I'm so excited about this film

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060228e.php

Dreamgirls" Presented To Press

Posted: Tuesday February 28th, 2006 5:33pm
Source: Dark Horizons
Author: Garth Franklin

This Christmas, 25 years after its historic Broadway debut, the film adaptation of the Tony Award winning musical "Dreamgirls" will hit the silver screen and is already hotly tipped to be one of THE films to beat come Oscar time next year.

Til now though the only official thing from the film that we've seen has been a graphics-only teaser trailer essentially announcing the project. Well, under the sky of a quite thoroughly rain-soaked Downtown Los Angeles last night, a group of several hundred press - including myself and several other net & print notables - got to attend a surprisingly large and swanky party Dreamworks held at the famed Orpheum Theatre. The object of the night was to give us all a sneak preview of the film and it sure was a treat.

Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson assume the roles of Deena, Lorrell and Effie - The Dreamettes - in the film. The trio, along with Jamie Foxx who plays the group's manager Curtis Taylor Jr. were all in attendance. Eddie Murphy didn't appear though Foxx did treat the crowd to a pretty good impression of the actor.

Parts of the film are being shot at that theatre and all of us got treated to a performance of the song "Step Into The Bad Side". Initially we saw a few scant seconds of footage of Jamie Foxx and two other guys starting the song as a dance around the back entrance of that very theatre. As we watched, we got to see the song continue on the stage where the Dreamettes in glittering red dresses sang whilst wildly kicking backup dancers in suits performed all sorts of gravity-defying action in the background.

Famed choreographer Fatima Robinson (Black Eyed Peas, Will Smith, Prince) has done all the dance numbers that will be seen in the film, landing the job after putting together a winning test tape done to this very song which the filmmakers loved. The filmmakers themselves were on hand, each of them introduced by the Oscar-winning and deservedly acclaimed director Bill Condon ("Gods & Monsters", "Kinsey") who seems to be having the time of his life doing this project.

As I'm only mildly familiar with the original stage production, I began asking people in the hall about what they thought of it, especially those who were big fans of the original show. All responses ranged from impressed to uber-excited. Everything seems poised on this film to be as big a critical, commercial, and hopefully as award-winning as 2002's "Chicago" - if not more so.

Many were also impressed by B-roll footage of behind the scenes action playing on screens around the party tent, along with the various lush costumes and mini models of the sets in the film which were on display. Most of these models were recreations of lavish performances arenas from the biggest days of Motown, and all will be seen in the final product. One such theatre where the title song of the film is performed has the trio in sexy white with hints of blue dresses, big black wigs and performing in a ritzy dinner theatre where table and wall lights create the effect that the girls are literally floating on a starfield whilst performing their number.

In the end it was super impressive, a great kick off that promises great things from the project and should be one of THE films to look out for come year's end. For more information on the film, be sure to check out its official site. d

What if this turns out like Memoirs of a Geisha, only with worse actresses?

^ I guess its possible.

Interesting...

Really hard to say anything about the film at this point. Last year just showed that nothing is that reliable.
But considering that the people behind the film are obviously aiming for acclaim on top of $$$, I'd say it could turn out anywhere from POTO type disappointment to Chicago type overwhelming response from the Academy, though I doubt it would make as big a splash as Chicago made.

The teaser made me want to stab somebody.

Pretty sure Beyonce is going to get a nomination next year, that's for sure.

Thats very shocking to hear. My crystal ball says it gets nominated for nothing and ends up being mediocre musical. Even if it happens to be Chicago good ( which wasnt good anyways ) competition will probably be way more stiff then the year Chicago won. Bunch of hyperbole, no movie with Beyonce in it will be nominated for an oscar.

Why? I think she's a decent actress actually, and to be blunt, every year there's a "minority" quota to fill, so who else is in the line-up? I'm guessing she'll do a good job in a mediocre but flashy and very popular movie, and so the movie will get passed up, but her performance won't.

Are you being at all serious? Is there some other Beyonce I dont know about? So what performance was her most strongest? Was it in the Fighting Temptations? Or maybe Pink Panther? Oh I know, it has to be Goldmember right? Thats about her whole resume right there.

Oh, right. And Jamie Foxx had an all-star resume before Ray and Collateral, right? His performances in Stealth, Breakin' All the Rules, Bait, Any Given Sunday, Held Up, The Player's Club, and Booty Call were all top notch.

Not that I'm saying she will get nominated, but still... you can't discredit her until you see the performance.

I had always thought Jamie Foxx was a fairly affable, gifted comedian before Ray and Collateral (wasn't he on In Living Color?), but didn't know he had much dramatic range.

Also, mega excited about Dreamgirls. One of my most anticipated of the year.

AND I'M TELLING YOU I'M NOT GOING.

They need to paste that on top of all of its FYC ads.

Thats an awful disgusting way to look at it. It's like saying you or me can have on oscar worthy performance in us, but it's just that nobody saw it yet because we havnt been in anything. Beyonce is a singer, she'll probably never be a great actress and it's not uncommon since there isnt many great singers turned actresses. HEY maybe that american idol contesstant whos in the movie has a better chance at an oscar then Beyonce, the way you look at it is basically anyone has a chance at an oscar. Theres something called common sense and common sense says theres 1/100000000000 chance either happens.

Why use Jamix Foxx as an example? Whats the comparison between them? Case like Foxx doesnt happen that often and that guy always had alot of charm and charisma anyways, he was a diamond in the rough.

It's like everyone can be a great actor, which isnt true. It's not that easy.

It's not that easy, but if the person has never been in an oscar type of role, and is stuck with films like Goldmember, how the hell do you know that she can't act? She's never been able to show it. Her being a singer should have nothing to do with it. There are some singers that can act well, some that can't. But most of those singers that go from music to film don't star in oscar-calibur films.

If she had already starred in an Oscar film, and she sucked, I wouldn't be arguing. But you're counting her out before even seeing if she has some acting talent, saying that it's impossible, when it's really not.

For the record, I don't think she'll get nominated either. But I don't think it's impossible like you do. She might have some acting talent if she's in the right role or film, like Jamie Foxx. And it's not like people expected Jamie Foxx to win an oscar some years ago, so let's not kid ourselves here. He came out of nowhere and shocked everyone with Collateral and Ray.

Either way that guys been acting for a long time, Beyonce just starred in a few movies with little roles. I guess if theres any movie she can get any type of recognition for is this movie, since she'll probably do more singing then acting anyways. Either way I dont think a movie starring Beyonce and some American Idol singer ( not even one of the winners ) can be THAT great.

Does have some talented people working with it though, including the director so maybe i'll eat my words.

That non-winner from American Idol BTW, has been named ShoWest's "Female Star of Tomorrow".

Past winners:

Jessica Beil, Jennifer Garner, Naomi Watts, Hilary Swank, Heather Graham, Minnie Driver, Cameron Diaz, amoung others.

For doing what?



Thats so pathetic, based on buzz? Give me a break.

Over my dead body.

you have so much hate.

and I am telling you...

http://www.dreamgirls.dreamworks.com/

I'm Not Going

Unless Beyonce turns out to be a cross dresser with serious depression issues, I can't see myself being compelled to go to this, heh. Then again, that wallpaper reminds me of Kiss of the Spiderwoman's, and I do have a wonderful imagination....

What if I buy the ticket for you

I get in for free already. You wouldn't understand. Tis a celebrity thing.

whatevah.

If you are so offended, I suppose I can temporarily hold off on my boycott of Eddie Murphy dramas.