[what_the_heck013]

Do you guys think that Effie is a lead or a supporting role? I think that most of the show/plot revolves around Effie, therefore making her a lead role. Jennifer Holliday won Best Lead Actreess... yet Jennifer Hudson won best supporting.

[RainbowJude]

Effie is a lead role. I would even go so far as to say that it's the lead role. The plot revolves around her, everything else in the show from the Dreams, to Deena, to Curtis is related through her experience. And even the subplot involving Lorelle and Jimmy is, in some ways, a mirror of what's going on in the main plot.

The balance was thrown out a little in the film with the addition of "Listen" in an attempt (I assume) to give Deena a moment that is as dramatic as "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)" but which doesn't come close to having the dramatic impact that the latter number has.

So why was Hudson nominated as a supporting actress? Who actually knows? Marketing? Fancy footwork? Her billing? The fact that the producers knew there was no way she would win in the "Best Actress" category? Whatever the reason, it all boils down to politics rather than anything to do with the film itself.

Later days
David