Review of Dreamgirls (2006) by Darrie G — 01 Apr 2011

I am so utterly ashamed that I only just got round to watching it, I was doing something else in 2006, and I never watched it till today. I think that's because generally film musicals made after about 1963 are not worth watching (with exceptions).

And also I thought it was something to do with Beyonce and wasn't that interested. Pardon my ignorance. This film blew me away, the quality of performances, and the music (which is all original from the Broadway show but with added numbers) which has 100% authenticity to the development of motown/soul music.

I loved the performance numbers but also when characters sang the libretto (as when Effie leaves the group) it worked dramatically, as well as musically. For any lover of Soul/Motown - the music is heavenly, but also the story and the socio-political background.

The Tour de Force is Jennifer Hudson - a latter day Aretha Franklyn whose exceptional voice and passion knocks everyone else off the screen, matched only by Eddie Murphy (singing his own vocals fantastically!).

Beyonce really comes into her own acting and singing wise in the last 1/2 hr of the film. The film takes you back to a day when female singing stars were fully clothed but glamorous, feminine and hugely talented.

It is an explosive celebration of MOBO, and also dramatically moving and inspiring and I felt the injustices of segregation, songs being stolen, and careers being trashed. Jamie Foxx also weighs in, moody and magnificent, providing at least some eye candy for female viewer.

It must have been a knockout on Broadway, and we need more films/musicals that celebrate the richness of African-American music and indeed the British/European equivalent. I'm gonna watch this again or get the soundtrack some time.