Wow. Amazing.

Rating: 8/10 (25 December 2006)

I will admit to being totally enamored with the original Broadway production of "Dreamgirls". I have been anticipating this movie for a long while, and with all the hype around it lately, expected to be disappointed. I am not a Beyonce fan. I am not a Jaime Foxx fan. I did not vote for Jennifer Hudson on American Idol.
I saw it today. I cried three times. The hype around this movie is so well deserved.
Jennifer Hudson, however, blows everyone away on the big screen. When she is sharing the scene with others, they all seem flat compared to her. From her first words, she IS the movie. If she doesn't take home an Oscar, there is something wrong with the voting process.
Eddie Murphy was born to play James "Thunder" Early. He brought his own brand of comedy to an otherwise tragic character.
Beyonce impressed me...but didn't blow me away until she sang "Listen" a new song written for the movie, which is sure to be Oscar nominated.
I was a bit disappointed in the direction by Bill Condon. It was a bit busy at times, but the script he wrote stayed very true to the original story and flowed beautifully.
...but how anyone can deny this is about (or at least based on) Diana Ross and The Supremes is beyond me. The movie is pretty blatant in its comparison of The Dreams to The Supremes. There is obvious homage being paid to "Mahogany" and other Diana Ross vehicles in the sets and costumes. Why.... there's even a "Jackson Five" group! Bottom line....don't miss this movie. Hudson is a star in the making. Applause from the audience erupted twice for her!