Dreamgirls

The story of a band of three Black girls a fictional version of the Supremes, including Diana Ross trying to break into the mainstream in the troubled 8217;60s, Dreamgirls is based on a hit Broadway musical. The director is Bill Condon, who won an Oscar for his writing in Chicago. Dreamgirls brings together an exciting all-Black cast, the songs are catchy perhaps too catchy, Foxx pulled off a role as the singing sensation Ray Charles recently, and Jennifer Hudson just bagged the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Dreamgirls.

But for all that8217;s going for it, this film never achieves the verve of Chicago. There is no zing to the music, no heart in its beat, and the story of the cut-throat competition in the music business drags on for far too long and without any highs or lows. You get barely a hint of what8217;s happening before the cast breaks into another song. Unlike Chicago, these songs seem to have been added on to classify this film as a musical.

While Hudson walked away with all the praise for her dignity and grace in the role of Effe White the talented one pushed to the background because she isn8217;t glamorous enough for the White audiences, Knowles never gets a chance other than to blink her eyes. You know she can do much more from the fact that, despite being in the unenvious position of the girl who everyone is or should be jealous of, she manages to make you like her.