Review of The Sapphires (2012) by David G — 28 Jul 2013

The Aboriginal Dreamgirls during the Vietnam War. Four outcast cousins in the Australian outback are discovered by a down and out musical promoter (Chris O'Dowd).

They play country music, but he sees they have the talent for R&B. He gets them a chance to play for the troops in Vietnam. So, part Dreamgirls, For The Boys and Good Morning, Vietnam. Yet, better than 2 of the 3 films in my opinion. The group face bitter rivalry, power struggles, love and more; but, the film dares to add racism, self-hate & false pride to the formula. The performances are well done - the musical standards are classics - an equal blend of heavy-handed drama, war and comedy abound, then a surprise twist at the end! No, I won't spoil it, but it makes a good independent film warm and fuzzy all over.