Dreamgirls never quite gels as a film, but Jennifer Hudson’s performance alone made me feel as though my ten dollars was not wasted (her rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” did indeed receive a round of applause at the screening I attended). Director Bill Condon expertly handles the onstage musical numbers, but for the others, he seems at a loss for what to do, often lazily falling back on staging that betrays the show’s Broadway underpinnings. At times, I felt less like I was watching a movie than a filmed stage production. The action moves along swiftly enough (though I occasionally glanced at my watch) and the cast is universally strong, but by the end, I couldn’t help but wonder why no one seems to be able to make movie musicals anymore.
by Beth Gilligan | Source: Dreamworks 35mm print
30 Dec 2006 10:51 AM | Comments (2)
With apologies to Lars and Baz, most contemporary filmmakers don’t understand – or worse, can’t execute – the creation of visually distinct musical and non-musical spaces without the cheat of a stage show to separate them.
I have not seen the film yet, but I was lucky enough to be working in the entertainment press in Boston on the night that “Dreamgirls” opened for out-of-town tryouts. So I got to see/hear Jennifer Holliday sing that amazing song live for the first time! So many years later, I still remember the power of that performance.
dave
30 December 2006
8:03 PM
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