From the very beginning, Dreamgirls takes you on a memorable ride into the 60's. The rolling sounds of Motown music and rock n' roll surround this story about a singing group with a striking resemblance to the Supremes. Although credit is given to director Bill Condon (also screenwriter for Chicago [2002]) for his creative adaptation from Broadway music to film, everyone comes out of the theatre talking about Jennifer Hudson's amazing debut.
Not enough can be said about Jennifer Hudson; an American Idol contestant that didn't win, she proves she's more than just another castaway. In her debut acting performance she plays Effie White, the lead singer of the female trio, the Dreamettes. When Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), car salesman-turned-record producer, discovers the group's talents, they gain a spot singing back-up to the legendary James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Despite this opportunity being a success, Effie grows impatient being a shadow to Early when she should be the lead.
So Curtis finally breaks the girls apart from Early, and brings the Dreamettes to the spotlight--only Curtis assigns Deena (Beyonce Knowles) to replace Effie as the lead singer of the group. He explains that Deena's voice, obviously not as powerful as Effie's, will attract a wider audience, a white audience. But then Curtis even replaces Effie as his girlfriend for Deena when the group becomes a national success.
This is a story about opportunity and success, but through a path filled with heartache and betrayal. Effie is definitely betrayed by her group, her lover and even her own brother. But despite Effie's losses, she continues to pick herself back up and prove she's a fighter. Dreamgirls is an uplifting story that became a perfect holiday hit.
I would especially like to give credit to Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy for their emotional acting that shone through the screen. Hudson's Golden Globe win as best actress (in a musical or comedy) was very well deserved, and it was pleasing not having to see a musical starring actors with mediocre singing talents.
Eddie Murphy, on the other hand, surprised me more than ever. Everyone knows Murphy is one of the most successful comedic actors in Hollywood so to see him play such a dramatic role was more than rewarding. As James Early, Murphy illustrates the frustration of being both legendary and old. His reputation as a womanizer only worsens as he gets older. Throughout the film, Early insists he was "the first" to have done a lot of things that popular singing groups are doing now. But nobody listens to him. Eventually Early turns to drugs in his state of depression.
Dreamgirls also provided a brief picture of how black music was regarded in the 60's. Many white artists would adapt black music into their own version so it could appeal to mainstream audiences. When black artists performed in front of a white audience, they expected a certain etiquette. One of the main reasons why Deena replaced Effie as the lead in the group was because Deena was regarded as more "beautiful" and less soulful than Effie.
Kristin's Grade: A
Director: Bill Condon
Screenwriter: Bill Condon and Tom Eyen
Genre: Drama/Musical
Running Time: 225 minutes
Rated: PG-13 (for language, some sexuality and drug content)
