edited by Jonathan Doyle

Classe tous risques (The Criterion Collection, 6.17.2008) Claude Sautet is best known for subtle interpretations of French bourgeois life in such films as Un coeur en hiver and Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud. Yet the director began his career with genre films. Classe Tous Risques, released in 1960, is considered the best of his early work and it's a fascinating companion to similar crime movies made around the same time by Jean-Pierre Melville. (continued)

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Boy A

Stop Eddie Murphy

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It may be too late and it may be a futile notion, but it's time for all good people to rise up and band together in order to stop Eddie Murphy from winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. If anyone wants to launch a website to help amplify this feeling and (who knows?) maybe trigger a turnaround of opinion, I'll contribute $100 bucks...seriously. He's the one bad guy in the bunch who, I feel, really doesn't deserve to win. Surely others feel this way?

I've seen that bored-indifferent, man-am-I-rich, leave-me-alone look on Murphy's face too many times, and I'd be tickled if the Oscar camera could catch him scowling when Mark Wahlberg or Alan Arkin win instead. He may have the Oscar in the bag, but I keep hearing he's not very well liked in the industry and that he's regarded as a bit of an asshole. Plus he was too cool to show up for any one of those three swanky Dreamgirls press events that Terry Press threw last year. It'll just take a little blogosphere surge to make it happen...maybe. Or maybe not.

I respect Murphy, and I certainly don't hate him . I used to love him in the early to mid '80s. I relished his spirited voice-acting in the two Shrek films, he was inspired in Bowfinger, and pretty funny in both Nutty Professor fims (especially the second one), but there's that air of arrogance and impudence that rubs me the wrong way. Plus I can't get over that run of truly awful big-studio films he made from the mid '80s to the late '90s.

Murphy needs to be leaned over a barrel for making Doctor Dolittle, Metro, Vampire in Brooklyn, Beverly Hills Cop III, The Distinguished Gentleman, Boomerang, Another 48 Hrs., Harlem Nights (hated it!), Coming to America (really hated it!), Beverly Hills Cop II (nowhere near as good as the original) and The Golden Child. 11 depressing films! I went through hell watching them.

I'm willing to let this go. If Murphy wins, whatever. He's pretty good as James "Thunder" Early, especially during his on-stage performing scenes. But he really isn't great or phenomenal in the part, and there isn't much of a character arc. In the third act Jamie Foxx dismisses a song idea, then he does a line of something, and the next scene he's dead...offscreen. Nor is there a whole lot of depth to the guy, and there's very little connective tissue in his story. It's an extended cameo, really.

Tommy Lee Jones coffee spots<< previous | next >>Condon on "Dreamgirls"

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 29, 2007 at 01:02 PM

comment #1

vansmith says ...

Boomerang was a good movie, cute. the other ten you mentioned were not good, he's worked for money and money only, he's got 7 kids. i suspect that he's an angry guy underneath it all. people find out the hard way that money and fame do little for you emotionally maybe...

Posted by vansmith at January 29, 2007 01:54 PM

comment #2

DavidF says ...

As long as he doesn't do what Jamie Foxx did - going onstage to accept and making everyone sing along as if he is the character he played onscreen - I can live with it.

IMHO Murphy was good but not Oscar-worthy.
Until I saw the posters and then commercials for Norbitt I thought maybe he'd been brough back from the Dark Side.
Yeah, it sounds like he's an asshole and he's been sufficently talented to coast on through a spate of not-just-bad-but-HORRIBLE films.
Seeing him in commericals for Daddy Day Care is a bit like listening to the latest Van Halen power ballad.
To think that kids are growing up watching his new movies, not even knowing about CLASSICS like Beverly Hills Hop, Trading Places and 48 Hours.
He should be strapped to a chair and forced to watch RAW until he remembers that he used to be funny. He used to be edgy. He used to be, in a word, good.
He is GOOD in Dreamgirls.
He's not great -a bit too much reliance on "James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub" - but it's significant progress.
I can live with him winning an Oscar if it gets him better scripts or otherwise forces him to stop donning fatsuits and playing multiple characters in lieu of the ACTING of which is capable.
If he's going to make Nutty Professor 3 or anything else vaguely resembling Norbitt, I'd just as soon see anyone else win.

(The same goes for Harrison Ford, incidentally. He hasn't been reduced to fatsuits but I've been wishing he'd make a ballsy choice since he passed on Traffic. I hate to guess/hear what he's passed on since to make Hollywood Homicide, Firewall etc. A geniunely talented actors making crap. I'm sad for him if he isn't sad for himself.)

Posted by DavidF at January 29, 2007 01:55 PM

comment #3

vansmith says ...

Coming to America was good to..

Posted by vansmith at January 29, 2007 01:56 PM

comment #4

erniesouchak says ...

Come on, he was one of the few things that worked in Dreamgirls. I would, however, fully support stopdjimonhonsou.com.

Talk about ridiculous.

Posted by erniesouchak at January 29, 2007 01:57 PM

comment #5

thatrader says ...

You asshole, Jeff. How would you like it if I decided to ruin the next few films I see before you just because I didn't like them? Some people haven't seen "Dreamgirls" and were still going to, but thanks for ruining a crucial plot point for them.

Posted by thatrader at January 29, 2007 01:59 PM

comment #6

CambridgeCat says ...

It's really hard to overstate how big a star Eddie Murphy was, and was supposed to be, in the early 80's and he essentially pissed it all away due to ego and bad decisions (based on ego). If this is still his rep then he's clearly a man who doesn't learn his lessons. I mean, shit, what reason does he have to have an ego now???

We'll always have SNL, 48 Hours, and Trading Places.

Posted by CambridgeCat at January 29, 2007 01:59 PM

comment #7

DavidF says ...

My wife thought Djimon Honsou was good.
Of course she never saw Amistad and doesn't remember Gladiator.
I kinda feel sorry for the guy since he's a good actor but clearly keeps getting pigeonholed as The Noble African Who Must Fight Injustice.
Oh yeah, he can knock it out of the park each time.
It's just less impressive each time.
C'mon Hollywood - let's see you give the guy a role that's not written for a a black guy (I'm thinking of something like Freeman in Shawshank).

Posted by DavidF at January 29, 2007 01:59 PM

comment #8

EDouglas says ...

As far as I know, this was one of Murphy's only truly ddramatic roles. True, he clowns around a lot but there's a poignancy to his character at the end of the arc that's as good as anything by Hudson. he's well deserving, much more than the other four candidates in the category. (Okay, Arkin was good, but c'mon, he's doing the same thing he's been doing for years)

Posted by EDouglas at January 29, 2007 02:00 PM

comment #9

vansmith says ...

Alot of these older actors lose their energy or they get shellshocked with all the scripts coming at them that are the same, it can be depressing. in reality murphy got lucky with that fat suit shit because it was totally out of the box and successful, now he's milked it to death and he's depressed again, now what, more james brown badass scripts are going to come his way.

Posted by vansmith at January 29, 2007 02:03 PM

comment #10

CambridgeCat says ...

Btw, I never liked BHC, even when it first came out and was considered the shit when I was 13. Talk about an orverrated movie!

I agree that BOOMERANG worked. Better than anythings else he's done post TRADING PLACES, IMO.

Posted by CambridgeCat at January 29, 2007 02:05 PM

comment #11

thevisceral says ...

I wasn't impressed by Murphy. To me his performance was mainly left-over SNL schtick (yes, it's too hot in the hot-tub). That being said, I couldn't care less if he wins the Oscar. The performance will be no more or less valid in my mind if he does win. And if there are nitwits who see Murphy's acting in a different light because of some award he's been given - well, that's on them for not being able to formulate an opinion on their own.

Posted by thevisceral at January 29, 2007 02:06 PM

comment #12

JD says ...

I don't care if he wins -- I haven't even seen DG -- but he came across as an arrogant, egomaniacal asshole in his Golden Globe speech. And there's also that recent story about him abandoning one of the Spice Girls (Scary Spice?) after getting her pregnant and claiming the baby isn't his. That can't be good for the Oscar campaign.

Posted by JD at January 29, 2007 02:07 PM

comment #13

Jeff says ...

Wow, I am surpised by the no love for Coming to America. I really thought that it was highly regarded. I still watch it every time its on TV. Maybe becuase I was born in 82 and was too young to appreciate Murphy in his hayday, but I love me some Coming to America.

Posted by Jeff at January 29, 2007 02:15 PM

comment #14

Terry McCarty says ...

Actually, Eddie's SAG acceptance wasn't nearly
as arrogant as the Globes speech.

Posted by Terry McCarty at January 29, 2007 02:15 PM

comment #15

delbomber says ...

I wonder what that tranny is chewing on??

If he doesn't win, it'll likely be for the reasons you listed...he's not very well liked in the industry, he's regarded as a bit of an asshole, he was too cool...more so than any blog campaign.

Love or hate 'Coming to America', it had some great moments...those barber-shop scenes are priceless.

Please, let's not spark another Goonies debate...funny is different for different people, not sure why appreciating humor of a less refined nature, such as these films, prompts some to dismiss the intellectual capacity of its fans. I'm really only talking about 'CTA' here--the rest are terrible as Wells says. In fact, one might argue that those who appreciate humor across the spectrum, from the most slap-stick to the most cerebral, have a better sense of humor than those who will only admit to laughing at something others consider "smart".

Posted by delbomber at January 29, 2007 02:16 PM

comment #16

dre says ...

Uh, Coming to American fucking rules. Yeah it's a guilty pleasure but It was probably the last time Eddie's work and timing was on point. The only other movies I liked him in since was the FIRST Nutty Professor (he was fine in the second, the movie just sucked), the Shrek movies and Bowfinger. He's fine in Dreamgirls. he doesnt deserve to win this year in my eyes (go wahlberg!) but whatever.

Jeff, I can't believe you would go so far in your fight against Murphy. I'm not fan of some of the nominees but I'm not donating money to start a website. Wait, maybe I will against the Mirren Gestapo. Look, she's fantastic and if she wins, fine...but I do agree with Jeff on that point ... she isn't so CLEARLY the best female performance of the year. The crtiics and awards groups are acting like her performance is citizen-fucking-kane. Is there no imagination?

btw...Djimon Hounsou's nom is well-deserved. He may be getting stuck with the same role but he's a hella powerful actor.

Posted by dre at January 29, 2007 02:20 PM

comment #17

joe says ...

Jeff,

When you say Murphy is not that great in the part and that the part is a cameo, let's put at least part of the blame with the screenwriter, Bill Condon, who failed to give the character much of a character arc.

However, the irony is that Murphy's character is more developed than most of the other characters, and that is why he is getting a lot of award nominations. Condon's script is simply not that good. It's some 25 songs with montage after montage in between them.

Posted by joe at January 29, 2007 02:27 PM

comment #18

vansmith says ...

you know, murphy might hear all the rumors out there about him being half a fag or something and that burn him up..

Posted by vansmith at January 29, 2007 02:28 PM

comment #19

Rob says ...

The race should be between Wahlberg and Jackie Earle Haley. And what the fuck happened to Michael Sheen's campaign?

Posted by Rob at January 29, 2007 02:31 PM

comment #20

Mgmax says ...

Why Eddie Murphy doesn't deserve this Oscar, in four words:

Bill Murray in "Rushmore."

Posted by Mgmax at January 29, 2007 02:31 PM

comment #21

berkguru says ...

thanks for the plot spoilers jerkoff

Posted by berkguru at January 29, 2007 02:41 PM

comment #22

Devin Faraci says ...

It's sort of skeevy that most of this piece is "He doesn't deserve it as a person" and only the last paragraph has any bearing on his performance. And even that, barely.

Posted by Devin Faraci at January 29, 2007 02:45 PM

comment #23

Geoff says ...

Vampire in Brooklyn does bring back bad memories.

Posted by Geoff at January 29, 2007 02:50 PM

comment #24

jeffmcm says ...

Coming to America is a really good film (and, I think, considered a classic in some circles).

But as much as I don't care for Murphy as a person or for plenty of his movies, do we really want to all join Wells in his campaign of personal destruction? Sounds petty to me.

Posted by jeffmcm at January 29, 2007 03:00 PM

comment #25

bmcintire says ...

Please do not forget Showtime, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, The Haunted Mansion, Holy Man, Life and I Spy. Even Tim Allen hasn't made this many shitty movies.

Posted by bmcintire at January 29, 2007 03:10 PM

comment #26

Mark says ...

Jeffrey,
We're on different pages, but i have to admit, that's a great picture to hammer down a point. Imagine being stuck in a limo w/ that pair.

I came to liking Eddie more after his brother Charlie's stories on Chappele. Eddie, around 20 years old, never got sucked into the dark of fame, and actually feel terrible after beating up a coked up Rick James. He was sympathetic, and it was endearing. (I would agree, however, that for a while Eddie succombed to the dark side of vanity, and made some pretty good-looking shit.)

I more of the boat that i don't need to hear another 'thx for making me feel welcome' speech from his costar. Give that one to Abigail please.

Posted by Mark at January 29, 2007 03:17 PM

comment #27

Breedlove says ...

i read this site religiously but jeff's always been an asshole about spoilers. i can count on jeff to ruin the endings for a couple of movies a year, it's fucking aggravating. i tried to finally see 'dreamgirls' last week, there were major problems at the showing so i left with about 30 minutes left and was planning on trying again. would have been nice to experience that moment organically instead of jeff blurting it out for absolutely no reason. jeff, this pisses off a lot of loyal readers, and you do it pretty often.

Posted by Breedlove at January 29, 2007 03:20 PM

comment #28

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Breedlove: How many weeks do you usually wait before you get around to seeing a major movie that everyone's talking about? Five or six? This film has been playing for six weeks if you count the $25 per ticket exclusives. I saw it in mid-November. When is it okay to start talking about minor plot points? Believe me, what happens to Murphy's guy is extremely minor because he barely exists as any kind of full-bodied character in the first place. I barely shrugged my shoulders when it happened. It was like, "Okay, too bad...whatever."

Posted by gruver1 at January 29, 2007 03:35 PM

comment #29

Josh Massey says ...

Coming to America is Murphy's best film.

Posted by Josh Massey at January 29, 2007 03:42 PM

comment #30

cjKennedy says ...

Campaigning against a guy because he's probably a jerk seems mental to me. He might be a total dick and for sure he's made many many many awful films, but so what?

I don't really care if he wins the Oscar or not, but frankly I think Dreamgirls would've been a stronger movie if he'd been given more to do in the second half. That's when his character became interesting and Murphy offered up something he really hadn't before: pathos. The first half he was entertaining, but it was all a watered down version of stuff we'd seen from him before.

But whatever. The extent that I really care is already overshadowed by the energy I've put into this post.

Posted by cjKennedy at January 29, 2007 04:17 PM

comment #31

Chris Willman says ...

The only thing that could derail a Murphy Oscar is enough Academy members seeing the "Norbit" trailer.

Posted by Chris Willman at January 29, 2007 04:37 PM

comment #32

dixiedugan says ...

I can't get enough energy up to hate on Eddie, but I do feel that giving an Oscar to Alan or Jackie is talent better recognized.

Geez Jeff...I've never called you out on word one but I gotta agree - if you are gonna spoil something, note it first! Please! Your point that "How many weeks do you usually wait before you get around to seeing a major movie that everyone's talking about?" doesn't fly with me doll. I got a kid and a husband and screwy job hours and laundry and I don't know what all. Just try to remember to have some consideration for those of us semi-normal day to day livin' cubicle working folks don't have time to see it the first freaking weekend it comes out, and we don't want it spoiled in case it takes us a couple of weeks to get a babysitter lined up...okay? Or maybe we just rent, cause who the hell can afford to go to all the movies showing?

Thank you! And don't spoil Little Children yet okay!

Posted by dixiedugan at January 29, 2007 04:44 PM

comment #33

christian says ...

COMING TO AMERICA features a good murphy performance in the barbershop for sure, but his prince was bland and the "wash your royal penis" line is still unfunny after all these years.

and they should have called it COMING TO MCDONALD'S...

that said, i wish murphy showed some higher aspiration if he's going to come off so smug...after PLUTO NASH one should at least feign humility.

Posted by christian at January 29, 2007 04:48 PM

comment #34

Burbanked says ...

RE: spoilers on HE

I love this site, but I've long since stopped reading Jeff's reviews or movie plot descriptions because inevitably there will be spoilers. He tends to toss them off, casually, ninja-like when you're least expecting them and they sting like crazy when you realize what you've read.

The fact is, movie deaths are rarely random or meaningless. They're put there for a reason, regardless of how important the dead character is - because even if they're *not* important to the plot, they're quite possibly important to someone else who *is*.

And I don't think it's safe to assume that everyone's seen this, regardless of how long it's been out. It's not a blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination, yet more people are probably going to see it now because of the Oscar noms.

As pedestrian as it may be, and as much of a spontaneity-killer to writing as it probably is, it's become pretty standard for 90% of other sites to warn about oncoming spoiler material before jumping right into it.

Posted by Burbanked at January 29, 2007 04:58 PM

comment #35

dre says ...

Christian, they could have made an entire movie out of the guys in the barbershop and I would have loved it.

Posted by dre at January 29, 2007 04:59 PM

comment #36

The Movie Man says ...

Jeff lost cred in this rant for me when he complimented the second Nutty Professor, as bad and desperate as any of his other awful movies.

More on point, I thought Murphy was good in the role, but Jeff is right in that it isn't fully fleshed out and doesn't really deliver in the second half. The second half of the movie falls apart in general, a really strained balancing act between the various characters. I was pretty blah with LMS in general but I'm rooting for Alan Arkin, who was the best part of that film.

Posted by The Movie Man at January 29, 2007 05:13 PM

comment #37

The Movie Man says ...

Though, I haven't gotten a chance to see Little Children.

Posted by The Movie Man at January 29, 2007 05:14 PM

comment #38

alero says ...

I don't want him to win because he is soooo arrogant. I truly can't stand this guy. Frankly I have to say that Murphy and Hudson are getting on my nerves. The first time she did the "little old me" speech it was sweet and innocent. Now it seems so phoney.

Posted by alero at January 29, 2007 05:40 PM

comment #39

EveHarrington says ...

Somebody send the WAAAAAAAAmbulance. Seriously, Jeff, nobody on the internets with the possible exception of you would touch a "let's stop eddie murphy" website with a 15 meter cattle prod. Besides: from one side of your mouth you say Children of Men should win best picture because you think it was the best film while on the other you say Eddie Murphy shouldn't win the Oscar because he possibly knocked up Scary Spice? Seriously, snap out of it.

Posted by EveHarrington at January 29, 2007 05:51 PM

comment #40

K. Bowen says ...

I actually think that only Honsou, maybe Haley, have characters with a story arc among this group.
Woulda loved to see Carell or a couple of the guys from The Proposition (Winstone, Huston)in this category.

Posted by K. Bowen at January 29, 2007 06:00 PM

comment #41

lesterg says ...

While I have little doubt that Murphy is a colossal dick in real life, this is all a little hypocritical given Jeff's role as "Russell Crowe apologist" over the years.

Posted by lesterg at January 29, 2007 06:02 PM

comment #42

ROTC says ...

"If anyone wants to launch a website to help amplify this feeling and (who knows?) maybe trigger a turnaround of opinion, I'll contribute $100 bucks..."

Wells, for someone who until recently was asking us to donate any small amount of money to you for alleged financial hardships, you sure have some balls making a statement like that.

Posted by ROTC at January 29, 2007 06:06 PM

comment #43

jeffmcm says ...

I agree that WInstone or Huston would have been worthy nominees. Too bad their movie didn't get seen by more people.

But since when does 'story arc' matter when it comes to Oscar, or even to brilliant performances per se?

Posted by jeffmcm at January 29, 2007 06:12 PM

comment #44

bipedalist says ...

Arkin phoned in his performance. He's been better elsewhere and his part is too small. Murphy is great in Dreamgirls. Djimon Hounsou is wonderful too. Only one actor deserves to win if it isn't Murphy, though: Mark Wahlberg.

Posted by bipedalist at January 29, 2007 07:30 PM

comment #45

bipedalist says ...

And p.s. "It'll just take a little blogosphere surge to make it happen." Try, NOT. This kind of negative campaigning will only ensure he gets the Oscar because the Academy is not easily bossed around and probably thinks the only thing more lowly on this earth than a blogger is a film critic.

Posted by bipedalist at January 29, 2007 07:32 PM

comment #46

cjKennedy says ...

3 hours and 15 minutes later, I'm still a little mystified by this seemingly random post. Was Eddie on the cover of Time magazine recently and I missed it or something? "Eddie Murphy's Secret Masterpiece" ?

Is he going to turn the dogs on Helen Mirren next just because she's as inevitable as global warming?

Posted by cjKennedy at January 29, 2007 07:34 PM

comment #47

adorian says ...

Jeff-- Not everyone lives in L.A. and gets to see movies before they are released. Some of us live in rural America, many miles away from the big cineplexes that show everything. Some of us have an invalid parent who needs constant care and attention, so we can't go out for movies. Some of us see our movies only on DVD. Please listen to your critics and at least announce "SPOLIER WARNING!!" before you give away any kind of plot turn. Please?

Posted by adorian at January 29, 2007 07:37 PM

comment #48

bipedalist says ...

cjKennedy - I don't know where this came from. I don't know why anyone would go after Eddie Murphy. I think it's just that he feels the acting categories are sewn up and maybe sees Murphy as the only weak link. I personally think they're locked in.

Posted by bipedalist at January 29, 2007 07:49 PM

comment #49

royfromage says ...

I always thought that Eddie would win for his long awaited retarded slave role.

Posted by royfromage at January 29, 2007 08:50 PM

comment #50

Undercover Brother says ...

Just to summerize, here are the reasons Eddie doesn't deserve an Oscar:

- The Golden Child
- Beverly Hills Cop II
- Harlem Nights
- Another 48 Hours
- Boomerang
- Distinguished Gentlemen
- Beverly Hills Cop III (Not even Jesus could forgive this one)
- Vampire in Brooklyn
- Metro
- Doctor Dolittle
- Holy Man
- Life
- Nutty Professor II
- The PJs
- Dolittle II
- Showtime
- Pluto Nash
- I Spy
- Daddy Day Care
- Haunted Mansion

Murphy's career is the perfect example of squandered brilliance. Watch that season of SNL and his first few films and the man was inspiried. His career should've rivaled the comedy legends of old. But he's obviously a flawed character and he rarely cared about what his projects amounted to. And he can't just be off, he has to be sucking the ass of the worst crap at the bottom of the barrel. Some old charm seeps through from time to time, but this second, or is it third, calculated comeback wave he's trying to build again already looks stilted. "Norbit" looks like shit and shows he hasn't really changed.

Murphy pisses me off. He tossed away a legendary career out of sheer laziness, arrogance and greed. He deserves no award for anything.

Posted by Undercover Brother at January 29, 2007 08:59 PM

comment #51

cjKennedy says ...

Agreed Bipedalist.

I'm pretty aware of Jeff's assorted, often baseless pet peeves, but this one seems to have sprouted at random. You can tell he wants to hate Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker but they're so damn talented and charming, he couldn't possibly. Jennifer Hudson is just a great story and even people who didn't like Dreamgirls agree she was terrific. That leaves Eddie to bear the brunt of Jeff's impotent rage. Despite Jeff's campaign, I'm quite sure Mr. Murphy will sleep soundly tonight on his massive pile money.

Posted by cjKennedy at January 29, 2007 09:26 PM

comment #52

delbomber says ...

To say awards are handed out based solely on their respective performances is ludicrous. Marty's sloppiest and laziest movie will win him Best Director out of sheer pity...Jeff acknowledges this personal and petty side perfectly...my only problem is his suggestion that Wahlberg should win...talk about a one-note, one-dimensional performance...brooding and looking generally pissed seems like the easiest thing to pull off next to an impersonation....where's Wahlberg's character's "arc"? His---SPOILER---sudden, random, arbitrary reappearance in the final scene? Please, he was convincing in his part, but it didn't take much "acting". As someone mentioned earlier, Bill Murray in 'Rushmore'...THAT'S ACTING...there's one look he gives in the barber shop that transcends almost any other "acting" moment in the tens of thousands of hours I've spent watching movies, and he wasn't even acknowledged that year with a nomination. Performances often have nothing to do with these "awards".

...and I would suggest 'Life' doesn't belong on the list of shame above...

Posted by delbomber at January 29, 2007 09:27 PM

comment #53

bipedalist says ...

Dellbomber, lol. Have issues?

I have faith that one day you'll have better, more interesting taste. So much misplaced hatred in your heart. Let me guess, you hate your father?

Posted by bipedalist at January 29, 2007 09:39 PM

comment #54

Goulet says ...

COMING IN AMERICA is one of the funniest movies ever.

And while Murphy did make some awful flicks, dude, so did Marky Mark. Plus, we're not judging the career, but a specific performance.

Posted by Goulet at January 29, 2007 09:50 PM

comment #55

cjKennedy says ...

Coming in America? Didn't I see that on the shelf with Shaving Ryan's Privates and Back Door to the Future?

Posted by cjKennedy at January 29, 2007 10:23 PM

comment #56

jeffmcm says ...

Marty's retrospectively winning Best Director for his New York Stories segment?

Like I said before, 'arcs' are unnecessary for good performances. What's Forest Whitaker's arc in Last King of Scotland? He doesn't have one, but he's amazingly charismatic and scary. And as much as I love Bill Murray, don't we all realize by now that he's been giving the same performance since Groundhog Day?

Posted by jeffmcm at January 29, 2007 11:01 PM

comment #57

MPNeeb says ...

One reason Eddie won't win: NORBIT.

Watching ads for that make me hate the world.

And with regards to spoilers, unless you're 12, movies that come out of the Hollywood machine won't be too confusing or surprising. Getting angry at plot points being revealed for a picture like 'Dreamgirls' is like being angry at water for being wet.

Posted by MPNeeb at January 29, 2007 11:22 PM

comment #58

DarthCorleone says ...

Not only would I vehemently defend Coming to America (and to a lesser degree Boomerang), but I LOVE THE GOLDEN CHILD. There. I said it. Oscar? Murphy's bad attitude? *shrug* Eddie Murphy gave us The Golden Child...that's all that matters to me.

O.k. I'm exaggerating slightly. Movies like Norbit grate on me. BUT I LOVE THE GOLDEN CHILD.

Posted by DarthCorleone at January 29, 2007 11:43 PM

comment #59

donnyboy says ...

11 depressing films! I went through hell watching them---

I've read more than 20 less than mediocre columns from you Jeff in one year and I've found the power, or maybe I have the insight to understand that you are human being.

It made you sad.
Booo-hoooo.
Go buy some Kleenex.

Posted by donnyboy at January 30, 2007 12:06 AM

comment #60

royalonemn says ...

Aggressively being responsible for a smear campaign on someone's character is class-less. What you describe as arrogant traits in Mr. Murphy could be the result of something else. Insecurity, bad marriage (no one knows how long his marriage has been falling apart), health issues, other family concerns.

Many movie stars are reclusive and internal. They may seem like assholes, but they are just shielding themselves from other people.

I would think about that before you star personally attacking people. Is stopping him from winning an Oscar worth kicking the man when he may or may not be emotionally unstable worth it?

Any nominee, any year you can find horrible films they did (Have we all forgotten that shit Helen Mirren did with Cuba Gooding, Jr "Shadowboxer" just this year?) Many of those movies you cited ARE classics and financial successes, each for different reasons.

It sounds like Mr. Murphy personal offended you at some point in time (not just "I heard he was an asshole." That is 3/4 of Hollywood). What you are doing is bass and ugly. And it shouldn't be.

Posted by royalonemn at January 30, 2007 01:08 AM

comment #61

Reint says ...

"Not only would I vehemently defend Coming to America [...], but I LOVE THE GOLDEN CHILD."

Absolutely DITTO!

Posted by Reint at January 30, 2007 01:32 AM

comment #62

Rich S. says ...

"Hey, I've got an idea! Let's get together and destroy a man's career because I don't like him personally!"

- N. Gingrich

Posted by Rich S. at January 30, 2007 05:01 AM

comment #63

LFF says ...

suck it up on the spoiler issue people, the movie's been in wide release for at least 4 weeks now. If you really cared so much you would find a way to see the film, or avoid reading, i dunno, websites that discuss movies?

As far i'm concerned, plot points are fair game one week after a wide release.

Posted by LFF at January 30, 2007 05:25 AM

comment #64

Josh Massey says ...

LFF: I'm glad you have nothing better to do than see movies in their first week of release, but some of have these things called "lives."

Posted by Josh Massey at January 30, 2007 06:11 AM

comment #65

DavidF says ...

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves just how talented Murphy is/was.

He was 19 (when he was on SNL.
19, folks.
Then he made Trading Places, 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop.
Even after BHC he was only 23 frickin years old.
It hasn't been all downhill since then but, aside frow a few bumps it has been a fairly straightforward trajectory.

Posted by DavidF at January 30, 2007 06:23 AM

comment #66

Michael says ...

delbomber, I don't think there was anything random or arbitrary about Wahlberg's showing up at the end. I think it was pretty straightforward, actually.

Posted by Michael at January 30, 2007 06:35 AM

comment #67

christian says ...

seeing that list of bad murphy films was painful.

i agree, he has squandered his mad talent, and it's his biz to do so, but if you're sharing your crap with the world, people have a right to judge it and to a degree, the man.

but THE GOLDEN CHILD is not a good film. aside from murphy's banter with the child, what is there? john carpenter was supposed to direct it, but he did the superior BIG TROUBLE instead.

and roger ebert thumbs downed BTILC and raved over the forgettable bland gold whatzit...

but jeff, come on. donate that 100 bucks to a real cause.

Posted by christian at January 30, 2007 06:59 AM

comment #68

DavidF says ...

I'm with Michael.
Wahlberg's appearance wasn't random and that scene is (literally) the least of reasons he's nominated.
He takes a genre part ("Bad Cop") and elevates it (with help from the screenplay, obviously) to greatness.
He chews the scenery, in a good way. He's not the first supporting to nominee to have what is, essentially, a brilliant multi-scene cameo.
If you don't like the film that's another matter but if shifts up another gear every time he's on screen and that counts for something in this biz.

And I also think Murray didn't get enough respect from the Academy for Rushmore but it's time to let it go. If Murphy wins (proving the Academy doesn't like an ex-comedian who can ACT but does like one who can strut and take a few steps towards acting) then you can dredge it up again - but only for a few weeks, please.

Posted by DavidF at January 30, 2007 07:10 AM

comment #69

corey3rd says ...

Eddie has always been a prick when it comes to filmmaking. he normally stays away from the cast and crew. he does not want anyone talking to him. He refuses to make movies outside of New York or LA. When they were doing location scouting for Nutty Professor in Chapel Hill, the local film commisioner was losing his load thinking they'd land it. I told the guy to calm down. The film's going to be made in LA. Guess what happened?

But what's sad about Dream Girls is how Eddie didn't want the part. He had to be dragged into the production. We're not talking a role that just existed on the page. Murphy had seen the musical. He knew what could be done as the character. what does it say about an actor that he's more willing to star in "Haunted Mansion" and "Pluto Nash" than Dream Girls?

Bill Murray had his Lost in Translation Oscar campaign KO'd by Garfield. Virginia Madsen was screwed because Academy members didn't want to honor an actress known for straight to video. Hopefully Norbit will let the Academy know that a nomination is just enough for Murphy since he's going to keep cranking out the crap after he's honored. There's no "one for art, one for my bank account" with Murphy.

Where the hell was Judi Dench's character arc for her Oscar?

Posted by corey3rd at January 30, 2007 07:23 AM

comment #70

delbomber says ...

biped, you must be smarter than me...you win...who's the big winner? Biped is...

Wahlberg's reappearance in the final scene was way too convenient...he had conspicuously disappeared from the film and anyone who was thinking ahead knew they would have to close his loop...when that hadn't happened by Leo's demise, the setup for his return was more obvious than Forrest Whitaker's lazy eye. Just sloppy, uninspired writing...or perhaps it was all in the editing, but his initial departure, no pun intended, was too sudden and open-ended. This isn't a critique of his performance, but it relates to Jeff's demand that a character have an 'arc'.

Yes, I agree he played bad cop perfectly, but Nicholson gives a much more interesting, charismatic, and nuanced performance--hell even Baldwin does--and neither of them are nominated...it's more likely that Wahlberg's nomination is owed to the enormous amount of good will generated from the popularity of 'Entourage.'

Posted by delbomber at January 30, 2007 08:04 AM

comment #71

lesterg says ...

The only good thing in "The Golden Child" is Charles Dance. The rest of the movie is god awful.

Posted by lesterg at January 30, 2007 08:58 AM

comment #72

CambridgeCat says ...

"And as much as I love Bill Murray, don't we all realize by now that he's been giving the same performance since Groundhog Day?"

Bill Murray in RUSHMORE was about 1,000,000 miles away from the character in GROUNDHOG DAY.

Posted by CambridgeCat at January 30, 2007 09:20 AM

comment #73

dixiedugan says ...

LFF - I get where you're going with the plot points online, I don't have a problem with that - but plot points can be different than out and out spoilers.

Hey, anytime you wanna babysit for me so the husband and I can go see a flick or to, let me know.

Posted by dixiedugan at January 30, 2007 09:24 AM

comment #74

Ju-osh says ...

Look out, Eddie. Need I remind you what Jeff did to Munich?

Posted by Ju-osh at January 30, 2007 09:36 AM

comment #75

delbomber says ...

Golden Child..."I want the knife...pleeeeaassse" was good for a laugh and the villain's insistence on pronouncing Murphy's character's name with a 'Y' instead of a 'J' was an amusing and smart little detail, but those are the only things I remember finding funny. Again, though, it's doesn't even approach other movies on that list for whoredom, and Murphy should be no more ashamed of it than anything for which Voigt or DeNiro have spread their legs in the past ten years...

Posted by delbomber at January 30, 2007 10:03 AM

comment #76

daddyc says ...

I think that Murphy did fine in 'Dreamgirls' despite his thin vocals and touch of swish. However, I will say that 'Norbit' depresses me to my core. I think the one-sheet for 'Norbit' is a Rorschach test begging to be analyzed. Posing with yourself as a geek and a fat black woman with press-on nails. What is going on here? Playing fat mammas, swishy donkeys and geeks (Bowfinger). It's just reeking of 'whore' and 'confused'. I don't understand it. Come back to the five and dime, Dave Chappelle, Dave Chappelle! I'm tired of Big Momma's Norbit.

Posted by daddyc at January 30, 2007 12:59 PM

comment #77

rr3333 says ...

Murphy has readily admitted that his main motivation for making movies is money.

He even talked about his conversations with Jeff Katzenberg, who desperately wanted him to do Dreamgirls, where Murphy didnt want to do it because there was no money in it.

The height of his crappy career was 'Showtime', where, if it wasnt for Deniro directing 'The Good Shephard', one would think DeNiro and Murphy are like twins when it comes to taking the money and running.

Posted by rr3333 at January 30, 2007 07:35 PM

comment #78

LFF says ...

hey Josh Massey, Why should I have to avoid discussing a film in detail that I bothered to go and see, because some potential exists that you _may_ see the film in the future? Lots of films don't hit my area until wide release. If i'm worried about spoilers, I don't read articles about the film. Easy.

I suspect your "life" that you so causually tout is lived entirely online if you are bitching about spoilers. It might be time to unplug.

Posted by LFF at January 30, 2007 08:04 PM

comment #79

DarthCorleone says ...

I still love The Golden Child. I just think Eddie has great timing and delivery in it. And - call me a sap - but I appreciate the philosophical undercurrents and truly bought that the characters gave a damn. And, yes, Charles Dance rules.

And for the record - since the comparison was made - I love Big Trouble In Little China even more.

Posted by DarthCorleone at January 30, 2007 09:57 PM

comment #80

CambridgeCat says ...

"The height of his crappy career was 'Showtime', where, if it wasnt for Deniro directing 'The Good Shephard', one would think DeNiro and Murphy are like twins when it comes to taking the money and running."

Yeah, take away The Good Sheppard ... and Jackie Brown, Wag the Dog, Heat, Casino, Jackknife, Midnight Run, The Mission, Brazil, Once Upon a Time in America, The King of Comedy, True Confessions, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, The Godfather II, and Mean Streets and they're practically the same guy

I know what you meant, but at least Deniro was 50 before he started selling out wholesale. Murphy wasn't even 25.

Posted by CambridgeCat at January 31, 2007 08:55 AM

comment #81

SRP says ...

Eddie Murphy is talented and it's interesting that people on this site have a problem with him because of your perceptions of his personality. I think Mark Wahlberg gives off that same messed up air as well, but everyone wants him to win. Eddie did a lot with a little in Dreamgirls. He should win and what does Norbit have to do with anything? All of the actors in the category have made movies where they probably should have stayed home--

Posted by SRP at February 11, 2007 06:27 PM

comment #82

amanda says ...

I think there are undertones of racism in these views of eddie murphy, as other posters have noted there are many other actors that have similar attitudes and there are many many other really crap films, so why are all these people so down on a very successfull black actor.

Posted by amanda at March 3, 2007 06:21 AM

comment #83

kimi98 says ...

Hollywood Elsewhere

Upcoming

Stop Eddie Murphy

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