Solid Gold

It's ironic that James Brown passed away on Christmas Day, the day that Dreamgirls hit movie screens all across the nation. Perhaps it's no coincidence that, in the midst of very capable all the way up to stellar performances, one of the two brightest stars in the movie version of the hit Broadway play belongs to James "Jimmy" Thunder Early, the character who most clearly emulates the late Godfather of Soul...and, by extension, to Eddie Murphy, who so brilliantly captured his--yes--soul. And then there's Jennifer Hudson, the American Idol finalist--an everyday girl who, by virtue of her extraordinary voice (and, as it turns out, acting abilities)--equally succeeds in bringing the character of Effie White alive on the screen. Brings to life? Hudson snaps, crackles, and pops on the screen! Likewise for the rest of The Dreams, the group loosely based on The Supremes, which includes the lovely Beyonce Knowles as Deena Jones, the ingenue who captures the heart of the entrepreneurial Curtis Taylor, Jr.(in a subdued, yet appropriate, performance by Jamie Foxx), and whom he turns into a star; and Anika Noni Rose, as Lorrell Robinson, who loves Jimmy from his pop chart topping days all the way through his sad decline. There's music--singing, and dancing--throughout the movie, the Broadway show turned into a movie that it is--including Hudson's show-stopping "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (though, actually, I was more moved by her rendition of "One Night Only"). Music: of the clap to; sway to; snap and drum your fingers to; want to get up and dance to; and, ultimately, want to sing along with, type of music. There's love; betrayal; greed; corruption; redemption. There's a message. It was somewhere in the midst of all of this that I found myself--that I had to return to--three times in as many days--to absorb it to the full. James Brown would be proud, indeed. Ninina needs four popcorn boxes.

Yes!!! Jennifer Hudson--Best Supporting Actress; Eddie Murphy--Best Supporting Actor; Best Movie--Musical: Golden Globes.

And, oh my goodness, what finally clicked in my brain: Bill Condon, director & screenwriter, along with the late Tom Eyen (book; Tony Award winner for the original Broadway production).

Bill Condon Forum (Filmbug)

My God, I knew him! (Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:14am ET)
by Georgina Marrero
I felt a tingle back in 02 when he won Best Adapted Screenplay for Gods and Monsters; and then, again, when Chicago won all those awards. Tonight, however, I took one look at him as he received accolade after accolade for Dreamgirls, and realized, Omigod, I knew him: this is the same Bill Condon who kept taking top honors in our Vergil and Latin Lyric Poetry classes in Steele Commager's classroom in Hamilton Hall! A slight case of sophomoric envy has turned into great pride at being able to acknowledge a great member of the cinematic profession as...well, someone I knew, way back when. Congratulations, Bill! May you have many more successes--and continue to so royally entertain us--for many years to come!