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DREAMGIRLS-THE MOVIE ___________________
As I sat in the audience last
night (packed to the rafters) at the AMC North park, a man stood in
front of the audience & said the following, "Tonight you will be the
first audience in America to view this rough cut. There are some things
that are not finished with the film, so please excuse the errors. But we
are all very excited to show this for the first time anywhere."
So what was "this"? I (along with Tim Zitz and John Rogers) was about to
see a first rough cut of the motion picture...DREAMGIRLS! That's right
readers! I have been drooling in my playbills since the announcement
that Dreamworks and Paramount were filming the musical loosely based on
Diana Ross and the Supremes.
I saw the original Broadway production at the Imperial Theater starring
Shirley Lee Ralph, Loretta Divine, and the powerful Jennifer Holiday. I
still remember getting chills down my spine as the opening piano keys
played to Holiday's "And I Am Telling You". That Broadway audience
(including myself) went crazy with screams of approval as she tore into
one of the greatest 11 O'clock numbers ever written for the American
stage. Holiday's performance for me ranks as one of the greatest live
performances I have ever witnessed.
I also saw the Broadway revival done in 1987. Since then I have also
seen three National tours, each time going back at least 4-5 times to
see it again. Two of those tours starred Jennifer Holiday. I've also
seen productions of it in Florida and here in Dallas.
Last night at AMC North Park I saw the first rough cut of the highly
anticipated film version of DREAMGIRLS. This summer at the Canne film
festival they showed 10 minutes of the film, at the end the audience
stood on their feet and went crazy over it. And this was just ten
minutes of the film. This was reported in all the major film magazines.
What I saw last night might well be somewhat different than what will be
the final cut released this Christmas. This was NOT a press screening
(although a guy in line told me that there was another screening of it
earlier in the day for film critics).
The film stars Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover,
Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson and Jennifer Hudson.
The audience's reactions last night were electrifying! After many of the
musical numbers the audience would break into loud cheers, screams, and
applause, I mean it was like attending the actual live stage version.
I know the Broadway score front to back, plus having the CD of the full
concert version (recorded a few years ago with Audra McDonald, Heather
Headley, and Lilias White) didn't hurt either.
For the film they have kept about 85% of the original score. However
there are deletions of verses and choruses in several numbers. The
underscore of "Showbiz/ It's just showbiz" is out as well.
So what is gone from the stage versions you ask? The film has cut out
completely Lorell's big number "Ain't No Party" from Act Two. Also for
the duet "When I first saw you" they have completely cut out Deena's
verses, now it's a solo for Curtis (Jamie Foxx). Another number that was
cut out was the beautiful duet between Effie and CeCe sung at the
airport (on stage) called "I Miss You Old Friend".
Other numbers gone: "Press Conference"; "One More Picture Please";
"Party, Party"; "Only the Beginning"; Effie's "I'm Somebody"; and
Deena's "I Have Faith in Myself"
In the original Broadway version Act Two opening was called "Dreams
Medley", but when the Los Angeles production opened, the composers wrote
a "Dreamgirls" reprise. It would be this new second opening number that
was put into the original Broadway version as well as all later
versions. For the film it again has been altered.
Major sections of the James Thunder Early's breakdown and fight in Act
Two between him, Curtis and Lorell (called "Quinette/The Rap" on stage)
has been cut dramatically.
In place of these missing songs, they have composed three new songs -
all FANTASTIC numbers. Since no titles or ending credits were given, I
don't know the titles of these new songs. Effie has a new, toe tapping
up-tempo song that she sings at a rehearsal session. James Early has a
deeply moving ballad with Lorell sung with a back up choir called
"Patience". The final number is a GREAT ballad that Deena sings in the
recording studio.
Bill Condon wrote & directed this film. He wrote the screen adaptation
of another stage musical for the screen, the Academy Award winner
CHICAGO.
The film really pushes more the connection of this being the story of
Diana Ross and the Supremes than the stage version. The film uses real
social commentary and pieces of American history to help the audience in
knowing the timeline. Such as Martin Luther King, the civil rights
struggle, and so on.
Wait till you see those costumes, wigs, & make up! Ohmigod! Gorgeous,
sumptuous gowns, satin slick coats, great detail to period costuming as
well. These costumes are some of the best I've seen on film in some
time. The gowns for the Dreams alone are marvelous!
For the film they have brought in Broadway Tony winning lighting
Designers Jules Fisher and Peggy H. and it shows BIG TIME on screen the
end results! A lot of the musical numbers have dazzling, amazing,
gorgeous lighting! It is jaw-dropping perfection!
I mean number after number has brilliant, brilliant lighting-such as "Dreamgirls",
"And I Am Telling you", "Family", "Move (You're Stepping on my Heart)",
and many others.
Two personal faves of mine that contains radiant lighting design were
"One Night Only" (the disco version) and "Hard to Say Goodbye". My god
it was MAJOR eye candy with the lighting for these two numbers!!
Oh-and look for MAJOR glitter cannons for the finale! I was drooling by
the end kids! Lol.
Some of the editing is a little distracting at times, especially in
"Steppin to the Bad Side". I wished they stayed more focused on the
dancers than cutting to what was happening "backstage".
Speaking of choreography-Fatima Robinson does a superb job with the
choreography. The aforementioned number has some great dance created for
it. The choreography for a lot of the girl numbers is just so
brilliant-I loved, loved, loved the choreography for "Dreamgirls" and
the disco number "One Night Only".
I will not spoil for you what they did for the musical numbers
themselves, you need to see them and discover them on your own like
gilded gift boxes of surprise!
The performances for the majority of the cast is first rate with a
couple of possible Oscar contenders!
I am not a fan of Beyonce Knowles or Destiny's child. Knowles is not a
power lunged singer-but more of a studio voice (like Diana Ross). But in
the film she is absolutely fantastic as Deena Jones. She truly grasps
the confused, shy, and quiet Deena like a pro. She blossoms into the
role beautifully. Wait till you see her bring down the house with the
new ballad that she sings! They really mold Knowles to look like Diana
Ross and it is amazing to see this. From the beaded gowns, big hair,
right down to Ross's huge spider like fake eyelashes-she is Miss Ross!
Knowles is terrific in the film.
Eddie Murphy is perfect as James Early. He is hilarious and yet shows
some solid dramatic chops later in the film. Vocally he sounds great. He
rides the character arc of glitzy showman turn drug addict with great
finesse. Murphy has an excellent shot for an Oscar nod for Best
Supporting Actor in this film.
Keith Robinson gives the best performance I have ever seen of "CeCe"-
the composer who is Effie's brother. He has a very clean tenor voice
that belts beautifully in his solos. He soars in "Family" in crystal,
clean tones.
Anika Noni Rose not only holds her own, she steals several scenes as "Lorell".
On Broadway Loretta Divine gave the role more sass and ballsy broad than
what Rose created. Rose goes for a more shy with slightly ditzy
overtones that had the audience howling in laughter. She is hysterical,
but brings her dramatic chops later in the film that break your heart.
Jamie Foxx is the only lead that seems a little out of sync with his
character. He does do a really good job, but somehow does not follow his
subtext. But he is quite good in the film. I just wished they did not
alter scenes at times to bulk up his role. I know he won an Oscar and it
shows a couple of times that they were padding his role.
There are also some cameos that were fun to see. Such as John Lithgow as
a film director who takes a pool meeting with Deena. Another fun cameo
is John Krasinski! If you are a fan of the TV hit THE OFFICE,
then you know him as "Jim" on the NBC hit. In the film he portrays the
screenwriter for Lithgow's film.
A cameo that did make the audience react verbally and with applause was
Loretta Divine! The original "Lorell" and the only cast member from the
original Broadway cast has a touching cameo in the film!
Other Broadway stars in the film include Hilton Battle (TAP DANCE KID,
MISS SAIGON) and Ken Page (CATS, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN).
Then there's Jennifer Hudson. Out of everyone in the film she is the
only one that has the major pressure. Everyone knows Holiday's legendary
voice and performance of those numbers-especially "And I Am Telling
You". That's a major mountain of expectations to overcome.
Well she succeeds! BIG, BIG, TIME! Hudson is magnificent in the film and
yea-I'll say it here and now (although I'm sure some will disagree with
me).Hudson could be a serious contender for an Academy Award. I doubt
she will get the nod, but she deserves it. She is strong, bold, and
brilliant in the role. But that voice, my god that voice!
Hudson's version of "And I Am Telling You" is exquisite, powerful, and
brings down the house. She soars into those large, belting notes like a
tiger. I mean she rises vocally higher and higher, louder & louder, and
with such emotional & vocal strength that you are left speechless!
Throughout the song the audience would erupt into loud applause,
including me! I had tears in my eyes as she ripped open her heart
begging her man to stay. It is magical. Pure magic.
Hudson also does sublime work with "I Am Changing" and "One Night
Only"-Hudson steals the film. She really does. I can't say enough great
things about her performance.
My only real major complaint would be the ending. During the "Hard to
Say Goodbye" finale, they kept cutting back to Jamie Foxx reacting to
someone in the audience. If you know the stage version, then you know
what I'm talking about. This is very distracting and hurts the Dreams
big finale number. There was NO need to keep cutting back to Foxx,
realizing who was in the audience, and then he walks from his balcony
seat to this person. All this is just unneeded, unwanted, and
distracting subtext. It's a perfect example of the producers and
director trying to pad Foxx's role. I wrote in my audience poll form my
extreme displeasure of this added, unnecessary subplot for Foxx and the
finale. That final number is all about the Dreams. Not Curtis. But that
really was my only major complaint of this otherwise perfect film.
This film is phenomenal. One of the best films of the year and will be a
major force to recon with come awards season! I predict several Golden
Globe, SAG, and Oscar nods coming its way this season. I can
see why at Canne the audience went crazy. Last night at North Park we
went crazy as well!
Film versions of musicals has had a rollercoaster ride for the last
several years. Richard Attenborough's ugly, awful A CHORUS LINE about
killed the movie musical. But then came CHICAGO, which won Best
Picture.
RENT and THE PRODUCERS though were met with mixed response. RENT got
mixed reviews, but THE PRODUCERS was met with mainly negative reviews.
Both did not succeed at the box office. As a MAJOR "Rent head" since
1996, I thought RENT the film was superb and deeply emotional, while I
thought the film version of THE PRODUCERS was lame and lacked the spark
from the live stage version.
DREAMGIRLS is magnificent. I really hope people who saw the stage
versions will go into the movie with an open mind. DREAMGIRLS truly is
jaw dropping brilliant!
I CANNOT WAIT to see it again!! It is spectacular and one of the BEST
FILMS OF 2006.
GRADE: A+
DREAMGIRLS the movie will be released December 2006!!
--John Garcia |
