Keeping It Reel

A Dream Come True

Don't you just love it when a movie is all you expected and a WHOLE lot more?  You would think that with the star power of Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Beyonce that "Dreamgirls" already had high hopes.  Not to mention that it was interpreted from an already extremely successful Broadway musical.  Still, I had no idea what I was in for.

I had heard somewhere that the story was based VERY loosely off the real-life Supremes and a little bit of Motown's humble beginnings.  It didn't matter if that was the case or not.  So far, every movie I've seen with the premise of tracing a music group's ascension to stardom and the bumps along the way always seem to fascinate me for some reason.

With all the stars that are strewn throughout this movie, there is one person that gives "Dreamgirls" its heart AND soul.  Former American Idol standout Jennifer Hudson.  There's a moment about 3/4 the way thru the film when she busts out Jennifer Holiday's "And I Am Telling You".  I never would have thought anyone could carry that like Holiday but she BLEW IT UP.  They could have ended the film right there with that performance.  It's a good thing they didn't though because she comes through again at the end and rips it up with the song "Dreamgirls". 

There has only been one other film I've been to where the audience actually applauded at the end:  "The Empire Strikes Back" - 1980.  Personally, I have never understood that concept because it's not like we're at the premiere or as if any of the people responsible for the movie can hear you clapping for them.  However, when they roll the end credits and show each actor/actress one by one and show Hudson's name, you almost had to applaud.  Who cares if she wasn't there to hear it.  The gal was unbelievably phenomenal.

It's also good to have Eddie back.  I don't mean back on the big screen after a few years, I mean the old Eddie from our day of his "Raw" and early "Beverly Hills Cop" lore.  It's the unedited adult-oriented Eddie that my generation grew up with before he started appealing to our shorties with his family fare.

Simply put, "Dreamgirls" was amazing.  I left the theater awestruck.  Any expectation I had set for that movie based was so far surpassed that it seemed inconceivable.  I had heard that the original play had come to Des Moines and I could kick myself for not going to it, no matter how long ago it may have been.  I know I won't be missing it the next time it comes thru.  Don't let this treasure pass you by.

My rating:  A+

What Would Happen If They Held a Musical and Nobody Showed Up?

I consider myself a bit of a Mel Brooks fan but I had no idea until recently that "The Producers" was originally done years ago and it was actually his directorial debut.  In fact, I was a Johnny-come-lately not even knowing about the musical until it started getting pub for ticket-breaking records Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick's version was making.

"The Producers" is the latest Broadway play to make the leap from the stage to a theatrical version.  I figured since I enjoyed the transition of "Rent" so much that this one would probably be just as good.  I had no idea it would have so much gay overtones in it as well.

It's the story of a shady producer, Max Bialystock, who can't make a hit to save his life.  When meek accountant Leo Bloom innocently tells him that he can make more money with a flop instead of a hit, of course he jumps at the opportunity and we have the premise for our story.

Nathan Lane was phenomenal in his role as Bialystock.  Sure, it's a reach to picture him being a ladies man when it's a known fact that he's a pronounced homosexual, but he still pulls it off.  He probably has the best lines all throughout the picture.

Broderick, on the other hand, I just wasn't feeling.  I get that his character of Bloom is supposed to be insecure and mild-mannered.  However, he plays the part extremely cheesy.  Almost unbelievable.  I expected more from someone of his caliber.

This whole thing was brought to my attention thanks to a season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm".  They showed just bits and pieces o this musical and it caught my attention.  Bits and pieces would have been a nice break because this seemed to run very long at just a shade over two hours.  If it wasn't for Lane, this one was almost the flop their characters were trying to make.

My rating:  C

God Don't Make No Mistakes

When "Walk the Line" first came out, I asked a friend of mine who had seen it if you had to be a Johnny Cash fan to like it.  He didn't think so and said it was just an overall good movie.  It made sense to me.  I wasn't a Loretta Lynn fan yet I liked "Coal Miner's Daughter".  So when "Idlewild" came out I wondered if the same would be true for it.  Would you have to be an Outkast fan to enjoy it? 

Personally, I think Outkast's entire career was leading up to this very moment.  They came from obscurity gathering a bigger and bigger fanbase with the release of each next cd.  The cds themselves started to get more theatrical.  Then they began playing bit parts in movies.  This was the natural evolution.

This flick is billed as a hip-hop musical.  I can almost see that.  At the very least, I can appreciate them propping it as such to attract a more diverse audience.  However, to me, it played more like a two-hour Outkast music video.  And I don't say that like it's a bad thing.  The way it was shot, the storyline, the songs...it just had the feel like you were watching one of their extended videos.

It was chock full of headline actors in typecast roles.  Terence Howard as a villain, Ving Rhames as an intimidator, Faizon Love as a smart-azz.  And all of it worked.  Why not play up to an actor's strengths?  Even Andre and Big Boi themselves did an extremely good job in their starring parts.

So do you have to be an Outkast fan to appreciate it?  It's hard for me  to say because I've liked their work from day one.  I enjoyed seeing them pull something like this off with such brilliance that it looks like they've been making movies for quite a while.  If you're a fan of well-made movies, I'm thinking this one won't disappoint.  Speaking for myself, I can't wait until the dvd hits stores so I can add it to the collection.

My rating:  A-

Rentheads of the World Unite

Previously, I had done a review on the movie "Rent" and gave it a lackluster rating.  Even then, I realized that the music is so infectuous, it causes you to want to see the movie again.  At least for me it did.  And it stayed with me a little too much.

Once "Rent" started coming on cable, I found myself watching it over and over again.  More of the songs started to stick with me and I was diggin' the movie itself even more.  It's to the point now where I have to either watch the movie once a day or listen to the soundtrack.  Yes, I even went out and bought the soundtrack.

I now wish I would have had a chance to see this on Broadway with the original cast.  I would even settle for seeing the current run with the new cast.  At least to see what the Broadway version is like.

It turns out that I've now also converted my younger cousins into Rentheads as well.  We were listening to the soundtrack on the way down to Arkansas and watching the movie.  We probably watched the movie at least three times this past weekend.  Even BT became so obsessed with it to the point where he learned to play "Seasons" by ear.  Then of course once he got it down, we all gathered around the piano and were singing it.

There are several cuts in it that I like.  My personal favorites at the current time are "One Song Glory" and "I'll Cover You Reprise".  After further consideration, I'm setting precedent and re-rating the movie.  It's now officially an A-.  And I am now officially a Renthead.

What the World Needs is More Madea

If you haven't seen Tyler Perry's work by now, you are truly missing a blessing.  If you haven't seen ALL of his work, you've only received part of your blessing.  I had been waiting for this time for quite a while now and his latest stage play, "Madea Goes to Jail" FINALLY got released on dvd last week.  I already had all of his other dvds, including the movies, and I was anxiously awaiting this one.

Tyler Perry is back again as the pistol-packing Madea Simmons.  This time her acts have caught up with her and she gets locked up.  As usual, the theme focuses on her imparting wisdom to family members and friends who have issues they can't seem to work out themselves.

This is the first stage play where David and Tamela Mann aren't with Tyler.  Not having them there is like breaking up a championship team.  David Mann is usually the second best part of the Madea plays.  Without them, Tyler has to carry the production and he does so with no problem at all.

TP has a penchant for finding actors and actresses for his stage plays that can not only act but are attractive and can also sing pretty well. Not only that, this is the first play where he steps forward and showcases his singing talents.  Even though it was rather brief, it was very nice bonus.

The one thing that could be changed is he was a bit heavy on the singing.  Not near as bad as the sing-songy feel of "Rent"; however, it could have been cut down a bit.

After the show, Tyler comes out as himself and says some words to the audience.  It is here that he announces that he's given $1 million to help Katrina victims.  More importantly, he made it a point to go there himself to distribute it to worthy families.  That way, it wouldn't get caught up in the bureaucracy of charitable organizations that sometimes don't do their jobs effectively.

Here is yet another Madea stage play where there are monologuing moments that I can relate to the advice being given.  There were also more than enough moments to make me bust out laughing.  Tyler Perry has hit the stratosphere of artists who can now do no wrong with me.  The next Madea project can't come soon enough.

My rating:  A-

Everyone Has AIDS

Had I known that was pretty much the focus of this movie, I'm not sure I would have bothered to even check it out.  However, I'm not sure if that would have been enough for me to avoid it.  I had kept hearing so much about "Rent" for so many years and it's award-winning presence that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about. 

"Rent" has been around for a LONG time so it's safe to say that it's not trying to cash in on the whole "gay" craze fad that has been happening as of late and thank goodness.  It is pretty obvious that the recent, and unfortunate, more acceptable gay-fare out there has opened the door for this to be a successful movie.  Of course, being one of the most successful Broadway plays of all-time doesn't hurt much either.

Apparently, the Broadway version of the play was so hugely popular that it still claims many "Rentheads".  Similar to the Grateful Deadheads, these are faithful fans that religiously adore everything about the musical and can see it countless times as if it was their first.  I never had the fortune of seeing the Broadway version with the original cast or even later reincarnations with new cast.  Seeing a Broadway play was always one of my wishes.  I'm still not quite certain if this one would have been the one I would have chosen for my first Broadway experience, but I could have done much worse to have my Broadway cherry busted.

One thing I noticed right away was that the previews for this flick were definitely misleading.  It reminded me a lot of "Less Than Zero" in that regards.  They show a group of friends having fun and frolicking but in reality, the movie's about the misfortunes they suffer, the tragedies they deal with and how they grow together while at the same time growing apart.

From the moment it starts, you are caught up in the musical aspect withe the infectious "525,600 minutes" which has now become it's trademark.  Having not seen the musical I was expecting the movie version to be more...well, movie.  It unashamedly proclaims it's musical foundation loudly and proudly.  I think it's safe to say that there's MUCH more singing and musical numbers in this than there is dialogue.  The thing about it is it actually works.  Some of the songs are even intertwined with the dialogue as opposed to the typical talk-break out into musical number-talk again format.

I thought it was extremely cool that Taye Diggs returned to his roots with this movie.  Before he was Angela Bassett's Jamaican cabana boy, he got his humble beginnings with "Rent".  I would have never guessed he could even sing if it wasn't for the fact that I knew this is where he got his start.  It was nice to see him playing off typecast for a change by playing the not-so-good guy.  He tries to come around a little at the end, but his character never really does make that full transition.

Most of the musical pieces are powerful and pretty much top notch.  The few mis-steps they have feature Rosario Dawson who's vocal skills don't match up with the rest of the cast, most of which are from the original Broadway version.  What she lacks in that department she brings thru with her portrayal of her Mimi character.  It is her performance and Jesse Martin's that really make this piece shine.

Minus the homosexuality, drugs and entire AIDS overshadowing prevalent throughout, this is a pretty decent movie.  I wouldn't call it the masterpiece that some Rentheads call it, but it does retain a bit a charm in its own little way. 

My Rating:  B-