Movie Review: Dreamgirls - Essay Example

The music also deserves special attention, though the production seems uncertain as to which genre it should be included. On the one hand it seems a drama, and on the other it is a musical. According to critics, the film is a fictional representation of Berry Gordy’s Motown Records and Supremas from which Florence Ballard was fired in 1967. The music in the film is exceptional though it considerably varies from the music of Motown of 1960s. While the Motown music was characterized by jazz and tight orchestra, Dreamgirls presents bombastic, full orchestra with the usual Broadway show tunes.

In fact, by setting the film in Detroit, and in 1960s, the film managed to create a situation that develops a considerable background for the story. Though the film deviates from the struggle of the Black to overcome backwardness, it still manages to make the viewers think that way. The lighting of the film is done by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer. Undoubtedly, being a drama, the lighting too suits a drama more than a film. The nature of the film made the work of lighting a tough task as it alternatively moved from book scenes to performance numbers.

The lighting and the music of the film had to suit the 1960 era. As it was a musical work showing colorful stage appearance, they had to fill each scene with a new color. The colors used are red, purple, orange, and blue. The lighting much suits a colorful and showy drama, and not a film. Maximum attention is paid to create a stage setting that is showy, especially in stage numbers. However, considering the special nature of the film, the lighting can only be considered appropriate. The costumes too look gorgeous and perfectly matching the stage shows of 1960s.

One can identify that the dress suits the story’s timeline almost accurately. For example, one can see Effie wearing a Missoni-esque print that resembles the 1970s. In addition, the costumes of the stage shows are made in such a way that they resemble the time perfectly. However, the whole costume work is not about keeping this dramatic and showy; there is a lot of intellectual work too. For example, as it is a rag-to-riches story, the beginning of the story shows the girls taking a bus to the Apollo Theater, and their clothes evidently represent rags.

As they progress, their dressing starts shining. In addition, there is effective portraying of each character through dressing. For example, Effie, being the only one who faces a downturn in the story, wears street clothes in downer colors. One has to admit that the performances are magnificent. And the most important thing that deserves attention, in my opinion, is that of Eddie Murphy as James Early. Similarly, the acting of Jennifer Hudson as the desolated Effie deserves appreciation. Foxx too rocks by playing a seemingly nice, brilliant businessman who unfolds the viciousness of his character as time passes.

Admittedly, Jennifer Hudson is the most powerful character of the film, and it is her agony that really pushes the film ahead. However, one cannot neglect the fact that Bill Condon has gone wrong in having poor integration of music and conversation in certain important scenes, giving the movie a poor appearance. In addition, his whiplash editing did both good and bad to the film. While it gained easy applause