Song of the Week: "I Am Changing"
Am I the only one who was disappointed by Dreamgirls?
It's a fine film, but it's no Chicago. Hell, it's not even Evita.
My biggest complaint with the movie is that it is incredibly inconsistent in working the songs into the storyline. There are musicals like Meet Me In St. Louis where people randomly burst into song and then there are musicals like Cabaret where all of the music takes place where music usually takes place -- on a stage, recording studio, etc. But to go back and forth between the two leaves a movie going audience feeling very confused and that's why this particular musical didn't translate as well from the stage to the screen. It impairs what is called the "willful suspension of disbelief" and we're no longer buying that this is really happening. Suddenly, we realize, "Oh. We're watching a movie." And that is sudden death for any film.
The script was fine, but poorly executed by the director and I didn't feel like I really cared about any of the characters at all -- with the exception, of course, of Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. If you're a fan of musicals, they are worth seeing the movie for, but I would suggest waiting for the DVD so long as you have surround sound. I found myself just waiting for the next time Hudson would appear on the screen. Her voice made the hair on my arms literally stand up!
Anyway, with my last diary entry titled "Things Have Changed," I figured this was an appropriate pick for Song of the Week.
It's a fine film, but it's no Chicago. Hell, it's not even Evita.
My biggest complaint with the movie is that it is incredibly inconsistent in working the songs into the storyline. There are musicals like Meet Me In St. Louis where people randomly burst into song and then there are musicals like Cabaret where all of the music takes place where music usually takes place -- on a stage, recording studio, etc. But to go back and forth between the two leaves a movie going audience feeling very confused and that's why this particular musical didn't translate as well from the stage to the screen. It impairs what is called the "willful suspension of disbelief" and we're no longer buying that this is really happening. Suddenly, we realize, "Oh. We're watching a movie." And that is sudden death for any film.
The script was fine, but poorly executed by the director and I didn't feel like I really cared about any of the characters at all -- with the exception, of course, of Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. If you're a fan of musicals, they are worth seeing the movie for, but I would suggest waiting for the DVD so long as you have surround sound. I found myself just waiting for the next time Hudson would appear on the screen. Her voice made the hair on my arms literally stand up!
Anyway, with my last diary entry titled "Things Have Changed," I figured this was an appropriate pick for Song of the Week.
All those years of darkness can leave a person blind.
posted by Jason Sechrest at 11:04 AM
4 Comments:
Jennifer Hudson will win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar! If you want talent then look no further than many of the Black churches across this nation, and that is where Hudson honed her skills via a church in Chicago.
I'm sick of this Dreamgirls shit. They were overhyping and predicting Oscars before they even began filming.
I'd rather see Denny Dillon get an Oscar nom for United 93 then some AI reject.
I actually very much enjoyed this movie. I loved the stage show and I felt this movie did it justice.
Every element of the movie worked for me including the costumes, the hairstyles, the music and the editing.
Perhaps I was in the mood I needed to be in but during the show I saw down in San Antonio, the audience was applauding (including me) and several times were standing up applauding.
I was dancing and singing on the way out but being a show queen I know all the words to practically any show.
I am sorry you didn't enjoy the movie but then again everything in the arts is in the eye of the beholder.
Ronald
WM - Agreed! I don't remember what Madea movie it was that the woman broke out into song in the middle of the church, but wow! xo L, J.
Anonymous - It did seem massively overhyped to me. But so is everything involving Beyonce. That could be another reason I didn't enjoy it very much. I've just never liked her. She is no Diana Ross. She is like the poor man's Mariah Carey. xo L, J.
Ronald - Okay, okay... I admit it, I TOO was walking out belting "I'm Telling You." lol And hell, "I Am Changing" is my song of the week after all. But I just felt like my main love for it was Hudson I guess. I am in no rush to go out and buy the DVD when it is released like I was for a lot of other musicals. But to each their own, I guess. xo L, J.
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