Dreamgirls :
You will love this movie for the costumes, staging, and stellar performances. Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy are phenomenal in the way they inhabit their roles. The characters' wardrobe tells us who they're based on, but the performers imbue them with the facial expressions, movement, and vocal style of the original Motown stars. It's impressive in its own right, but when they're finally allowed to give it a little of themselves -- Hudson and Knowles on solo numbers, Murphy in understated scenes highlighting emotional frustration -- is when they truly shine.
You will hate this movie if you are a pop music snob, Motown fanatic, or stickler for musical accuracy. The songs themselves are poor imitations of the Motown hit machine ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," besides having one of the
worst titles in the history of song, is also one of the worst pieces of narrative music I've ever heard.) The score more accurately reflects the era in which the musical was written, not the era in which the story is set. The first scene takes place at a talent competition set roughly in the early to mid-60's, yet background music features the sort of
wa-wa chicka-chicka rhythm guitar line that didn't become popular until much later.
Overall grade: B-
*****
Arrested Development:Over the holidays, I caught much of the second season on cable. It was enough to remind me how brutally funny the writing was, how sharp the acting was, and how stupid the network was.
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virginmartyr1 had never watched the show before, and was quickly hooked. Smart girl. :)
Overall grade: A
*****
Also, I just learned that Kelly Bishop was in the original Broadway cast of
A Chorus Line! She played Sheila! She sang "At the Ballet!" I love that song! My love has caused a momentary case of
exclamationpointitis! Oh my!
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virginmartyr1 and I saw two this weekend, which is more than we've seen in months. 
