You can be sure I won’t be seeing Dreamgirls again on New Year’s Eve. [I told you to stop reviewing. You'll never work in Hollywood again.-ed. Not with anyone connected with Dreamgirls.]
Roger L. Simon
Blacklisting Myself Memoir of a Hollywood Apostate in the Age of Terror
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 With gratitude to the readers of this blog without whom my new -- and first non-fiction -- book would likely never have been written.
Simon's first non-fiction book - Blacklisting Myself: Memoir of a Hollywood Apostate in an Age of Terror - Pub. date: February 5, 2009 |
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9 Comments
1. LTEC:In your review you blame the “studio development system”. It is interesting to note, however, that in most cases where film makers are given total artistic freedom independent of the “system”, the result is panned by the same critics who are always complaining about the “system”. An interesting recent case is “Lady in the Water”. Almost all the reviewers complained about the producer/director’s arrogance in ignoring all the warnings he was given by numerous studio executives, and going off on his own.
Dec 31, 2006 - 11:55 am 2. Roger:Good point, LTEC. These things cut both ways. In the case of Dreamgirls, however … a story that has been around a loooooong time … I suspect, from my own experiences, that the development people are in part responsible. Too much opportunity, etc. But of course I don’t know. That’s why I wrote “whatever the case”
Dec 31, 2006 - 11:59 am 3. neo-neocon:I went to see “Dreamgirls” with low expectations, and so I had fun watching it. But I agree with you totally about the plot, the length, and absolutely about the music–inferior to the originals in every way.
But when I wrote my review of the movie, you’ll be happy to see (and hear) that I put the “Baby Love”–and the supremely superior Supremes–back in “Dreamgirls.” Follow the links to the videos and enjoy.
And a very Happy New Year to you all!
Dec 31, 2006 - 1:52 pm 4. Sissy Willis:Happy New Year to Roger and his loved loves. How fun to have worked as a member of PJM this year. Onward and upward!!!
Dec 31, 2006 - 2:44 pm 5. Patrick Tyson:This year on the last day of the year Dreamgirls is in theaters. Last year on this date Rent and The Producers were in theaters. The year before on this date The Phantom of the Opera was in theaters. Why? The year before the year before the year before on this date Chicago was in theaters.
Whether Dreamgirls, the stage musical version of which debuted on Broadway over 25 years ago, makes money or not, movie versions of other stage musicals will probably turn up in December for at least a few more years and maybe even in January for another few after that. And then, some years from now, or maybe just a year from now, some guy will have an idea and will find someone with money to finance putting that idea on film and the result might just be something akin to Moulin Rouge! and its box office and then people with movie rights to material from another medium might get people with money to finance putting that material onto film because, just maybe, that might be what’ll get the public into the movie theaters.
…and so it goes.
Dec 31, 2006 - 3:04 pm 6. Buddy Larsen:I sure miss the annual Coen Brothers film.
Dec 31, 2006 - 5:13 pm 7. heather:A couple of days ago, I had a wonderful time watching “Singing in the Rain” on vhs, and now I think I’ll buy some more Donald OConnor movies.
And.. would you believe… not only is the original “Francis the Talking Mule” really good, BUT, there, in a tiny tiny role was… Tony Curtis!
Dec 31, 2006 - 6:03 pm 8. Marathon Pundit:Happy New Year, Roger.
Dec 31, 2006 - 7:25 pm 9. jonathan riley:Happy new year to you all.
Jan 1, 2007 - 5:47 am