Effie

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2007)

I really enjoyed this movie much to my surprise after being dragged by a friend. First, I was expecting some movie about Beyonce telling the world how talented and beautiful she is blah, blah, blah. Much to my surprise Beyonce is quite good and not the spotlight hungry diva she is somewhat thought to be.
This movie is about the rise of a 60s girl group the Dreams based on Supremes. Beyonce fittingly plays the Diana Ross inspired character Deena Jones, but the true star in this film is Jennifer Hudson as Effie White. WOW!!!
Beyonce's Deena is really a shadow compared to the Jennifer Hudsons Effie. Effie is the lead singer of the Dreams, but is demoted to backup singer in favor of Deena. The reason? Deena is beautiful and while Effie is certainly a vocalist above Deena, she is not a thin girl and she is not a raging "beauty" I couldn't help feeling for Effie as Deena rise to stardom faded her out.
Effie is betrayed by not only her friends and lover/manager Curtis Taylor (jamie fox) but by her own brother!
This movie really is about Effie as much as it is about Deena, and the actors who portrayed these characters certainly did their job well.
Jamie Foxx is Curtis Taylor the ruthless manager who discovers the Dreams at a talent show. He starts out as a ambitious nice guy who dates Effie, but dumps her in favor of Deena and fame.
Eddie Murphy was an interesting choice considering he has not been known to have a hit movie in awhile, but he gives a touching performance as the motown sensation James Early only to fall for not having a new sound. He turns into a drug addict who passes away much to the shock of the dreams who are still going strong. I must say the later scenes of him being ridiculed by the now powerful Curtis Taylor are some of the most memorable.
If your a fan of Beyonce, musical, 60s music, or just looking for something enjoyable to see Dreamgirls is a worthwhile movie.