I haven’t posted on Dreamgirls because I have yet to see it. Yes, I know I’m wack. BUT, when you consider that it JUST opened in Athens TODAY, I don’t feel too bad. I go to Atlanta for a lot of things, but just to see a movie? Nah, homie.
Anyhow, check out this article which discusses how Dreamgirls might be getting set up for the okie doke when it comes to getting an Oscar. No movie with a mostly black cast has won an Academy Award, and there have definitely been some good ones. But here’s what’s worth quoting from this article:
“No film with a predominantly African American cast has ever won best picture.
Is it time that one did? For sure. But Dreamgirls with all its star power and glam probably won’t do in 2007 what “The Color Purple” and “Malcolm X” (which wasn’t nominated) should have done in 1986 and 1993 respectively — and that is win. And while “Ray,” which was nominated in 2005, was both a critical and financial success, it was no “Million Dollar Baby.”
The critics who have praised “Dreamgirls” will likely claim that an Academy that recently honored Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx with golden boys for best actress/actor, is not ready to embrace a film detailing the struggles African Americans face when they fail to assimilate to the dominant culture. That would be like admitting that “Crash,” last year’s best-picture winner, was truly an accurate portrayal of life in America.
We can’t have art imitating real life and winning awards for it!
The collective victories of Berry, Washington, Foxx and others have opened the door a little wider for African Americans in the film industry, but it still remains only ajar. It’s often said by black and white actors alike that the only color studio heads ever see is green. Well, American currency is green and white.”
So…I’d love to hear what you think. Especially if you’ve seen the movie. I keep hearing about THE SCENE. AND I AM TELLING YOU…don’t worry, I’m going to see it this weekend!
January 13, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I never even considered it being able to win for Best Picture. It was good, but not Best Picture good. So if it doesn’t win, I don’t think it’ll be racial. It just wasn’t there.
January 15, 2007 at 4:48 pm
it’ll get nominated for best picture I think, but it won’t win. There were honestly some better movies this past year — Letters from Iwo Jima, The Prestige and the Departed come to mind.
January 15, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I haven’t seen any of those movies. I guess I should get out more. I just hope it doesn’t turn into a race thing; and you know that there will be people who try to make it into such.