'Dreamgirls' - What A Nightmare
October 17th 2007 06:42
If you haven’t yet seen last year’s big Golden Globe Best Picture winner, I can only say – lucky you. Oprah gushed over it, critics applauded it, it made over $150 million and it won nearly thirty film awards. But Ms Michaelie did not like it one bit.
Yes, Eddie Murphy, Beyoncé Knowles and, in particular, Jennifer Hudson, did very well with their acting and singing. It was nice. And yes, the music was pleasant and the costumes were lovely. And yet I hated it, rather ferociously. I feel as though I should watch it again, in case it got me at a bad moment and I’ve taken against it so violently for no good reason, but alas, I cannot. My life is on the line. I fear, quite seriously, that a repeated viewing just may bore me to death.
The trouble is, I don’t even know why I so abhorred it. Nothing really stands out… but then maybe that’s the problem? Nothing caught my attention, my thoughts or my imagination, and so I find no reason to like it. That still doesn’t explain why I felt like throwing the DVD out the window, though.
For some reason, it just annoyed me. I felt like a couple of the songs went on and on and on like a Meat Loaf hit but without the Steinman excitement. They may have only lasted a few minutes in real time but it felt like forever.
Also, my expectations were very high. Dreamgirls was written and directed by Academy Award-winning Chicago screenwriter, Bill Condon, so I was anticipating something much more stimulating.
So, what I want to know is: did you see Dreamgirls? What did you think of it? Am I a crazy unenlightened nutter heedlessly disparaging what Rolling Stone regarded as the second best movie of 2006?
Michaelie Clark
Jennifer Hudson. Image courtesy of warnerbros.com
The trouble is, I don’t even know why I so abhorred it. Nothing really stands out… but then maybe that’s the problem? Nothing caught my attention, my thoughts or my imagination, and so I find no reason to like it. That still doesn’t explain why I felt like throwing the DVD out the window, though.
For some reason, it just annoyed me. I felt like a couple of the songs went on and on and on like a Meat Loaf hit but without the Steinman excitement. They may have only lasted a few minutes in real time but it felt like forever.
The Dreamettes. Image courtesy of socialitelife.com
Also, my expectations were very high. Dreamgirls was written and directed by Academy Award-winning Chicago screenwriter, Bill Condon, so I was anticipating something much more stimulating.
So, what I want to know is: did you see Dreamgirls? What did you think of it? Am I a crazy unenlightened nutter heedlessly disparaging what Rolling Stone regarded as the second best movie of 2006?
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by Krystal
feelings
Money sounds good, bit like my earnings on here. Oh, $, oh no mine's cents and no millions.
Sorry I've been so slow, shows just what one little kitten can do.
Crystal
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
My two cents doesn't earn me much either!
When you get a chance you'll have to answer my question on my previous post...
Michaelie
Comment by Techno
Geeky Blog
Comment by JoH
I haven't seen it, but I have been dying to!
Maybe I should think twice about renting it and wait until it graces the tv screen?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I also thought it was pretty dreadful. I think the thing that my friend and I disliked the most was the way they lurched into song whenever they could wangle it and it was always in the third person. That drove me nutty....if they had to sing (and unfortunately they sang conversations), then why not do it in the first person? Very annoying...
Great review, Michaelie. Thanks for reminding why this film got on my nerves,
Tracy
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I love anything based on true stories, but I have to agree with Tracy in that the launching into song in this one, was annoying and daft. If this film had been made seriously, like 'Walk the Line' where the music is there as part of the story, but as the backdrop to the story, then perhaps it could have made it above the five-out-of-ten line.
I too felt I had to watch it again to be sure I wasn't being finicky... or is that conditioned?
Good rant.
Lilla ...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
You would revise that opinion if you saw me watching this movie. Definite enraged lunatic tendencies. Lots of cursing and throwing things at the TV. Surely the stuff of un cauchemar...
But thank you. Lol.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I think 'graces' would be the wrong word. I would go for 'defiles' - but you know that's just my opinion, lol. I too, had been dying to see it... and then it nearly killed me to watch.
If you do hire it, let me know what you think.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
THE CONVERSATION SINGING - bloody awful. And they would just sing the same line over and over and over again until I almost lost the will to live...!
So glad I'm not the only one irritated by it. Great to see you Tracy.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I really liked Walk the Line, it was MUCH better than this, though I felt the style was a bit too similar to Ray.
I was half expecting a barrage of comments telling me that I'm an idiot and Dreamgirls is a masterpiece... So good to know I'm not crazy - or if I am I'm in good company!
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It's funny because I thought the same as you, that everyone would love the film, but it seems not so!!!
Good to see you too, I'll have to have a look at your posts that I've missed.
Byeee
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
ahhh anything endorsed by Oprah becomes an instant money maker even if it SUCKS!
I haven`t seen this one yet... and perhaps I`ll give it a miss now. It would irritate me to have to listen to them singing the whole way through
Helllloooo
How are youuuuu?
I am greeaaattt how are youuuuuu?
Nah I don`t think so hey?
Ash
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
And yes - the Oprah influence! Even James Frey got the lot from her when he was later proved a scammer. I happened to see that ep when it aired and later felt a little scammed myself, when he had his Mum crying and all that... AHHH!
So yes. I say leave it rather than take it. Lol.
Michaelie
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Everytime I'm at the DVD store, I'm tempted to hire this but...good sense stops me. I know this will irritate me.
It's weird...I like musicals...hell, I'm from a culture where every bloomin' film is a musical!...but this one just seems so...indulgent.
Rolling Stone said that??
...Rolling Stoned more like it...
AND don't start me on the highest paid Sycophant to the Stars!...talk about indulgent...
Hope you're well...
Dusk
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
The sad thing is that some parts had potential and were alright, but those incessant musical lapses made my head ache...if people have something to say, then say it, when singing stories is done well, it's great, when it's in the third person it's not!!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I LOVE musicals! (Plan to do a post on them soon - alas, have not seen many Bollywood spectaculars) which is why I thought I would also LOVE this.
But it was a total waste of time. I don't know how it got all the raves!
Listen to Tracy's advice - she is a very wise woman!
Thanks for swinging by,
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I do like being referred to as 'wise'....you're very kind, thank-you,
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Have a great weekend,
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
You have a good weekend too, Tracy.