities.

Finally, for all the anti-musical theater folks, I think this movie did a fabulous job using MUSIC to convey characterization. Without the songs, the audience's knowledge of the characters would be far less real and complete.--and judging from the reactions of the crowd both times I went, the message got across. We had people bursting into applause after every song, and at the end. It was the best kind of movie experience...almost like being in a theater.

This is by far the best of the modern movie musicals, and I think, come award time, people will recognize it as such.

[Salome]

How's Lithgow's song?

[shadowdancer]

[Steph1636]

I was completely amazed with DreamGirls! Words cannot describe how amazing and incredible it was! I was totally blown away! Jennifer Hudson has the most amazing voice I have ever heard. After her big song, the whole theater bursted out in cheer and clapped for her. And Beyonce shined just as much. She has a voice of angels. Eddie Murphy was fabulous too! I had know idea he could sing like that. The whole cast was amazing. Now this was a perfect way of presenting a Broadway musical to the big screen.

Right now I am totally obsessing over the music too! I have listened to the CD like 9 times in one day!

[Lena]

The movie's coming out tomorrow over here, and I can't wait!!! The music definitely is amazing (I know, I have a weird obsession with soundtracks of musicals I haven't seen yet at the moment !).... I loooove "Listen". And all the other songs, LOL.

[qpidsangel]

I know this is a bit late, but here's my opinion of the movie. (yea, I know I'll get hit for my opinion, whatever)

Jennifer Hudson: Thought her acting was a bit weak in the first half of the movie, but the second half she stepped it up a notch, much much better. Her "And I'm Telling You" was not that great for me, I think the reason is because it was so hyped by everyone, things never live up to the hype.

Beyonce: She was eh, someone mentioned it earlier but obviously the weakest out of all the Dreams. It was a bit odd for me for Beyonce to constantly be clowned upon by everyone for not being a great singer etc because of her star status. She never stopped being Beyonce in my eyes.

Anika Noni Rose: awesome... that's it lol

Jamie Foxx: I expected more from him, but his performance was fine.

Eddie Murphy: Pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect much from him, but he rocked it out.

Keith Robinson: Would definetly like to see more out of him... he was decent though I see much more potential.

Overall the movie was decent... But The Five Heartbeats is better.

[RainbowJude]