Jennifer Hudson as supporting actress? - Dreamgirls (2006) Discussion

[–] b-touch 12 years ago

A decision by the Paramount publicity department. Beyoncé was offered for consideration as Best (Lead) Actress for the 2006-7 awards season. It was justified by stating she had more screentime than Jennifer Hudson in the film, but I'd be willing to bet she doesn't have more dialogue.

BET broke rank and gave Jennifer Hudson an award for "Best Actress" at the 2007 BET Awards.

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[–] alexanderreid19 12 years ago

It's an ensemble piece to be fair.

I don't have to conform to the vagaries of time and space. I'm a looney for God's sake!

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[–] funnyguyla 12 years ago

Tatum O'Neil won a supporting Oscar for Paper Moon and not only was she the lead character, she was in almost ever scene.

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[–] Harold_Robbins 12 years ago

"Featured Actress" is probably a more appropriate term, though 'Supporting Actress" was certainly appropriate in many instances as well, especially when a supporting and lead performance both one (Fay Bainter and Bette Davis for JEZEBEL, Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft for THE MIRACLE WORKER, Anna Paquin and Holly Hunter for THE PIANO, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden and Vivien Leigh for A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE). "Featured Actress" can also recognize brief performances that have little to do with the rest of the film, such as Beatrice Straight in NETWORK (although Dunaway won Best Actress, their characters shared no scenes) and Judi Dench in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."

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[–] LadyN1 11 years ago

because it is as others have said an ensemble movie. Its not just about Effie or Deena or Lorell it's about all 3 of them. They all have their issues to deal with and character growth.

Effie with her ego and overcoming her pride and hurt to fufill her dreams
Deena for being a doormat and letting herself be maniuplated with little say over her own life
and Lorrell in her relationship with Jimmy and realising who she was an independant woman.

To be honest I'd have liked some more backstory on the 4th Dream Michelle even though she comes in what I guess would be the second act of the film it'd have been nice to have some more info about her and her personality maybe she was a little sassy or funny one.

But anyways it's an ensemble piece none of them should have been nominated for leads as they were all supporting each other to tell the story.

Of course if we wanted to go for the basic answer of a cynical person one could argue it's because they wanted Jennifer Hudson to be a shoe in for the Oscar cause let's face it no one was beating Helen Mirren for playing the Queen in the leading actress category

beauty freedom love truth

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[–] bradford-1 10 years ago

I'd say she was nominated in the Supporting category for much the same reason Walter Matthau was nominated for THE FORTUNE COOKIE, even though his screen time was pretty much equal to Jack Lemmon's. They each had better chances to win in the Supporting category.
"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

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[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

because it is as others have said an ensemble movie. Its not just about Effie or Deena or Lorell it's about all 3 of them. They all have their issues to deal with and character growth.

Then why was Beyonce promoted as the lead? Jennifer Hudson's name isn't even on the poster.

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[–] PaladinNJ (20373) 2 years ago

Beyonce had it written into her contract that she was to be promoted as the lead actress. Therefore Jennifer was ineligible for Lead Actress. Worked out for the best. She wasn't going to win the Lead against the talent in that category.

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[–] IMDB_Vits 10 years ago

I wanted to point out that Jennifer Holiday (Broadway's EFFIE) won the Tony for Best Lead Actress.

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[–] rudeboy_murray 9 years ago

This is a tactic which has occurred as long as the supporting categories have existed, but which has become ridiculous in recent years. The aforementioned Tatum O'Neal and Timothy Hutton both won supporting Oscars despite being clearly, unarguably the leads in their films, the excuse being that they were young and shared the screen with older, established stars. Supporting nominations for roles which were absolutely NOT supporting include those for Haley Joel Osment, Casey Affleck, Jamie Foxx (in Collateral) and, just this year, Julia Roberts.

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[–] jarn2004 9 years ago

Id say Haley Joel was supporting in the sixth sense. Bruce Willis is definitely the lead.

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[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

It was a ploy by Beyonce, that is how she gets ahead, she makes others look bad and puts them down in order for her to get ahead, she stopped Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland from releasing albums/being promoted in order to become more popular, she made it very clear that she was the star of this film and had to be promoted as such, even though the movie is totally Jennifer Hudson's. It's also ironic that she didn't ask to play Effie, because she is the most important Dream character.

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[–] jeancothern 8 years ago

I like Beyoncé, but Jennifer stole that movie from her fair & square! Jennifer steals damn near every scene she was in! Plus a lot of "Effie's" story was based on the tragic "Supreme" Florence Ballard. Too Bad Flo didn't survive like the Effie Character did!

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