Set in 1960s Detroit, DREAMGIRLS follows the commercial and cultural struggles of the R&B recording industry, through the rise of the Dreamettes (later shortened to just the... more
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Dreamgirls, which centres around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul s...
musicalDreamgirls, which centres around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul so...
Advantages: Exciting, Great Performances, Set Pieces, Some Brilliant Tunes Disadvantages: Pacing, Sometimes Feels Stagey
...forged a new, can the Dreamgirls fight for their dreams and stay true to themselves in a sell out world? Dreamgirls is exactly what you would expect; a bombastic, exciting, glittering showdown of substance and style which boasts wonderful performances, startling visuals and a constantly interesting story which shoots along to a moving and genuinely magical conclusion. Even though the pacing is occasionally off and a few of the songs are nothing but ... ...that the weakest part of Dreamgirls was, rather bizarrely, the music; sure nearly all of the songs are exciting, moving and packed with catchy melodies, sweet vocals and interesting lyrics but rarely do they truly stand out. Too often I found the musical sequences passing me by, sometimes even getting in the way of the wider story and adding little to the richness of the piece. Music in musicals usually serves to advance the plot line, they are supposed ...
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Advantages: Acting and the music Disadvantages: Goes too 'Musical' half way through
Dreamgirls is a thinly veiled telling of the Diana Ross and The Supremes story, with all the names changed. Though there is no doubt in the viewers mind that this is who the main characters are based on obviously the makers deny this and say that it is all fiction, though an appearance later on in the film of a band that is so like The Jacksons it cant be a coincidence makes it hard to believe their assertions.
Originally a massive stage hit Dreamgirls ... ...the music business.
Dreamgirls is a good film that becomes a showcase for two actors, one mega famous and one newcomer. The newcomer, Jennifer Hudson, gives her heart and soul to the part of Effie and she is the character you really want to see more of, to learn more about. Her presence on screen is just electrifying and her voice is divine.
The mega famous one is one Eddie Murphy. He plays James ‘Thunder’ Early, a 50’s rythym and blues star who ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: great singing, acting, plot Disadvantages: -
...them but I suppose with Dreamgirls it wasn't so much the hype rather a certain cast member. I am a Beyonce fan and do like her singing but I saw 'The Fighting Temptations' one of her previous acting roles and I wasn't too moved by her acting it was just another singer singing in a role and calling it acting. Now, I suppose not a lot really changed in this film as yet again she still plays the role of a singer but I suppose this is her best role yet ... ...The film has won many awards which I was quite shocked by it has won somewhere around 40 awards which is pretty amazing for a film so with this alone I decided to watch this. This film begins with us seeing a stage and singers on it, it is like a song contest and at the end one group only will win. When Deena (Beyonce Knowles) and her girls arrive late the makers are not sure if they will put her group into the show because they are late but then ...
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Advantages: Outstanding performances, great music Disadvantages: singing/talking!
...it worth the wait?
Dreamgirls has an impressive cast. The main cast are as follows:
Jamie Foxx - Curtis Taylor
Beyonce Knowles - Deena Jones
Eddie Murphy - Jimmy Early aka James 'Thunder' Early
Jennifer Hudson - Effie White
Danny Glover - Marty Madison
Keith Robinson - C.C. White
Anika Noni Rose - Lorell Robinson
Sharon Leal - Michelle Morris
It is directed by Bill Condon who also wrote the screenplay. The film is an adaptation of the successful ... ...about?
The story itself is nothing knew. Its about the rise of an all american girl trio through the sixties and seventies. I would compare their image and vocal style very much with the supremes. It is in a similar vein to the Tina Turner film 'Whats love got to do with it' but on a much grander scale.
The film starts with three young girls (calling themselves the dreamettes) arriving late for a talent show style night and begging to be allowed ...
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Did you enjoy it?
Characters / Performances
Soundtrack
How does it compare to ...
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29.11.2007
(30.11.2007)
Quick review of Dreamgirls DVD Review ofDreamgirls DVDby
catkinsays
I first saw this film at thh cinema and enjoyed it so much I bought the dvd when it was released. The film is ablout a three piece girl band (supposedly based on Diana Ross and the Supremes) that are trying to make it in the music business. There is music, romance, scandal and pain. What more could you want. Sometimes a little "cheesy" in places, but I think thats half of the appeal. Overall a good film, that will appeal to most ages (teens to grannies) with a fantastic soundtrack. Well worth a watch.
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good cast and catchy songs. Disadvantages: Drags a little.
...Dreamgirls is a film following a group of singers called the Dreamettes. These three girls are on the hunt for fame and fortune and find it when they are offered the chance to sing behind thier favourite R&B sensation Sir James Thunder Early. They agree and are soon offered thier own spot in a show. It is then they become the Dreams because they are "no longer little girls, they are women". It is then things begin to drastically change.
I really enjoyed this film. The music is fantastic I can't stop singing the songs.
However, I think the film drags slightly in the middle as I found myself getting a little bored but the more I watched it the more I came to really enjoy it.
The cast are fantastic especially Jennnifer Hudson who won an Oscar for her performance as Effie White. The cast also includes
Beyonce Knowles
Eddie Murphy...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: The fabulous and Beautiful songs. Disadvantages: Not much more than a little story.
...“Dreamgirls” adapts a successful Broadway musical show in the beginning of the Eighties, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, and based on Tom Eyen’s book and lyrics (both already dead).
The story finds its inspiration in the foundation and progression of Motown Records (Jamie Foxx plays the role of Motown’s director) and, particularly, in the Supremes’ creation and success (The Dreams in the movie).
We don’t obviously see the Broadway show, but, in the movie, everything is a reason to create a song-atmosphere, to hear the excellent and vibrating R&B, Soul and Disco songs and music.
With great interpretations, especially from Jennifer Hudson (Effie White), it is worthy to hear (and see, because in Jennifer’s face and body there is something else): “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”, where in sublime despair she screams...
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Actor(s): Beyonce Knowles, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx
Director(s): Bill Condon
Genre: Musicals & Music Films - Musicals & Other Music Films
Classification: 12 years and over
Production Year: 2006
Running Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Consumer Advice: Contains one use of strong language and hard drug references
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: Set in 1960s Detroit, DREAMGIRLS follows the commercial and cultural struggles of the R&B recording industry, through the rise of the Dreamettes (later shortened to just the Dreams) from backup singers to headlining international superstars. The trio--Deena, Effie, and Lorrell--soon discover the harsh reality behind the glamour of fame and fortune, as the group's controlling and shady manager, Curtis Taylor Jr, uses them to help build his musical empire and capture his dream of crossing over from R&B to the pop charts.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date: 28/05/2007
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: PHE 9139
Barcode: 5014437913937
Screenwriter: Bill Condon
Composer: Henry Krieger
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Extended and alternate scenes, Beyonce music video,
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Award information
BAFTA: Best Supporting Actress 2007 (Jennifer Hudson)
OSCAR: Best Actress In A Supporting Role 2007 (Jennifer Hudson)
DVD Description
Set in 1960s Detroit, DREAMGIRLS follows the commercial and cultural struggles of the R&B recording industry, through the rise of the Dreamettes (later shortened to just the Dreams) from backup singers to headlining international superstars. The trio--Deena (Beyonce Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson), and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose)--soon discover the harsh reality behind the glamour of fame and fortune, as the group's controlling and shady manager, Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), uses them to help build his musical empire and capture his dream of crossing over from R&B to the pop charts. He sacrifices Effie's immense talent as lead singer for Deena's stunning, more mainstream look to sell the sound, pushing marketable appeal over musical artisanship--and compromising the ambitions of his proteges.
Since its Broadway debut, DREAMGIRLS has been widely rumoured to be inspired by the hugely successful girl-group the Supremes, as well as some of Motown's biggest players. Knowles's Deena portrays the Diana Ross character, radiant in miraculous recreations of the hairstyles and fashions that made Ross timeless, while Foxx's Taylor exemplifies influential Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. Former AMERICAN IDOL contestant Jennifer Hudson makes her feature-film debut delivering a knockout performance as the larger-than-life Effie, and Eddie Murphy is believable as the misunderstood James Brown-like character of Jimmy "Thunder" Early. Vibrant with colourful costumes and sleek backdrops, the film flows effortlessly from dialogue to musical numbers, each song capturing the richness of the talented cast and the essence of the era, endlessly soaring with fast-paced excitement and non-stop emotion.
Professional reviews
Review: DREAMGIRLS is the rare movie musical with real rapture in it... [The editing] works in beautiful smooth tandem with the whooshing, darting camera (Entertainment Weekly, 27/04/2007)
When was the last time you saw a first-time film actress upstage an Oscar winner, a pop diva and a movie star of long standing? Ms. Hudson is not going anywhere. She has arrived (New York Times, 27/04/2007)
This baby dazzles like nothing else anywhere... DREAMGIRLS is a movie that has everything: a blazing new star in Jennifer Hudson, a riveting, revitalized Eddie Murphy, a hot-lick score... and a timely story... (Rolling Stone, 27/04/2007)
The greatest pleasure comes from its honesty as a musical... With great spangly extravaganzas of glam and glory, fireworks and frocks (Sight and Sound, 27/04/2007)
Murphy delivers easily his best work to date in a role that perfectly utilises his wise-cracking persona, earthy singing voice and steadily advancing years (Total Film, 27/04/2007)
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Listed on Ciao since : 11/02/2007
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