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Moriarty looks at the Steve Martin/Eddie Murphy starring film, BOFINGER
Well, Moriarty continues his quest to see ALL of the summer films before we do (that evil SOB) and he's been doing a hell of a job... Wouldn't you say? Here, he's looking at the Frank Oz directed film, BOFINGER... which has has an interesting history here on the site. Going all the way back to Quint's review... Ages ago... through the test screening process which began not sounding that good, but then slowly but surely began curving on up to Moriarty's review here. I love films like this because they show the process when it works, and that is always a positive... ya know? Well, without further ado, I turn you on over to the dear Professor...
Hey, Head Geek...
"Moriarty" here.
I was just sitting in the heart of the Moriarty Labs
in front of my giant information board in which I
monitor 200 plus international TV channels, a wide
variety of radio bands, and my own private network of
video cameras around the world. Of course, there's an
Internet screen that's part of the setup, and I
happened to be looking at the VARIETY headlines from
this week when I noticed that Universal moved
BOFINGER.
My first reaction was, "What, are they crazy? It's
such a strong movie. Great comic chemistry, smart
scripting... what are they doing?" Then I read
further into the article and I realized they were
trying to find a weekend where BOFINGER wasn't going
to get beaten to death. Originally they were set to
open the film only a week before another strong
Universal comedy, MYSTERY MEN. Thankfully, cooler
heads prevailed, and they've now got it opening on
August 27 opposite STIGMATA and THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE.
I think Universal can start breathing easy now.
They've got a winner on their hands. I originally
read the script BOFINGER'S BIG THING last year, and I
was underwhelmed. I thought it was jokey, dull, and
one-note. I also didn't believe it for a second.
When I heard the casting of Eddie Murphy and Steve
Martin, I was curious what sort of sparks
they might generate together, but I couldn't picture
Eddie in the film at all. Since Steve wrote it, his
character was in his voice perfectly, but I just
couldn't picture Murphy delivering these lines,
playing this character.
Boy, was I wrong. Even though LIFE was far from being
a perfect film, it had some moments that hinted at a
mature Murphy just waiting to show off some chops.
There was an energy to his work in that film that
hasn't been there for years. I thought we might be on
the verge of seeing a renewed Eddie, someone who's
back in touch with their gift. BOFINGER delivers on
that possibility in a big way. Kit Ramsey, one of two
characters Eddie plays, is everything we're afraid
movie stars might be. He's insecure to the point of
paralysis, desperate for any sort of affirmation, and
constantly surrounded by his entourage that indulges
his worst instincts. There was a point back during
the HARLEM NIGHTS - BOOMERANG - VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN
where I suspected Eddie had given up and become this
cartoon, this indulgent pratt. I mean, look at him in
ANOTHER 48 HRS. He's Fat Elvis. Eddie's head weighs
more than the entire 19 year old kid we all first fell
in love with on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. His timing was
gone. He was as Vegas as a celebrity can be. And
now... just like that... he's proven that none of
those years matter. When Eddie Murphy puts his mind
to it, he is still one of the most facile comic minds
in film today, and there is a new confidence and
maturity to the way he commands a screen that is
fascinating. Besides, no one who can play this
character with this savage a wit could have ever fully
believed their own hype. Murphy's in on the joke
here, and he plays the hell out of it.
He also plays another character in the film, and I'm
surprised that so much of the advertising seems to
focus on this other character. Not that I didn't
enjoy the work. I did. In fact, it's this other
character that the audience will love. Kit Ramsey is
a freak. Jett Ramsey, who just happens to be Kit's
brother, is warm, approachable, and will instantly be
embraced as one of Murphy's most beloved comic
creations. This brother is decent the same way Paul
Metzler is in the current ELECTION -- there's a
unfocused purity of spirit to the characters, a simple
decency that makes them wide open, that draws an
audience in. Murphy's work in the film is so good as
both characters that you will stop thinking about them
being the same actor. The characters are convincing
and real, and when we finally see them together, we
accept them as brothers, as real and seperate people.
That's the mark of great work.
Steve Martin... ah, what can I say about Steve Martin?
I have grown up in awe of the comic mind of this man.
His stand-up comedy albums from the '70s are still
among the finest of the genre (anyone who doesn't know
what "Mambo rhino dogface in the banana patch" means
is missing out on some of life's sweetest pleasures),
his early films with Carl Reiner are nothing short of
comic bliss (THE JERK, DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, THE
MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, ALL OF ME -- not a weak spot
among them), and his work as a writer (CRUEL SHOES,
PURE DRIVEL, ROXANNE, LA STORY, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN
AGILE) is piercing, perceptive, and surreal. Sure, he
makes a lot of crap. I would never dare defend the
likes of FATHER OF THE BRIDE II or THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS.
Still, when it comes to solid, smart laughter, he's
always been a standard for me. That's why I was so
relieved when Steve was simply hilarious from start to
finish in this film. It's a performance of sublime
silliness, all bullshit artist bravado mixed with
human frailty, and it will come as a delight to anyone
who appreciates the art of what Martin does best.
Just the other day, at a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
viewing party gone bust (DAMN YOU, WB!!!!), our host
threw on Martin's classic short film THE ABSENT-MINDED
WAITER. Martin hasn't lost one bit of the comic edge
he had in that film, and seeing it made me realize
just how special that is. Very few of our prized film
clowns stay this funny for this long. On those
occasions Martin gets it right, I think the public
should be greedy for it, bask in it.
I could go on about the skilled contributions of Frank
Oz as director, who manages to make an impossible
concept somehow seem believable. I could rant and
rave about how my future wife Heather Graham gives
another canny comic performance here that, combined
with her sexy and playful work in AUSTIN POWERS: THE
SPY WHO SHAGGED ME, should catapult her to the top of
any casting list in town. I could say that there's
very able work by every member of the film's large
ensemble, including Jamie Kennedy, Christine Baranski,
and Terrence Stamp. What?!?! Zod is funny?!?! Well,
as the head of a pseudo-cultish religion called
MindHead, yes... General Zod is actually funny.
I'm not going to do any of that, though. Instead, I'm
just going to conclude my piece by saying that comedy
fans should be in heaven by August 27 when this film
finally hits screens. There is a lot of great
laughter headed to theater screens between now and
then. BIG DADDY, AUSTIN POWERS, AMERICAN PIE, MYSTERY
MEN, and this film all deliver on their premises, then
actually go above and beyond. Every one of the films
features gifted performers working at their peak, and
every one offers memorable sights and lines. I have
enjoyed my first half of the year seeing all these
films so I could share my impressions with you, AICN
readers. Now you get to start enjoying the films
themselves.
Lucky, lucky you.
Until next time...
"Moriarty" out.
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+ Expand All
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Is it just me, or is Eddie Murphy getting closer and closer to an "Oscar"? I just hope he doesn't change his name to "Edward Murphy" in an attempt to be "SERIOUS".
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WOO HOOOO!!!! I'M FIRST!!!
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. This movie looks great. In fact, so does Stigmata. Darn, what should I see that weekend?? Bowfinger's trailer made me laugh, but the trailer for Stigmata made me squirm in my seat (Bleedin statues and all). Has anyone seen Stigmata (or remember a review posted here?). Help me please!
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Saw it last night.....this movie better be good.
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This film has the premise and all the ingredients to be totally off-the-wall hysterical. However, Oz's BOWFINGER better follow in the footsteps of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOWNDRELS and WHAT ABOUT BOB?, rather than those of IN&OUT, aka "one of THE worst movies of all time" (no, I'm not exagerrating when I say that).
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Yeah, I know I'm not first. I just wanted to give the guys above a little shit. This movie looks damn good. The trailer was hilarious. "In and Out" sucked...sure. But let's give Yoda another chance, OK?
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have you gone mad? i respect your reviews 8 out of 10 times, however this time you have gone crazy. i had the displeasure of seeing bowfinger and i am still reeling from the stupidity and lack of effort on the part of all involved to make a movie that is clever and original and FUNNY. the movie tanked on all levels and the fact that you call it a winner scares the shit out of me. this is the typical example of a big studio trying to reel in the dollars by making CRAP. see it again and then rethink your assbackwards position.
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May 27, 1999 1:20:14 PM CDT
Eddie deserved an Oscar for the Nutty Professor..think about it
by spike lee
he played every member of the Clump family except the little boy. The mother and father should of both got nominations for best supporting actor and actress. I think the New York Critics did give Eddie the best actor award for the Nutty Professor. Eddie is getting up there in age, and it would not hurt for him to take a supporting role in a drama or two, something like Robin William's role in Good Will Hunting. I just hope Eddie tries to bring the Richard Pryor bio to the screen.
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Steve Martin is a comic genius who has not been well-cast in YEARS. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a role that makes me laugh out loud again. But I've given up on Eddie. Blegh! Every time he is on camera, it's like he has a thought balloon over his head: "Look at me! Aren't I funny? Aren't I CUTTING EDGE?" You were, once...
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I am sorry, but I need to defend Boomerang. It is still one of my favorite movies by Eddie where he showed maturity and passive comedic brilliance. With a host of perfect supporting characters (STRANGe!) and a interesting sotryline, I wish this movie was more embraced!
Gerard, look, your mom brought us a whooole troth of chitlins. -
May 27, 1999 3:00:51 PM CDT
Plains, Trains and Automobiles is definietly the funniest Steve
by paragonian
I hope that Martin is just as funny here as he was in that movie, I think that Martin would be a good dramatic actor too along with Eddie. I loved Boomerang too, man Halle Berrys HOT!
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I had the pleaseure of attending a screenwriters workshop in NY with Steve Martin as one of the speakers and co-ordinators. The man is pure genius, his acting is brilliant (see The Spanish Prisoner or All of Me if you don't think so), his plays and screenwriting work on so many different levels at once (LA Story, other than the last 15 minutes, is beautiful absurdist satire), and he is truly a nice guy. I hope this is huge for him and for Eddie Murphy (Holy Man sucked so bad...yechhhh). Great review again, Moriarty!
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Steve Martin is one of the true comedic geniusus today. I'm a fan of his work, particularly his stand-up (LET'S GET SMALL and A WILD AND CRAZY GUY are the funniest comedy albums I've ever heard). His bizarre, surreal plays (PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, WASP, and THE ZIG-ZAG WOMAN among them), are just a few examples of what makes live theatre wonderful. And of course, there's the movie work: THE JERK, DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, ALL OF ME, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE THREE AMIGOS, ROXANNE, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, L.A. STORY, SGT. BILKO, and THE SPANISH PRISONER are, I think, among his best performances. I left out one movie on that list, because it is very underrated and very unusual. It contains a brilliant, comedic, touching, and tragic performance by Steve Martin. It's called PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1981), and it was directed by Herbert Ross. The movie takes place in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Martin plays a sheet-music salesman who gets through his bleak existance by fantasising a bright, cheery world, where popular music of the day is lyp-synched by the people around him. This movie is based on the Dennis Potter miniseries from the late 1970s, and features Bernadette Peters and Christopher Walken, who has a great tap-dancing number. The bright, optimistic music contrasts brilliantly with the darkness of real life in this movie (Martin's second starring role), and, not surprisingly, did horrible business at the box office.
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Martin and Murphy need a hit more than pandas need to shag.
Not only that. They DESERVE it. -
That's a smart move to put Bowfinger up against Astronaut's Wife. That piece of garbage has been in the can for over a year and a half!
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NOT FIRST. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for me. I'm not first. And I don't give a shit. And Bowfinger looks awesome! -
I've seen the film also, and had I written a review it would have been almost the exact same thing as Moriarty's. I loved it. I think Eddie is as important to the comedic success of this film as Kevin Kline was in Fish Called Wanda. It is certainly too early to really suggest Oscar but don't forget this performance next Feb. Consider This... SZ
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I have yet to see Steve in anything where he was truly horrid. My personal favorite is My Blue Heaven, not the greatest of all time, but I have a good time watching it. By the way, In & Out wasn't a bad film. Steve was originally in line first for Kline's part. He handed it off to Kline because he was busy at the time. I could deffinitely see Steve in that part. but it seems most of us here want Steve-a-rino to have another big hit. In the age where Sandlerish culture reigns supreme, it's high time a comedic God like Steve gets his days in the sun back again. But even if those days don't come back, I'll always be one of the man's biggest fans and supporters. Same goes for Bill Murray.
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Moriarty, I can't believe your actually waiting for BIG DADDY and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. I HATE Adam Sandler (the previews do make the film look funny but isn't that the point of the trailer?) Austin Powers, well lets just say that I gave this stupid rental the 30 minute test and it FAILED (horribly) I was so revolted by this crap that I have NEVER even WANTED to finish the video much less see the sequel. As for "The-Out-of-Towners" lets talk about that "crap". I took my MOTHER to see this "CRAP" and we BOTH enjoyed it (she was also the deciding factor to pull the plug on that crappy Austin Powers rental!!) Now I understand that Out-of-Towners is actually a remake and that I haven't seen the original, so that might be why you hated it and I liked it but still...I'll see Bowfinger (maybe not in the theater but I'll see it eventually) and we'll see...I'm still trying to see "The Mummy" and "Black Mask" and "Notting Hill" opens tonight too. -McK
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Hey...
I'm not waiting for the films I mentioned... I've seen them. Comedy is always more subjective than drama, I find, so I don't expect you to agree with me as to everything I find funny. I have enjoyed all the films I mentioned, though, and thought they all showcased their respective stars well. See the ones that interest you, and you'll have a good time.
"Moriarty" out. -
⊥SƎ⊥
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H∀Ǝ⅄ ʞↃ∩Ⅎ ɥO
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