Dreamgirls - An Instant Classic

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2006)

Sometimes, the simplest of compliments conveys the greatest sincerity.
Dreamgirls is a beautiful, beautiful movie.
The movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical is "easy" all the way around. Easy on the eyes, the ears and any other sense within cinematic reach. Dreamgirls is a comfortable confluence of style, talent and pageantry. It is like our favorite song we all have. Every time we listen to it, the music hits us in the right place all day long. Dreamgirls is beautiful in its artistry, its emotion and most importantly in its truthfulness.
The question most often asked is whether "the movie" measures up to "the musical." It's a question that is well-intentioned but rather unimportant and misguided.
For all the visual advantages that a motion picture has over theatre productions, it's a pointless comparison. Likewise, for all the energy and spontaneity a live performance offers that an edited tape and 2-dimensional screen do notit too is a pointless comparison. What can be said is that Dreamgirls the movie can't touch the Broadway musical. Conversely, Dreamgirls the Broadway musicalcan't touch the movie. These apples and oranges don't need to be examined any further.
But those of you old enough to remember the original musical, you'll probably appreciate the cameo appearances of Hinton Battle and Loretta Devinean understated tip of fedora to its predecessor. And yes, it was both conspicuous and somewhat controversial how Jennifer Holiday, the signature voice of the 80s Broadway show was nowhere to be found in the film version. It also must also be said that Jennifer Hudson's 2006 performance was nothing short of amazing in its own right.
It's not often than an audience of film critics breaks out in thunderous applause in the middle of a movie, and it's even rarer when such lofty acclaim is deserved.
Jennifer Hudson deserved it and is an absolute star from her first frame until the final credits. Jennifer Holiday did something special and spectacular in 1982which will never be undone or duplicated. Jennifer Hudson not only paid her own musical homage to Holiday, but tastefully put her own hot sauce on it, which should leave any true fan of the Dreamgirls story, pleased and satisfied. Again, let's leave the apples and oranges comparisons for another day. They're both very, very good fruit and that's all that needs to be said.
Hudson gave an unprecedented and outstanding performance that will likely resonate for decadesjust like Holiday. There's your comparison, now leave it alone.
But even having said all of thatarguably the greatest performance came from the unlikeliest of places.
Eddie Murphy.
Murphy's performance was Oscar-caliber and career defining. Although he's spent the better part of his life making folks laugh, when all is said and done, he just might be best remembered for displaying a level of vulnerability and screen presence that is beyond many of the best in Hollywood.
This isn't hyperbole. Eddie Murphy is THAT good in the role of James 'Thunder' Early. He sings all of his songs, dances all of his dances and most importantly earns all of your attention and theatrical respect. It's a performance as a supporting actor that deserves Oscar consideration. One can't help but wonder whether Eddie Murphy saw any parallels between the life and career of James 'Thunder' Early and his own. The character arc of an entertainer staring irrelevancy in the face and a disheveled home life makes you wonder if the role struck very close to home for him.
Only he knows
Just FYIthe last time Mo'Kelly felt this strongly about an Oscar-caliber performance, Jamie Foxx went home with an Oscar.
Just FYI.
And speaking of Foxxmaybe the Black-Oscar jinx is now over. For those who say it is career suicide for Black actors after garnering one of the golden statuettes, meet Mr. Foxxthe 'villain' 'Curtis Taylor Jr.'
It's almost unfortunate, as Foxx's muted performance (doesn't do much singing) might easily get lost amidst the eye-popping gowns, over-blown songs and characters justifiably more important to the story. Then again, when you still get noticed while everything else is set up for you NOT to be noticedyou must have been pretty good.
Jamie Foxx was more than just 'pretty good.'
If you could sum up the whole of Dreamgirls, it's in the performance of Beyoncé Knowles. This is a movie heavy on history, expectation and hype in anticipation of its release. At the same time, Beyoncé has been groomed accordingly to stand in the spotlight literally and figuratively in this role. To those who saw the original Dreamgirls, the comparisons and allusions to Diana Ross and the Supremes were obvious. Accordingly, such comparisons can be made to Destiny's Child and its similar history. The casting of Beyoncé in the role of 'Deena Jones' is eerie on many levels if you want to read into all of the subtext of Knowles' own career.
That said; she brought her 'A' game. For those of you who may have believed she wasn't on a vocal par consistent with such a roleyou will be disappointed. She demonstrated she is as talented as advertised this fact can't be denied. For those of you who may have ventured to criticize her as being unskilled as an actor and not worthy of such a roleyou will be disappointed and proved wrong. Mo'Kelly was not a Beyoncé fan going in and of the opinion that she was an elaborate prop, positioned for stardombut not destined for greatness. Note the distinction.
But fair is fairMo'Kelly was flat out wrong. Beyoncé put in a performance that I suspect even Lena Horne and the late Dorothy Dandridge would give her high-fives in appreciation.
Dreamgirls is a beautiful, beautiful movieand by the way, an instant classic.