Dream On: Anika Noni Rose (left) and Beyonce flank the soon-to-be big star Jennifer Hudson.
It’s never too early for the buzz to begin about those Oscar-worthy films that get unleashed upon the public around December. And leading the pack so far on the hype front is the long-awaited film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which debuted on Broadway back in 1981. It’s the story of ‘60s era girl group (a la The Supremes) and their rocky path to fame, about the stars who are made and those who get left behind. And yes, there’s music galore. Which makes sense when your leading lady is Beyonce (duh) in the role of the Diana Ross-esque diva (And Miss Knowles is no stranger to breakout success after being in a prominent girl group, okay?). The film also stars heavyweights Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, and Tony-winning actress Anika Noni Rose (who was fabulous in Caroline, Or Change). But the growing buzz so far is on Hollwood newcomer and American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, who’s making her film debut in Dreamgirls, stepping into the legendary role of Effie White (which made the very young Jennifer Holliday a Broadway star).
Um-hmmm... Hudson (left) and the girls meet the competition in Dreamgirls.
There was a preview screening of 20 minutes of the film this past Monday night in Hollywood, and while there was no footage of the Hudson’s biggest number in the film, the cataclysmic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” number, witnesses who’ve seen Hudson in the movie are already touting her performance as legendary—and Oscar-worthy. And that particular scene has evidently been edited and put together so effectively that it reportedly even blows the roof off of the amazing footage of Jennifer Holliday performing the song during the Tony Awards broadcast in 1982 (which you can watch on YouTube, or in any gay bar on showtune night). On the site, The Envelope, Tom O’Neill has all the details, and he practically jump-starts Hudson’s Oscar campaign. Check it out.
Hudson better get used to these red-carpet wing-dings. There are more in her future...
Meanwhile, on the official Dreamgirls website, you can catch video footage from the film, which is included among some “Behind-the-Scenes” and “Making Of” clips. In the “Making Of” featurette, you get to see Hudson spar briefly with Jamie Foxx onscreen (“You don’t need me. All you care about is her bony ass…” she snaps. It rocks). You’ll even see the director (Bill Condon) and cast talk about the movie, during which Jamie Foxx gushes, “It’ll knock your wig off!” Wurk. And from the looks of the hair and costumes (a pageant of righteous '60s and '70s fashions), there are a lot of wigs to toss around.
Classic! Serving authentic 1960's girl group realness, big hair and all.
Also making the rounds now is the single from the film (and the musical), “One Night Only,” credited to Deena Jones and the Dreams (that’s Beyonce, of course). There’s the rambunctious, showbizzy, disco-tinged film version, and of course there are club mixes coming your way, too. Expect to hear it on a dance floor very soon.
And start your own Jennifer Hudson fan club now, while you’re at it.
Jennifer Hudson: Ready to shine!
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