Actually, I'm not high, but here's my resolution: More frequent posts in '07. Just to be able to say I put something up in December '06, here's a scrap from my review of Dreamgirls, published in full at The House Next Door:
Afro fantasia: Bill Condon's Dreamgirls
By Steven Boone
Remember that scene in The Blues Brothers where Jake Blues catches the Holy Ghost while watching James Brown lead a leaping, flying congregation of black folks in a gospel blowout? That’s the spirit -- the soul -- of Dreamgirls, Bill Condon's film adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical. Writer-director Condon adores the most spectacular, super heroic aspects of what used to be called The Black Experience as surely as Blues Brothers director John Landis loves JB’s permed pompadour.
That’s the spirit -- the soul -- of Dreamgirls, Bill Condon's film adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical. Writer-director Condon adores the most spectacular, super heroic aspects of what used to be called The Black Experience as surely as Blues Brothers director John Landis loves JB’s permed pompadour. It’s all flying negroes and flying hair. As embarrassed as some white critics (and one White critic) have been about Dreamgirls’ lumpy mix of flamboyant negritude with bland, cruise ship arrangements of faux Motown pop, black audiences have mostly returned the love.
Read on...
The JB profile by Lethem is the shit. I stole that issue from my girlfriend's sister just so I could have it for keeps. I'm really surprised there hasn't been more eulogizing on the interweb but hey, we're all film nerds more than music geeks so it's to be expected I guess. I just don't feel qualified to write about him as much as my best friend, Cam, cuz he's the one who has so obsessed and got me turned on to the greatness outside the Greatest Hits CDs. That Live at the Apollo album is pretty amazing, damned essential, and, well, a major dance party ignitor.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more frequent posts here. I'm trying to make an ethos to live by where I post something at least once a week (if not more). That way I can have another 52 articles/essays in the archives and whatever you or Mike or Stephen happen to post will be ice-cream silver lining for me, a fan of all of you guys who's more than happy to host your output.
Anyways, have some fun! Here's to a bold new year ahead: get ready to conquer, brother.
Yes, you got me reading Lethem and d/l'ing Brown for the next few weeks. Ejumacation.
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