Robert's Review

"Dreamgirls," which is based on the Broadway musical, is the triumphant story of a trio of black female soul singers and their rise to stardom on the R&B charts and their cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's. The trio is made up of Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles), Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) and Effie Melody White (Jennifer "the former American Idol contestant" Hudson). With their combined talent and the help of Effie's brother Clarence Conrad 'C.C.' White (Keith "the former Green Power Ranger" Robinson), a very talented song writer and composer, the "Dreams" just can figure out why their not making their music career happen. 

Enter Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), a hard-nosed businessman who owns both a music production company and a Cadillac dealership. He sees great potential in the "Dreams," so he gives them their first big break as backup singers for James 'Thunder' Early (Eddie Murphy), the very popular soul singer who's being managed by Marty Madison (Danny Glover). 

In the 1960's, up-and-coming black artists had many racial hurdles to get past if they're truly going to make it. In the white-controlled media, radio DJs were on a strict pay-for-play system, meaning that if you didn't pay them off, they would never play records for black artists. Because of that, most black artist's music would only be played locally on the radio and wouldn't get syndication across the country. Therefore, white artists were often able to steal popular black artist's songs and take them nationwide – without legal repercussions. Curtis knew how this game was played, so he knew that in order to build the music empire he wanted, he would have to pay off a lot of people, make some very important changes and really put his nose to the grindstone to make it happen. With his help, the "Dreams" rose to stardom, but that rise was not without upsets or heartbreaks.

"Dreamgirls" is easily one of the best movies of the year. The singing performances are incredibly powerful and deeply moving. The acting performances are stellar all around, allowing Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and newcomer Jennifer Hudson to steal the show. Also, the director (Bill Condon) masterfully threw in some incredibly funny and entertaining situational bits of humor to lighten the seriousness of the film, making it just that much more enjoyable. Lastly, I can recall several times DURING this movie where the entire audience was cheering wildly. In all my years (and for as many movies as I have seen), this was entirely new to me. I have never seen such overwhelming enthusiasm from the audience in any other movie before. It was truly something to behold and I'm sure that "Dreamgirls" is going win all kinds of awards. It is simply fantastic! 

All in all, I'd give this movie 5 STARS. Re-watch value: EXCEPTIONAL

Based on the Broadway musical, set in the 1960s where a good night on stage can get you noticed but it won't get your song airtime on the radio.  A new kind of music is on the cusp of being born – a sound with roots buried deep in the soul of Detroit itself, where songs are about more than what is on the surface, and everyone is bound together by a shared dream.  Curtis Taylor, JR. is a car salesman aching to make his mark in the music business – to form his own record label and get its sound heard on mainstream radio at a time when civil rights are still only a whisper in the streets.  He just needs the right angle, the right talent, and a product to sell.  The dreamettes - Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles), Larrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) and Lead singer Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) – show up late for a local talent show, with their cheap wigs and homemade dresses, rehearsing songs and steps by Effie's brother, C.C. (Keith Robinson), with hopes that talent and sheer desire will break them out of the only life that seems available to them.  They are young.  They're beautiful.  They're just what Curtis is looking for.  All they have to do is trust him. 

Well I for one was shocked that this was a musical (I didn't know that going in so imagine my surprise when the first musical number broke out).  After the initial shock I found that this was a remarkable movie, the casting was excellent and the shocking performance from the former American Idolist Jennifer Hudson was absolutely fantastic (and Simon said she wouldn't amount to much).  The fact that everyone cast can sing, and dance made it all that more enjoyable.  This was a great movie one of the best I have seen all year.  I would love to see this on Broadway, and see the live performance.  The direction, choreographing and staging was all excellent as well as the acting talent on the screen.

Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars Re-Watch Value: High (I will purchase on DVD when released).

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