Dreamgirls

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose
Directed by: Bill Condon
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Musical
Box Office: $
2006

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary:The Dreamgirls (Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose) burst onto the music scene in the 1960s and quickly become a singing sensation. However, the price of fame is steep, and they soon learn this.

Review:

Tim: I wasn't really excited about this movie from the outset. Even after hearing the rave reviews and heaps of critical praise, I wasn't sure I bought it. I still truly believe Chicago was massively overrated, and I feared the same here. When I finally got around to watching it, I can say that although flawed (and to be honest, a bit overrated), this is still a surprisingly good movie.

What really works is the cast. Even when they aren't spectacular in their own right, they work extremely well together. Jamie Foxx gives a complex performance that really pushes the movie along. This is a far cry from his recent string of heroes, and it is a nice change. I also have to mention the performances of the "Dreamgirls." Beyonce Knowles is very good- she gives a quiet, subtle performance. While watching her, it is easy to overlook or forget her performance. However, she is vital to this movie, and I enjoyed watching her. I have to say that I think both Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy were overrated. I know this is a complicated statement- Eddie Murphy gives the best performance he has given in a long, long time. It makes you remember that despite all recent evidence ot the contrary, Murphy can be a talented actor. While this was a comeback role in a sense, it still doesn't rank among the best performances of the year. I thought it correct that he didn't win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. I'll wrap up the cast with Jennifer Hudson. I am still shocked that an American Idol candidate won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. I really wanted to find out what the fuss was all about. While Hudson gives a remarkable performance for her first screen role, I do not believe she deserved the Oscar. I still feel like this was a mistake.

Surprisingly, the story works quite well. With the three (and the fourth) Dreamgirl, we have strong women characters struggling to succeed. We also have the supporting but so important male performances of Murphy and Foxx which add a whole additional layer to the film. These characters and their interactions together are quite entertaining. The plot is suprisingly complex and keeps you mostly interested. The flaws here involve the typical musical biopic (although I realize this is fiction) and the same scenes we've seen time nad time again. Luckily, these are kept to a minimum.

Dreamgirls is certainly a film that is worth seeing. While it's not a great movie, it does so much right that it's not hard to overlook a few of its flaws. While a bit long at 131 minutes, the story keeps you engaged. I didn't love this movie, but it did surprise me quite a bit.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Chicago, The Pink Panther, Ray