I ain't leaving! Lord have mercy when Jennifer Hudson belted out her rendition of I Ain't Leaving...I was screaming in the theater...people were cheering/clapping/calling on the name of the Lord...and I think someone in the last row got up and was glory holler dancing full of the Spirit.
There have been movies that have come out over the last several years that have touched me. Rent is a good example. But, dammit if DreamGirls didn't blow me the hell away. It is a poignant story as relevant today as it was when it debuted in 1980 and it applies to the music industry of the 60s and most definately of the decades that have followed right up until today.
The music...oh God the music...it was the kind of music that tears into...leaves you open and raw...sews you back up...but makes you wonder if you are ever going to be the same. The star of the show without a doubt was Jennifer Hudson as Effie White followed closely by Eddie Murphy as Jimmy. Beyonce was perfect for the role that she played, and I was actually impressed that she acted decently. And, for the first time---well almost the first time, she sang a song that I actually LOVED...the song she sings to her husband letting him know he was wrong and that she was taking back ownership of her life. But, other than that one songstress moment...the powerful, full rich, colorful, God given gift of Jennifer Hudson stole the show again and again and again without overpowering the movie.
The set designs were fantastic. The costumes were original and stunning. The dialogue was fantastic. The acting was tremendous. If this movie does not win best picture, best direction, best actor, best every damn thing, I am going to hunt down the members of the Academy one by one and have some words to say with them.
This is an opportunity for the Academy to rectify the wrong they did to The Color Purple (my favorite movie of all time). The Color Purple didn't win nary a damn academy award. Whoopie Goldberg deserved best actress...but being a black woman first time screen actress she was doomed from the gate. If they can give Halley Berry an Oscar then Jennifer Hudson better damn well get one...Eddie Murphy too dammit.
Allright...so...that's my rant for the day. GO AND SEE DREAMGIRLS! Make this one of the highest grossing films of all time...and then support Jennifer Hudson in staying true to herself and to her gifts.
