12 Movies Challenge: 'Dreamgirls'

by Julian Spivey
Last year I embarked on a movie challenge in hopes of seeing some films I’ve never seen and more importantly opening myself up to some kinds of films I likely would never see. The premise is that you have 12 months to watch 12 movies recommended by 12 friends. I don’t often participate in such social media challenges but being a movie buff, I felt this might be an interesting way to get out of my comfort zone a bit when it comes to watching movies.

Like in 2023, I have some movies on the list that I’ve always meant to get around to watching but haven’t – most notably the 1962 classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which I think I saw the first half of in school but was absent on the day it finished. And there’s some stuff I probably never would’ve gotten around to like Andrzej Wajda’s 1958 Polish film “Ashes and Diamonds.”
As I did last year I will write about my thoughts and feelings on each of these films after I have viewed them.
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Here are the 12 movies recommended to me and the months I’ve assigned myself to watch them:
 
January: “The Wonder” (2022)
February: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
March: “Dreamgirls” (2006)
April: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004)
May: “21 Jump Street” (2012)
June: “Mamma Mia” (2008)
July: “City of Angels” (1998)
August: “Fried Green Tomatoes” (1991)
September: “Ashes and Diamonds” (1958)
October: “Clue” (1985)
November: “The Intouchables” (2011)
December: “The Agony and the Ecstasy” (1965) 

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Photo: Dreamworks

​Well, Tyler, you redeemed yourself. Last year Tyler recommended I watch “The Devil Wears Prada,” which wound up toward the bottom of my list of recommended films of 2023.

This year Tyler recommended “Dreamgirls,” director Bill Condon’s 2006 musical drama based on the Broadway musical of the same name that debuted in 1981.

“Dreamgirls” is a movie I have been meaning to watch for many years, basically ever since it initially came out and I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

Inspired by Motown and The Supremes, “Dreamgirls” tells the story of the fictional singing group The Dreams, which began as backup singers for soul singer Jimmy “Thunder” Early (played by Eddie Murphy) before their manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (played by Jamie Foxx) realized they’d be more profitable on their own.

The original star vocalist for the group was Jennifer Hudson’s Effie White, whom Curtis was also in a relationship with, but when he realizes the world was changing from which performers had the better look than the better voice he makes Beyonce Knowles’s Deena Jones (I wonder if the Beyonce of today being the massive superstar would allow such a thing?) the face of the group and Effie is forced to take a step back. When Curtis also begins seeing Deena behind Effie’s back she finally has enough and quits the group and music business.

Effie is based on The Supremes member Florence Ballard, while Deena is Diana Ross. Curtis Taylor Jr. is the stand-in for Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.

The acting in “Dreamgirls” is terrific but it’s the musical performances that stand out. Whether you’ve seen the film or not you probably know the standout song of the musical is Effie’s “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” which is probably the exact moment that won Hudson her Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It’s an amazing vocal and acting performance. What I didn’t know is that it follows without a single beat the terrific performance from the whole cast on “It’s All Over.” It’s the best 10 minutes or so of the film.

Other fantastic performances are Beyonce’s stellar moment of “Listen” when she finally realizes what kind of snake Curtis has been to everybody caring more about profits than people and any time Eddie Murphy takes the mic.

I remember Murphy supposedly being the front-runner to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in this film and it was somewhat of a surprise when veteran actor Alan Arkin won for the comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” instead. Having now seen both films Murphy was robbed and Arkin’s win probably amounted to the kind of career achievement Oscar win you’ll see voters give from time to time.

I will also add that I’m happy Hudson won an Oscar for her role but this is in no way a supporting role. Effie White is the lead of “Dreamgirls” and it feels in hindsight like a bit of category fraud. It would’ve been interesting to see if she could’ve beaten Helen Mirren for “The Queen.”

“Dreamgirls” was nominated for the most Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards, held in February of 2007, with eight, winning for Best Supporting Actress and Best Sound Mixing on a night when director Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” won Best Picture.

Musicals can be hit or miss for me as a movie lover, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Dreamgirls” and wouldn’t have changed a whole lot (definitely John Lithgow’s wig). It’ll rank high on my list of favorite film musicals for now.