|
"Who'd Have Guessed
That This Movie Would be
So Vanilla?" |
 |
Directed by Bill Condon
- Written by Bill Condon
Starring Jamie Foxx,
Beyonce Knowles, Eddie
Murphy, Jennifer Hudson
Distributed by
DreamWorks -
2006 - 131m - Rated PG13 |
| |
|
Every year seems to have that one film that is almost universally
praised, but strangely unfulfilling or mediocre to me. Last year, it
was “Crash.” This year, it is “Dreamgirls.” |
| |
Now, I didn’t hate
“Dreamgirls” at all. No, I actually really enjoyed the first half
hour, which is more or less non-stop musical numbers, and real show
stoppers, even. Unfortunately, the film essentially falls apart
after this strong opening and become the type of film that I never
want to see: a movie that follows every single biopic cliché without
being a biopic.
The story is your standard “rise and fall” of a musical group fare.
The Dreamettes (Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni
Rose) have just gotten their big break, courtesy of Curtis Taylor Jr.
(Jamie Foxx). They will perform with Jimmy “Thunder” Early (Eddie
Murphy) as he tours around the country. Naturally, Curtis has big
plans for the girls and soon they are their own group, performing at
large venues…BUT AT WHAT COST?
I capitalize that phrase to help simulate how the drama of what
occurs is so broad and unwieldy that it can only be used to beat you
over the head. I understand that this is based on a Broadway
musical, where plot always plays second fiddle to the songs, but
previous Broadway adaptations have been smart enough to put extra
energy into the drama between songs, therefore creating characters
rather than cardboard cutouts with two emotions: enthusiastic and
angry.
In all fairness, director Bill Condon sure can film and cut musical
numbers. When everyone does sing, it looks and sounds astounding,
particularly in the earlier songs, when everything is a bit more raw
and a bit more energized. The music is a double edged sword, though;
as much energy as it gives the movie, it takes away precious time
that could have been used to make us care about the people singing
the songs. Also, rather inexplicably, most of the musical numbers
are actually the characters singing to an audience, but there are a
few scenes where the characters simply break into song and sing at
each other, completely destroying the reality that is set up before.
This would be fine if these were evenly spaced throughout the film,
but they aren’t. The first comes in near the halfway point, for
God’s sake!
I also really cannot fault the actors. Foxx and Knowles may get star
billing, but both really only register a big “meh.” The real stars
here are Murphy and Hudson, who sing their hearts out and almost
make up for their lack of character development.
I will not be surprised if “Dreamgirls” wins an Oscar in a few
months. The buzz surrounding it is great and most people seem to
simply adore it.
But this is one film that simply refused to click with me. I can
respect it, but not embrace it. |
| |
|
© Written by Jacob Hall -
Email
Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Richard Propes' Comment
n/a
|
