And the Dreamguys, too ...
The posters on my last blog entry are right -- why does the competition only have to be between the girls? The male roles in Dreamgirls offer just as much irony, with the reliable Jamie Foxx turning in what could be his first disappointing role (disappointment = expectations divided by results) in the thankless, underwritten role of the girl group's Svengali, and EDDIE MURPHY, of all people, getting ready for his big Oscar nomination!
It's not only Murphy's most mature performance, he seems to be aging gracefully in a way that helps him leave the baggage of his comedy career at the door. As a James Brown-type performer, womanizer, and drug abuser, Murphy does the opposite of what he usually does in his movies. Instead of putting on makeup and costumes so he can be a host of different, one-note characters, he adds layers of character to just one -- which is much more of a high-wire act.
Murphy's best scene -- and I hope they show that one in the clips at Oscar time -- is where his character suffers a setback that sends him quickly, quietly reeling into despair. He does it all with his body and facial expressions, and it's a powerful dramatic moment, sans the usual props.