Dreamgirls

I have two confessions this week. First, I'll admit it, I went to see "Dreamgirls". As your faithful movie critic, I knew I was obligated to see the much-talked about Oscar hopeful. Second, while I'm not a huge fan of musicals, "Dreamgirls" is an excellent exception. Ironically, it's not the singing that drew me in but, rather, the outstanding performances across the board.

"Dreamgirls" follows the story of a trio of female singers, Effie, Deena and Lorrell, trying to make it big in the music industry in the 1960s and 70s. After being discovered at a talent show, they are given their big break to be backup singers to James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Eventually, Curtis Taylor, the man who becomes their boss, makes the decision to send them out as their own group, The Dreams. Much to the dismay of Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Curtis opts to put Deena (Beyonce) in front as the lead singer, going against their usual lineup. Of the three women, Effie has the biggest dreams, the biggest attitude, and, quite honestly, the biggest body. She feels slighted by Curtis, with whom she has been dating, and by the group that she has helped to form.

From here the story follows two paths. One tracks the rise on the charts of The Dreams, and the increased power and influence that Curtis gains in the industry and over Deena. The other goes the opposite direction as we witness the decline of Effie as she struggles to find a job and raising a daughter on her own.

I cannot say enough about the performances. Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson are more than deserving of their Oscar nominations in their roles. Murphy's character has always sought distinction, but feels left behind by the music genre he helped to create. Hudson is amazing in both singing and acting. The centerpiece here is her exit from the screen after she gets dropped from The Dreams. It is perhaps one of the most powerful performances of the year. Ironically, and on a side note, Jake Gyllenhaal's rendition on his recent SNL outing was all the more impressive after seeing Hudson on screen.

Despite all of the positives, the movie started dragging as it entered into the 1970s. It first sped through the group's meteoric rise, then kind of stalled in the final quarter of the movie as each character began doing their own thing. It became more about individual success rather than the group. This is also what brought an end to The Dreams, and to Curtis' dream.

"Dreamgirls" is an excellent movie that makes a case for allowing a sixth movie to be nominated for Best Picture. There was no one song that you'll leave the theater humming, but you'll be pumped up by the power of the story. Check it out. I give it a B+.

"Dreamgirls" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 125 minutes.