2 posts tagged “movies”

 
I'd heard of Dreamgirls of course, one of Broadway's greatest hits starring an all black cast, but the problem with it being Broadway is that when you're in Lincoln, Ne, there's really no way to become fully exposed to that kind of entertainment.

The Lied Center has brought in a great number of shows, but the only time we really saw black themed shows was during Martin Luther King's birthday and Black History month. Not that I'm complaining, I take what I can get, but I only really started paying attention to it because of CAMP. I know, sad, but also enlightening. I became so engrossed with this white girl's version of "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going" (which, why such a long song title?) that I made it my duty to rush out and find it.

Then I forgot and became slightly CAMP obsessed (as is my wont so shut up) and really completely forgot about it until I heard the movie was coming out. Then I heard Beyonce was starring and said, "Oh God no!" then I heard Fantasia might be in it and thought, "For Fantasia... I will." Then Fantasia got dumped and JHud boarded and I was still slightly skeptical.  

I have a slight aversion to black musical period pieces which is why I avoided Ray like the plague, and still haven't seen Idlewild. There's something about the whole shuckin' & jivin' thing that goes on that has been ruined by racism, and it's not the people within the film that make me sad, but rather the ones in the audience clapping. The fact that forms of our entertainment has been held against us is sad and a bit diheartening. To take something as lighthearted as comedy and ruin it with the ugliness of hatred is something that's always bothered me.

It sucks that you can't see a man tap dancing and smiling without images of Stepin Fetchit clouding the room. It's sad that the actor himself has become a stereotype when all he was trying to do was make it in an imperfect system. Shades of this struggle are one of the pillars this movie was made upon.

The movie begins at a talent show in 1960's Detroit during the height of the Motown Sound. R&B, Gospel, and the Blues were living congruently in a world that was preparing to receive it with open arms. The hopes of black entertainers to become stars in their own right was on the tips of the tongues of those brave enough to embrace a vision. The ones percipient enough to see that though the future may not include them, it will their contributions. They became visionaries who always looked forward and looked to make the world a better place.

Our visionary in this film was Mr. Curtis Taylor Jr. as portrayed by Jamie Foxx. Can we talk about Jamie Foxx for a minute? Now I've always been a fan of his. He got his start on In Living Color which was genius for it's vision and launched the career of many. Then he went on to achieve market fame with his own show (which aired for five years... I know, right?) and released several relatively successful comedy albums. And of course, who could forget Booty Call? Though Jamie would probably like to, I still maintain that it's one of the funnest movies that Comedy Central has ever aired.

Jamie is the story of a young talent who had all the right assets to become a star but could never fully break into mainstream (read: white) America. It wasn't until a chance was taken on him in 1999 to star in Any Given Sunday that he was able to show his talents to someone who "mattered" (more on that in a bit).

He went on to pick roles that gave him mainstream exposure (Ali, Collateral), but also kept him close to the urban market (Bait, Breakin' All the Rules). He was coasting along on the "Breakout Star" route until he auditioned and received an Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles, a man who couldn't see color, but ultimately knew the effects it had on those who could.

After "Ray" came the usual post-Oscar suckfests, "Stealth", "Miami Vice" (we won't count "Jarhead", but only because of Hoo-rah, I still say that), and of course the album (which, someday I'll get started on that, but I don't want to deviate too much today), but something seemed to change in Jamie. There's a new hardness to him that wasn't previously there, as though in his rush to become a serious actor, he forgot the roots that led to his promotion. I'm all for change and evolving into a better person, but I also know what happens when you forget your history.

Jamie then receives the role of Curtis Taylor Jr and for some reason (wink) it fits him like a glove. He's very "by any means necessary" and we see a man with a vision for changing the future, put in the midst of a people who are chained to the past. In the beginning the Dreamettes -- comprised of Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles), Lorrell Robinson (Broadway Tony award winning star Anika Noni Rose), and Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) -- are looking just to win. In general. Yes, they have dreams of STARDOM, and yes they have future goals, but it's only as far as their eyes can see, only as far as their imaginations can take them. To them, winning this competition is the first step because it's the opportunity that is offered.

Curtis rigs the show where though they were the most promising act, the Dreamettes lose. Immediately Deena wants to quit, but Curtis knows that them losing is really what's going to make them stars. Later he offers them the chance to travel as backup for Mr. James (Jimmy) "Thunder" Early (portrayed deliciously by Eddie Murphy), a wild soul singer with a heart too big and pants too small. It's an offer that gets Deena back on the train, but derails Effie who insists on not doing backup.

Let's talk a little about Jennifer Hudson. She was on the 3rd season of American Idol and always a favorite of yours truly. It was the season of the divas that brought up the haughty neo-soul hopeful (LeToya London), the sassy down home country gal (Fantasia), and the church blowing DIVA (Ms. JHud). There was a lot of fun race stuff that went on during the season and Jen took her leave from American Idol the night all three women were in the bottom three.

How she managed to stay on anyone's radar is beyond me except through the perseverance of her fans, and the sheer magnitude of her talent. It's funny that she even got the audition since Frenchie has lost a little poundage and was currently burning up the stage in the Broadway revival. But she was handed an opportunity and fought for it, claiming to have auditioned more than six times for the role and being told no after each occasion. She rose from the ashes of obscurity and has secured her spot as America's newest ingenue.

Her character in the movie is a go getter but one who was born with an innate talent and the inability to showcase it as she'd like. She knows she has the talent, but what she doesn't know is that talent will only get you so far, and so will luck. In the end it's ambition and action that get you where you want to be.

From the beginning of the first scene to the end we are introduced into a world that surrounds our characters and bubbles them off from the rest of life's troubles. We see singing, and dancing and hope for tomorrow. These girls are happy with their potential success and happy for their environment. When they join Curtis' start up management company, they do so with stars in their eyes, but they're not the stars of Hollywood, they are the stars of Detroit.
 

In Curtis' eyes lie the stars of the universe, the stars of a world outside the one he's resigned. He's looking not just towards tomorrow, but towards forever, until the end of time. It can almost be said that the Dreamettes are his break, his stepping stone into his dreams of trailblazing and domination.

I know it seems like such a small thing, but the opposite natures of the opening act is what sets the moods and themes for the entire movie. From Curtis' ambition, to Jimmy's performance ideas, to Effie's egocentrism, to Deena's short attention span and Norrel's just general being there, we see a group with their eyes on the prize and every possible route of getting there.

We'll fast forward a bit, Curtis ends up replacing Marty Madison (Danny Glover) as Jimmy's primary manager and deigns to take them beyond the Chitlin Curcuit and into the mainstream charts. He talks about the injustices of white people taking their songs and making money off of them going so far as to site Elvis Presley's appropriation of "Hound Dog" originally recorded by Big Mama Thorton. The shadow of these events were presented hilariously while when after riding high on the success of Cadillac Car, the song was redone in a smoother pop style by a white group.

Curtis was determined to a) break into mainstream, b)break more black stars into mainstream instead of just ghostwriters and voice dubbers, and c)pave the way so that future stars wouldn't have to go through the hoops he was going to have to leap through to get his girls on the map.

So we have three stories being told intermittently. The tale of a manager who is looking to revolutionize the industry, the tale of a singer who has achieved success in his own right, and will go as far as anyone will take him, and the tale of a young group comprised of two girls who are just along for the ride, and one who refuses to be anything less than driver.

Of course in the midst of this dream search is the normal everyday drama. Payola, gambling, business fronts, mob ties. Lorrell falls for Jimmy who just happens to be still married, Effie falls in love with Curtis who falls in love with her person, but falls in love with Deena's potential. Though he breaks my heart when he sings When I First Saw You, we know that the song was originally meant for Effie's heart, but for Deena's confidence. He fell in love with not her look, but for what that look represented. A gateway. Deena's complexion was fair and her figure exotic. She was basically the Halle Berry of the group. Curtis believed in her vision so much that he chose her to sing lead even though she wasn't the best singer of the group.

This is the point where Effie pretty much loses it. She no longer wants her dreams deferred and even Deena agrees that this is Effie's time to shine. Eventually they come to a consensus ended by a "We Are Family" number. Later however, as the spotlight shines more and more on Deena and Effie is resigned to the sidelines, she begins to act out and is finally kicked out of the group despite her insistence of staying. More on that scene in a bit. Effie is replaced with a new girl named Michelle (HA!) and later we see the group singing "We Are Family" in very much the same manner as before less the sincerity.

Can we take a quick break to talk about Beyonce? Or even more to the point, Beyonce: The Actress. Y'all know that while I'll buy her albums, I can't stand Beyonce Knowles. And I wonder about her process during this role, did she sit on set and chant to herself, "Don't be you, don't be you!"? I have to give her props for playing the exact opposite of herself, still having sass, and making it believable. Beyonce commented that she considered this her first role as an actress and I have to agree. She was sweet, laid back and able to go with the flow, and the only DIVA moment was during "Listen". Now don't get me wrong, I adore the new addition and I think it fit well, but for the sweet woman who was fed up and really not that much of a star, to come as forcefully as she did was a bit too much Beyonce.

It's much like watching Nacho Libre and being able to distinguish when it was Nacho, and when it was Jack Black, you could see her going in and out and trying not to go too far and failing.

Everyone had an evolution of this film that still fit within the themes. Curtis went from young visionary to overbearing dictator. He was so engrossed in his dream that he began to believe that only he could make it happen. There is a scene where Jimmy records a Message song in the style of Marvin Gaye. Curtis blocks it saying that any controversy could knock them off track. At the height of the 12th Street Detroit Riots, Civil Rights unrest, and the Vietnam War, Curtis' gave no mind to fixing what damaged, but making a new path.

Unfortunately, you can't acknowledge your time line without acknowledging the people being affected by it. Michelle had a brother in Vietnam whose voice she wanted to represent through song, Jimmy needed inspiration, Deena needed independence, and all of these things are problems Curtis took for granted.

There's something to be said about the big picture. I was watching the Christmas Special of Doctor Who and there was a seen where many people were hurt. The woman he was with insisted that since he was a doctor, he could help attend medically to those wounded. He shook her off and told her to realize the bigger picture, that fixing these people now is not as important as preventing the deaths of many others. While this thought is admirable, it's only one part of the equation, and it's something that you cannot manage both sides of. The Doctor has chosen to be the trailblazer, protector of Earth, the human race, but it is YOU who must protect yourself.

It's Curtis vs. Effie. Effie realized right away that her dreams were not only not a priority to Curtis, but would never come to fruition under his guidance. She was still a bit too dependent on someone doing something for her, but overall her leaving and changing put her in a position where she could look out for who was most important to her.

Norrell started as a girl and became a woman who fell in love with a world that was unavailable to her. She would never attain individual success and I don't believe she ever wanted to. I believe she just wanted to sing, and to be in an atmosphere that was conducive to her happiness. She finally realizes that the simulacrum she invented was not reality and despite her being very much in love finally breaks it off with Jimmy.

Jimmy pretty much never changes except to become dissallusioned and drug reliant. He was really in the middle of his journey when we met him which is interesting in and of itself to think about. That all the motions our girls are going through were done already through Jimmy, and yet he seems to have learned nothing, though really, who expected him to?

Deenah is a girl who's not very bright, but knows when something is not right. Though she's just along for the ride, she sees the flaws in the man she loves. It's very interesting to see her assert herself. She takes a meeting with a producer and director (played by John Lithgow and... some other guy) for a part in a movie that features fellatio on a truck driver. It's a ridiculous plan, even moreso than the disco-inspired Cleopatra that Curtis wants her to head, but the sincerity and passion and desperation in her eyes permeates the screen. It was one time that I forgot it was Beyonce which says a lot for the role. I hate reading the outside things she's said and the different sizes of feet she stuck in her mouth while doing press for the film. This was a role completely designed for her and she was wonderful in it. Why mess that up by being stupid? And that's the difference between Beyonce and someone who has some sense.

The movie gets a bit hackneyed after the Listen number and everything kind of rushes to the big climax. It's lovely, but I can see where some may have been disappointed though I must say I was enthralled. The costumes were bright and lush, the musical numbers festive and inspired, and the storyline was palpable.

Through it all it's unclear as to who the winner is, and that may be the plan. That while Effie was successful she was still pretty stunted, who knows what's in store for her and Lil Magic (though I like to call her Bobbi Christina)? She didn't really grows so much as get what she wanted so it's unclear as to whether her ending will be completely happy. Norrell has lost a lot and will now be forced to venture the world on her own as a new woman. She's still relatively young so there is promise for her. Deenah has the possibility of a decent solo career provided she doesn't take that truckstop movie, and Curtis is about to face 8 years of back child support and trying to market a Cassie doppleganger so really there's no telling what that fool will do.

I like the ending of promises unknown. I like being unsure as they are about their futures and being able to appreciate the section of the story they chose to show us. Really the movie wasn't about them as much as it was about the lives of black artists during that time. Trying to come out and sing and become stars in their own right. Trying to remain legitimate while being innovative, trying to make the world love them at a time when they were most hated. Black artists made so many sacrifices both financially and culturally just to break into a club that didn't want them for anything but entertainment. There was a joke while the Dreamette's performed at a Miami club where the MC introduced them as their first Negro act,

"After they get done singing they can mop up!" and the crowd laughed and that was considered acceptable. It's sad that so many of them got chastised and persecuted for wanting to better themselves. It's why I hate the movie Bamboozled, because yes shuckin' and jivin' and supposedly turning your back on your culture is wrong, but it's also a mechanism that we've had to use just to make it. I can't knock the hustle when that's the only option available.

I could go on forever about the responsibilities of black entertainers, and one day I will, but I'd like to go to some fun now! 

This was the second applause worthy performance of the night the first being Jimmy Early's first performance which we had WAY too much fun with. It was funny, we went in to a crowded theater and sat between a middle-aged white couple and an elderly white lady. Ronnie and I were worried that we would bother these patrons, but they ended up making just as much noise as we did!

So the apex to this scene begins once the Dreams and C.C. leave the stage and Effie is left standing there with Curtis. She starts out soft and sweet yet desperate, pleading her case and bearing her soul to the man that became her everything. As the movie progresses the words portray a strength that is belied by Effie's performance. She yells, "I'm not going out!" as her body crumbles in on itself and she reaches into the distance towards a goal that will forever be out of reach. Even the music was riveting as the strings and piano told the truth of the tune behind the lyrics.

We were truly stilled by her performance. There's a series of notes at the end that were akin to sobs, just wailing discomforts of pain and fading hope pouring out of her and into an unaccepting atmosphere. Ronnie grabbed my hand and I couldn't look at her but I knew that she knew, and the couple beside us knew and the students in front of us and everyone in the audience was on the same page and we understood the unspeakable angst not in the words but in the heart and soul of the song.

She hit her big note and we exhaled and clapped and wiped away tears and touched one another and shook our heads and laughed a little and nodded and realized that this was to be an experience. Not only one between the screen and ourselves, but with each other. As the Dreams were a family in the movie, we too were a family in the audience. It sounds hokey, but American audience participation is really sometimes the best reason to go out to the movies. The need to share something on a universal level is what fuels our desires to interact, and this movie exploited those desires in a way that was ultimately pleasing. 

This song was more of an exhale, that finally Effie was coming into her own and accepting that life would not be handed to her. She still had a long ways to go, but the initial steps were lovely. The elderly woman beside us was humming along gaily and the young woman two rows in front of us shot up a hand and waved it in time to the beat. We listened as she sand loved every minute.

Beyonce can sang. I don't care, I know I give her a lot of crap and Lord knows that heiffa deserves it, but Beyonce can sing her way out of a safe if she had to. The girl's got talent and the best of it was showed in this number. The set up was simple, all she had was one mic (heh) and it was all she needed. The instrumentation was minimal but her voice was all that was needed to carry the message of pleading. The begging in the song did not give way to whining in her tone, she stayed strong and measured, but still submissive and vulnerable. It was an excellent performance despite the slight lapses in character. 

There's SO much more I want to say.  So many things I haven't even touched though I can't wait to hear your thoughts and reactions.  It's an excellent movie, and I'll see it again and again and buy the DVD and I recommend it to everyone because if anything it's a love story wrapped in a history lesson and everyone can enjoy that. From men taking their wives out for a date movie (HINT HINT Mr. katiedidtoo!), or a group of girls looking for a good time, or really anyone who just wants to see a good fun movie. It's not completely serious and the costumes and some of the content make for a good snarky time.  Ultimately, it's a dream!

What is your favorite children's movie?

I am a Disney Movie FREAK!  I can never just pick one of anything so I'll take you through my list of faves.  Come along, won't you?

 

The Little Mermaid:  I LOVE THIS MOVIE!  I just rewatched it and fell in love all over again.  The songs, the story, the mysogony, the URSULA!  All fantastic.  So mid '90s in its mentality and completely engaging and lovely.  The ULTRA SUPER DUPER OMG! edition comes out in Oct and I will be first in line to get it.

 

 

 

 

 

Aladdin:  Words cannot describe how much I loved this film.  So much so that I watched BOTH sequels (and what is up with Disney and stank butt sequels?!).  The songs, the romance, the betrayal and OH THE COMEDY!  This was before Robin Williams got annoying so it was really nice to see.

 

 

 

Hercules:  Okay, Greek mythology + Gospel infused / '50s style music + Black ladies = LURVE!  Oh this movie is like everything wonderfully cheesy and wrong wrapped up in a pita and served on a silver platter.  It's so delightfully sappy for such a heavy and dark subject matter, and you have to love Disney for having the balls to get away with it. 

 

 

 

 

The Lion King 1 1/2:  Possibly the only Disney Sequel that I've loved (not including the computer animated ones).  It has the whole "alternate reality" thing going for it where it shows you what really happened during the first Lion King.  Surprisingly, I wasn't a huge fan of the first movie so that may be why I enjoyed this so much.

 

 

 

Cinderella:  You have to love Cinderella, it's a rule somewhere.  I slept on it for a long time, thinking that it was pretty mediocre.  I lumped it in with the Snow White/Sleeping Beauty line of Damsel in Distress movies, but then I remembered how many songs I adored from it.  So This is Love... is a particular favorite (it even inspired the title of my very first post) and I remember stressing to remember where I'd heard it before.  It's just a fun heartwarming film full of cuteness and charm.

 

 

 

The Aristocats:  "Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!".  Unfortunately not as loved as 101 Dalmatians, I feel The Aristocats stands on its own as a proper companion.  Filled with adorable kittens, a jazzy hep cat of a daddy, and a proper yet spunky mama (think Grace Kelly, not Joan Crawford), this movie was a sign of it's time.  The music is upbeat and hip and the language so era-oriented that you almost feel that you're there.  It's a really cute film and a great example at low grade Disney animation at its finest.  It didn't need to be spectacular, but it still shined.

 

 

Robin Hood:  You know, I can muster just about any Robin Hood movie ever made (Robin Hood: Men in Tights happens to be a personal favorite).  I adore it and I can't tell you why other than that it's a great story.  Swashbuckling, and robbing from the rich to give to the poor (I love bank robbery movies for the same reason), romance, and crazy British accents (except when Kevin Costner is involved evidently).  There's nothing to hate about it and I simply won't.  It's a film very near and dear to me. 

 

 

 

And that's it!  Thank you for coming along this trip down nostalgia lane!