how i became one of those people i always made fun of by loving something i'd swear i'd never

i'm gonna get to what i mean about that at the end. but, until then, here's a review of the second movie this year that i would be excited to see win the oscar.


starring jamie foxx, beyonce knowles, eddie murphy, jennifer hudson and danny glover
written for the screen and directed by bill condon
viewed at the regal cinemas, staten island, ny

as you all know, i hate musicals. i really do. in fact, just the idea of spontaneous song makes me sick. i don't get it, never had and never will. or so i thought.

this movie has some of that, and, well, i might be loosening my hatred somewhat.

let's get right to it with what everyone is saying: this movie is beyond fantastic. it's fun, emotional and brilliantly written, acted, directed, shot, choreographed and sung. sure, it lags in some areas, but when some scenes are so thrilling, others will pale in comparison.

as usual, jamie foxx is brilliant. eddie murphy is eddie murphy, and hopefully will be nominated for being so. beyonce knowles is among the most beautiful women in the world - and it's not fair that she's also got that voice. and the guy who adapted "chicago" really knows what the hell he's doing.

it's everything you've heard, and you won't be disappointed.

but i haven't gotten to what i'm talking about.

it only really takes one scene to win an oscar. for example, nicholson had the "you can't handle the truth" speech in "a few good men". halle berry had that rough sex scene in "monster's ball". and, in this movie, there's the utterly amazing jennifer hudson, who will win this oscar unanimously, singing "and i am telling you i'm not going". it's done in spontaneous song with the rest of the cast, but it's so emotionally charged, so sad, so believeable, so...deeply moving, so everything that's right with film and storytelling that...

yes, i'm gonna admit it...

i applauded at the end of the scene...

for a piece of film, an inanimate object that didn't appreciate it.

silly, yes, but if i saw it again, i'd do it again.

jennifer hudson won the oscar with that scene. and, in fact, without that scene, she'd win the oscar anyways. it's the most jawdropping performance you're ever gonna experience.

if nothing, see it for that.

but oh, that scene. it's added to the pantheon of great scenes.

and you won't just clap at the end of the scene. you'll find yourself, amazingly again, waiting until the end of the movie to see her credit appear, "introducing jennifer hudson", just to clap again.

i did.

she and it were that amazing.