‘Dreamgirls’ a Musical with a Lot of Sass and · PDF file Friday, December 29,...
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www.lbknews.com Friday, December 29, 2006 Page 3B Film Review Dreamgirls Running Time: 2 hour, 11 min. Rated PG 13 (sexaly content and some strong laungage) Directed by Bill Condon Visit fandango.com for theaters, movie times and to purchase advance tickets. Rating: (out of 4 turtles) ‘Dreamgirls’ a Musical with a Lot of Sass and Talent Siesta Key Beach Retreat! Two spacious Mediterranean 3/3 duplex townhomes, beautifully crafted and snuggled beachside with partial views of the Gulf. Private heated pool in the court- yard and world renowned beach directly across the street! Very desirable rentals. Fine custom finishes throughout. #332570 $2,275,000. Islands West Wonder! Enjoy 180 degree full Gulf and partial Bay views from this tastefully re- modeled and impeccably maintained, spacious 2/2 plus den, 12th floor residence. Features floor to ceiling windows, granite counters, stainless appliances and full size washer/dryer. #330638 $1,196,000 Furnished Full Bay View Value! Well priced, 180 degree Bay view townhome situated within an island wildlife preserve. Community features include an active tennis complex, jr. olympic pool, Club- house, day dock and fishing pier. Excellent rental potential with onsite office. Gulf beaches across the street with restaurants and shopping nearby. #331988 $540,000 Furnished. Designed for Indoor and Outdoor Living! New waterfront home features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, spacious master suite, study, media room, fireplace, elevator and gourmet kitchen and many other luxury touches. Beautiful pool area overlooking canal with private dock. Deep water with access to the Gulf. #269817 $2,195,000 For vacations or a lifetime – we have your place in the sun! “Lock the Guests Away” in the de- tached 1/1 cottage that comes with this colorful 3/2.5 home. “World Class Sunsets” will be yours from this completely renovated gulf front property. “Turnkey Furnished” just “Bring Your Swim- suit”! MLS #306015 Price Reduced $1,990,000 3 4 2 1 5 By Michael Phillips Contributing Columnist “Dreamgirls” is performed, shot, edited and packaged like a coming-attractions trailer for itself. Ordinarily that would be enough to sink a film straight off, unless you’re a fan of “Moulin Rouge.” But this one’s a good time. Four years ago, the film version of “Chicago” operated on a similar rhythm and restlessness, and that worked surprisingly well against the odds, too. Bill Condon, a writer of distinction (“Gods and Monsters,”“Kinsey”), adapted both “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls” from their Broadway originals. “Dreamgirls,” which Condon also directed, enjoys a natural advantage over Rob Marshall’s film version of “Chicago.” Unlike Marshall, Condon doesn’t have to shoot around anyone’s limited musical or choreograph- ic abilities. Everyone on screen belongs there. (Well, Jamie Foxx seems a little lost, but more on that later.) When Jennifer Hudson, last seen and heard getting the shaft on “American Idol,” body-slams “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” a song that eats people like you for breakfast. Staged by Michael Bennett, the 1981 Broadway incarnation of “Dreamgirls” moved so fleetly you barely had time to notice that the show - about the mid- 1960s rise of a Supremes-like vocal group and subsequent detours into jealousy, heartbreak, breakups and disco - didn’t have much of a second act. Condon does what he can to remedy this in the film version, though much of the narrative comes at you in montages and the brief- est of dialogue snippets. Snippet-ettes, even. Playing a Detroit car salesman turned record producer of Berry Gordy propor- tions, Foxx receives top billing, which is ridiculous. He doesn’t seem to know how to play this cardboard smoothie, who is required to stare, mutely, at the divas hav- ing heart attacks in song all around him. The story begins at a Detroit talent con- test, where Deena (Beyonce Knowles) and giggly, pliable Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) sing backup to Effie (Hudson). The contest is rigged and the ladies lose, but in swoops Curtis (Foxx), who hooks up the Dreamettes with a Little Richard stomper, James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy, great fun and a likely Oscar. Curtis starts out in Effie’s bed and ends up with Deena, who moves from backup to the star-making Diana Ross slot. Despite a new ballad written for the movie, the character of Deena hasn’t a chance in terms of audience sympathy against Effie, the pathos factory. Hudson has the good sense, even at her young age, not to treat every second of screen time as an opportunity to destroy her cohorts. The role does all the work, and her big number - emotional blackmail in song - works overtime. If you’re a fan of the original, or the original cast album, chances are you’ll love the film. I’m less keen on the score, so my “Dreamgirls” admiration was for the craft and the performers. For a musi- cal largely taken up with the matter of black music getting co-opted and white- washed by Anglos, this is pretty pale stuff, even by the standards of Broadway-ized Motown. Fauxtown’s more like it. But Condon knew what he wanted and got it: a smooth, shiny showbiz fable.
Transcript of ‘Dreamgirls’ a Musical with a Lot of Sass and · PDF file Friday, December 29,...
www.lbknews.com Friday,December29,2006 Page 3B
FilmReview
DreamgirlsRunning Time: 2 hour, 11 min.
Rated PG 13 (sexaly content and some strong laungage)
Directed by Bill Condon
Visit fandango.com for theaters, movie times and to purchase advance tickets.
Rating:
(out of 4 turtles)
‘Dreamgirls’ a Musical with a Lot of Sass and Talent
Siesta Key Beach Retreat! Two spacious Mediterranean 3/3 duplex townhomes, beautifully crafted and snuggled beachside with partial views of the Gulf. Private heated pool in the court-yard and world renowned beach directly across the street! Very desirable rentals. Fine custom finishes throughout. #332570 $2,275,000.
Islands West Wonder! Enjoy 180 degree full Gulf and partial Bay views from this tastefully re-modeled and impeccably maintained, spacious 2/2 plus den, 12th floor residence. Features floor to ceiling windows, granite counters, stainless appliances and full size washer/dryer. #330638 $1,196,000 Furnished
Full Bay View Value! Well priced, 180 degree Bay view townhome situated within an island wildlife preserve. Community features include an active tennis complex, jr. olympic pool, Club-house, day dock and fishing pier. Excellent rental potential with onsite office. Gulf beaches across the street with restaurants and shopping nearby. #331988 $540,000 Furnished.
Designed for Indoor and Outdoor Living! New waterfront home features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, spacious master suite, study, media room, fireplace, elevator and gourmet kitchen and many other luxury touches. Beautiful pool area overlooking canal with private dock. Deep water with access to the Gulf. #269817 $2,195,000
For vacations or a lifetime – we have your place in the sun! “Lock the Guests Away” in the de-tached 1/1 cottage that comes with this colorful 3/2.5 home. “World Class Sunsets” will be yours from this completely renovated gulf front property. “Turnkey Furnished” just “Bring Your Swim-suit”! MLS #306015 Price Reduced $1,990,000
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By Michael PhillipsContributing Columnist
“Dreamgirls” is performed, shot, edited and packaged like a coming-attractions trailer for itself. Ordinarily that would be enough to sink a film straight off, unless you’re a fan of “Moulin Rouge.” But this one’s a good time. Four years ago, the film version of “Chicago” operated on a similar rhythm and restlessness, and that worked surprisingly well against the odds, too.
Bill Condon, a writer of distinction (“Gods and Monsters,” “Kinsey”), adapted both “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls” from their Broadway originals. “Dreamgirls,” which Condon also directed, enjoys a natural advantage over Rob Marshall’s film version of “Chicago.” Unlike Marshall, Condon doesn’t have to shoot around anyone’s limited musical or choreograph-ic abilities. Everyone on screen belongs there. (Well, Jamie Foxx seems a little lost, but more on that later.) When Jennifer Hudson, last seen and heard getting the shaft on “American Idol,” body-slams “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” a song that eats people like you for breakfast.
Staged by Michael Bennett, the 1981 Broadway incarnation of “Dreamgirls” moved so fleetly you barely had time to notice that the show - about the mid-1960s rise of a Supremes-like vocal group and subsequent detours into jealousy, heartbreak, breakups and disco - didn’t have much of a second act. Condon does what he can to remedy this in the film
version, though much of the narrative comes at you in montages and the brief-est of dialogue snippets. Snippet-ettes, even.
Playing a Detroit car salesman turned record producer of Berry Gordy propor-tions, Foxx receives top billing, which is ridiculous. He doesn’t seem to know how to play this cardboard smoothie, who is required to stare, mutely, at the divas hav-ing heart attacks in song all around him.
The story begins at a Detroit talent con-test, where Deena (Beyonce Knowles) and giggly, pliable Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) sing backup to Effie (Hudson).
The contest is rigged and the ladies lose, but in swoops Curtis (Foxx), who hooks up the Dreamettes with a Little Richard stomper, James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy, great fun and a likely Oscar.
Curtis starts out in Effie’s bed and ends up with Deena, who moves from backup to the star-making Diana Ross slot. Despite a new ballad written for the movie, the character of Deena hasn’t a chance in terms of audience sympathy against Effie, the pathos factory. Hudson has the good sense, even at her young age, not to treat every second of screen time as an opportunity to destroy her
cohorts. The role does all the work, and her big number - emotional blackmail in song - works overtime.
If you’re a fan of the original, or the original cast album, chances are you’ll love the film. I’m less keen on the score, so my “Dreamgirls” admiration was for the craft and the performers. For a musi-cal largely taken up with the matter of black music getting co-opted and white-washed by Anglos, this is pretty pale stuff, even by the standards of Broadway-ized Motown. Fauxtown’s more like it. But Condon knew what he wanted and got it: a smooth, shiny showbiz fable.
