One night only

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2010)

"Dreamgirls," written for the screen and directed by Richard Condon, is based on the Broadway hit about a Supremes-like group breaking into the 1960s mainstream. It stars Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jamie Foxx, Anika Noni Rose, Sharon Leal, and Hinton Battle.
I have to admit that I really loved the slickness and glitz of this film, as well as the fabulous music. The book is light, but it does go into the history of black artists trying to break through the "chitlin circuit" and play Vegas; it also hit on payola.
The performances are all excellent, with Eddie Murphy in a showy, Oscar-nominated role of a James Brown-type performer; a stunning debut by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as the rejected Effie; she brings down the house with "And I Am Telling You"; and the beautiful Beyonce Knowles as the lead singer who is managed by Curtis (Jamie Foxx). Foxx gives an interesting performance, playing a brilliant visionary and businessman who on the surface seems like Mr. Nice Guy but who in reality is ruthless. Danny Glover is an old-time manager who doesn't see the future as a changing one for blacks.
What I liked the most about "Dreamgirls" is that Condon lets the musical numbers play out; they're not cut up like an MTV video, although he does provide visual excitement.
Highly recommended.