All You've Got to Do is Dream This weekend, a glamourous interlude. My friend Melissa and I went to see the premiere of Dreamgirls at the Ziegfeld.

It was the perfect venue, it was perfectly glamourous, and the movie was perfectly executed.

I had been avoiding the hype, the buzz, the reviews, the music, the behind the scenes features all over the place, all of it. I find generally that when things are super hyped in that way, I tend to feel let down with whatever the reality is.

Not so with Dreamgirls. Jennifer Hudson was amazing. Beyonce, who I really don't like at all and was prepared to be annoyed by, was wonderful and understated and I grudgingly admit I really liked in the film. Anika Noni Rose lit up the screen and held her own with two very formidable presences who could have easily eclipsed her.

More than that, the cinematography, art direction, costuming and wardrobe and sound people have created a film that literally jumps off the screen at you. It was exciting like watching a live concert is exciting. At the screening, the audience, an interesting collision of city culture and broadway lovers, gay men and middle aged african americans, clapped, cheered, and at times gave standing ovations.

Standing ovations. To a movie screen. It was that good.

Pics below. This film opens in wide release on December 25th. Go see it. Dreamgirls, among other things, really will make you happy.
(click for bigger versions)


A glamourous venue for a glamourous movie.




More glamour. Seeing it in such a historic theatre made it that much better. Super smart marketing, Dreamgirls people.



Costumes in the lobby outside the theatre.


Inside the theatre. It went on for miles, and it was SOLD OUT. It was fun to feel like old hollywood for an evening.

Finally, finally, the film. Here's a little clip, it's the Dreamgirls theme, with some screencaps. I didn't make this one, but I've listened to it a million times since Friday. Enjoy.

  ¶ 11:49 AM