edited by Jonathan Doyle

Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

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Crabtree on Hudson, "Dreamgirls"

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Sheigh Crabtree strikes again -- the second Riskybiz post in a 24-hour period. This one says (most) everyone at a recent Manhattan screening of Dreamgirls was delighted and applauding. She adds, however, that costar Jennifer Hudson didn't quite get a 100% approval rating. (One guy was saying Jennifer Holiday was better in the early '80s B'way show...read the item.) Speaking as a mixed-bag responder who knows other mixed baggers, I can say that if there's any one unanimous feeling about Dreamgirls, it's that Hudson kills & that the Best Supporting Actress Oscar is pretty much hers to lose.

Pacino at the Ritz<< previous | next >>Amazing faces

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 27, 2006 at 12:26 PM

comment #1

Chris Molanphy says ...

The key word in the paragraph above, which explains the Hudson reaction, is "Manhattan." I would guess -- and I mean this in as affectionate, pro-New York and non-homophobic a way as I can -- that the crowd was half theater fags (their term, not mine). Among that crowd, Holliday's 1981 performance was legendary. No one will ever top it in their heads, ever.

I haven't seen 'Dreamgirls,' Broadway or film versions, but just passing along what I do know from years of following pop and R&B music. Hell, forget the theater guys; if there were a few middle-aged African-Americans in the crowd, they worship the Holliday performance, too. (Chris Rock did a whole SNL sketch back in the day about how the fastest way to win over a Showtime At The Apollo crowd is to sing "And I Am Telling You.")

Posted by Chris Molanphy at November 27, 2006 01:10 PM

comment #2

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Yeah, a Manhattan audience on a film like this is a VERy specific crowd. I saw "Chicago" at the Zigfield back in January of '03. You want to talk about swinging from the rafters...

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at November 27, 2006 01:12 PM

comment #3

Bishop Price says ...

I was at the DGA screening on Sunday and the crowd exuberantly cheered for Hudson at the conclusion of the "And I'm Telling You" number. She also drew the largest applause over the closing credits; much more so than Murphy, Foxx, or Beyonce. I'm no fan of musicals and I thought the movie was fairly uneven, but Hudson makes the whole thing worth seeing at least once. Her performance of that song literally had chills running up my spine. I think if/when she performs this at the Oscars it might be one of the greatest musical performances in the history of the program. Never saw the original, but I am familiar with the song and this girl completely owns the thing.

Posted by Bishop Price at November 27, 2006 01:21 PM

comment #4

actionman says ...

i will vomit all over my apartment if an ex-american idol conetestant wins an academy award before Martin Scorsese

Posted by actionman at November 27, 2006 01:32 PM

comment #5

cjKennedy says ...

When Scorsese gets passed over for an Oscar again (there, I said it), I want to see him singing "And I'm Telling You" to a big gold statue.

Posted by cjKennedy at November 27, 2006 01:50 PM

comment #6

Rod32303 says ...

So, an ex-Miss USA RUNNER-UP (Halle Berry), and ex-Seventeen and Vogue model (Charlize Theron), an ex-TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE actress (Renee Zellweger); an ex-FACTS OF LIFE actor (George Clooney); an ex-BIRD ON A WIRE (!) actor (Mel Gibson) are all okay?

I love Scorsese. The award should have been his years ago, so many times. Class act, Marty.

Has nothing to do with whether or not Hudson delivers the goods. Get out of your head, wait and see her and THEN make the comment.

And if Clint's "Iowa Jima" scores big, get ready to throw up.

Posted by Rod32303 at November 27, 2006 01:52 PM

comment #7

jeffmcm says ...

"Mixed Baggers" sounds like it should be a term for some kind of sexual fetish.

Posted by jeffmcm at November 27, 2006 01:52 PM

comment #8

actionman says ...

"And if Clint's "Iowa Jima" scores big, get ready to throw up"

why would this make me sick? i expect yet another fantastic movie from Clint with Letters.

Posted by actionman at November 27, 2006 01:54 PM

comment #9

Rich S. says ...

I love that list, Rod32303. Kind of puts the whole Oscar exercise in perspective, doesn't it.

Don't forget:

Ex-Fast Times at Ridgemont High stoner (Sean Penn)

Ex-Dazed and Confused stoner (Ben Affleck)

Ex-Satisfaction stoner (Julia Roberts)

Ex-Different World sidekick (Marisa Tomei)

Ex-Easy Reader (Morgan Freeman)

Ex-lead from Return of the Killer Tomatoes (also George Clooney)

See? It's fun!

Posted by Rich S. at November 27, 2006 02:50 PM

comment #10

nemo says ...

"Sheigh Crabtree" -- is that a real name? It sounds like something that S.J. Perelman or Preston Sturges would have come up with.

It sounds like the name of C.K. Dexter Haven's attorney or accountant.

Posted by nemo at November 27, 2006 03:11 PM

comment #11

James Leer says ...

It won't be performed at the Oscars. It's not an Original Song.

Posted by James Leer at November 27, 2006 04:33 PM

comment #12

CambridgeCat says ...

You guys are missing the biggest one: Ex-Perfect Strangers star Tom Hanks!

Better yet, there's the episode of TAXI (the one where Jim is at Harvard, a total square, and gets inadvetantly corrupted by pot brownies) where Tom Hanks plays a stoner who's just sitting on the floor watching a lava lamp. Future two time Best Actor!

Posted by CambridgeCat at November 28, 2006 07:25 AM

comment #13

kimi98 says ...

Hollywood Elsewhere

Upcoming

Crabtree on Hudson, "Dreamgirls"

Chris Molanphy says ...

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Bishop Price says ...

actionman says ...

cjKennedy says ...

Rod32303 says ...

jeffmcm says ...

actionman says ...

Rich S. says ...

nemo says ...

James Leer says ...

CambridgeCat says ...

kimi98 says ...