Dreamgirls
(2006) Directed by Bill Condon
Director Bill Condon brings to film the Tony Award-winning musical's story of fame and misfortune. Many of us have had dreams of stardom in one form or another, and most stories about stardom stop at the fairy tale ending where the dreamers achieves their dreams. But Dreamgirls takes the tale further, which makes the story more gritty, more realistic. The story about three young women with dreams of fame who achieve that fame and then must then deal with the cutthroat nature of the music industry rings as true onscreen as it does onstage, and the stellar performances by Jennifer Hudson (Effie) and Eddie Murphy (James Thunder Early) gives the screen version even more substance. Jennifer Hudson’s gospel-filled make-you-want-to-stand-up-and-cheer version of “You’re Gonna Love Me” is the heart of the film, and she deserves the Academy Award she won as well as every other acting award for that moment alone.
Each of the performances in the film ring honest and true. Anika Noni Rose gives a senstive performance as Lorrell, the singer in love with James Thunder Early. Beyonce is also strong as Deena, the Dreamgirl reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, and Jamie Foxx’s Curtis Taylor Jr. has just enough of the snakecharmer for us to love him and loathe him at the same time. The 60s girl band flavored songs ring true to the era, and the choreography flows naturally with the story and never seems contrived as the choreography in some movie musicals can. Another strength of this film is that you don’t need to be familiar with the Broadway musical to appreciate it. The music, the performances, the choreography, everything about this film makes it one of the strongest movie musicals ever made.