comment #1

EveHarrington says ...

At least Eddie Murphy didn't kill anyone.

comment #2

Rod32303 says ...

Because actors and directors ALWAYS get along and ALWAYS respect each other? And the director is ALWAYS to be listened to and admired? Two sides to every story -I seem to recall the George Clooney and about David O. Russell's "exchange" during "Three Kings" and you siding with Russell, of course.

John Landis also worked with Michael Jackson(Jackostein, remember?) both on "Thriller" (excellent) and "Black or White" (ridiculous). THIS is the source you want to use? Because Landis is such a stunning director and powerhouse talent? I've never understood, if Landis knew Murphy was such an asshole, why they worked together AGAIN on VHC III (wretched). I'll listen to Frank Oz, instead, who LOVED working with Murphy and Steve Martin on "Bowfinger."

Mark Wahlberg, for me, gives an amazing Supporting Actor performance in "The Departed." I know you hate Honsou, but he is ALIVE on screen in "Blood Diamond." Alan Arkin, the old pro, gives it all he's got in "Little Miss Sunshine," and ends up stealing all his scenes. And how cool would it be to see Jackie Earle Haley go up on that poduim and get his deserved rewards?

But I am sticking with Murphy. I've always really felt his performance in "Dreamgirls." It was never an "extended cameo" - he's in this film more than Wahlberg and Haley are in theirs. And now, I hope, when he walks up there, he mouths "BLOW ME WELLS" to you. If he doesn't win...well, he'll be counting his benjamins from, god love him, NORBIT - hurts just a little, doesn't it?

Shit, I am still trying to understand you anyway -you fucking praised "Find Me Guilty"???? And you are still crying about this shit?

Mission Accomplished. I'm finally done with you.

comment #3

Rod32303 says ...

shit! NOT VHC, B(everly) H (ills) C (cop!) See how fucked up you got me?

comment #4

Hopscotch says ...

If I was dubbed a comedy icon, starred in two hugely successfull films, single-handedly saved a network Late Night Show, all by the age of 26...
I'd probably be a dick too. and so would you.

Not that this is a good analogy, but Jeff kept DEFENDING Michael Mann to the walls last summer when all the stories about his incredibly dickish behavior on Miami Vice came out, I wonder why actors aren't allowed to act like dicks too. If it's all just part of the creative process, what's the harm?

Something about funnymen, they just crazy I guess. See Mike Myers and Jim Carrey. Nuts the both of them. I had a personal interaction with Robin Williams and he came off as about a normal and decent person you can find. funny.

comment #5

Hopscotch says ...

Oh yeah, I know some people who've had meetings with John Landis, the guy is just plain nutty. Though, he's nice to work with I've been told.

Though this might have to do with where you are in your career. In 1988, Murphy was literally at the crest of his popularity and could behave however he liked. A decade and some flops later maybe brought him down to earth some.

comment #6

EDouglas says ...

"At least Eddie Murphy didn't kill anyone."

Yet. I'm sure he'll come gunning for Wells if he doesn't get the Oscar.

comment #7

rastaman says ...

Dude,

You seem to dislike black performers. I don't know what your problwm is but take a chill pill. PUNK

comment #8

lesterg says ...

I wonder if Eddie's mood could have been influenced by the fact he was working with a third-rate hack director who would be taking potshots at him in the press decades later in a pathetic attempt to remind people he's still alive.

I don't think I'd be a ball of sunshine either.

comment #9

jeffmcm says ...

Using "he's angry" as a factor to hold against someone is the height of hypocrisy from this site.

comment #10

rocco says ...

If being angry were grounds for ostrification, H-e would receive 0 hits per day. Jeff comes off as one of the angriest, hand-tied, Travis Bickle-ish people I know...at least lately, anyway.

Wells has been throwing butcher knives and high heels at Eddie for weeks and no one but a few bloggers take notice...JOHN LANDIS, a veritable corpse, makes one backhanded comment about Murphy and he's quoted in the NY Times...suddenly Jeff's source of anger seems a bit clearer. John Landis!? What year is this?

comment #11

Dellamorte says ...

Henry Jones of Wells: "Indiana?....Indiana?..... Let it go..."

comment #12

Piper71 says ...

Jeff,

I'm on to you. You don't really hate Murphy this much. You're just doing this to piss everyone off.

Who cares if Murphy wins the award. The Oscars lost their credibility the second they gave Best Director to James Cameron. And it's not like Murphy is going to go on and do more serious fare. He'll be doing the same crap he's been doing for the last decade.

comment #13

Devin Faraci says ...

So mad someone else got to the "At least he didn't kill someone" joke first.

comment #14

jeffmcm says ...

James Cameron and John Landis are both good directors.

comment #15

bipedalist says ...

Get him Jeff. GET HIM!

(this whole thing is silly. Alfred Hitchcock said actors were cattle. He also said, "Ah Ingrid. So beautiful, so stupid" - we're supposed to hate his films and deny him Oscars because of it?)

comment #16

Terry McCarty says ...

Hopscotch wrote:
I wonder why actors aren't allowed to act like dicks too. If it's all just part of the creative process, what's the harm?

What I observed when I was a stand-in:
if an actor is perceived as "acting like a dick", then the studio/production company will take notes on his/her behavior (perhaps with thoughts of billing him/her for budget overruns?).

Only producers, directors, ADs and DPs are allowed to be dicks, though the latter two categories are more vulnerable to termination during production than the former two.

Refer also to the anonymous rant from a production point-of-view about Jim Carrey's costly perfectionism in RADAR's Kim Masters article.

comment #17

Craig Kennedy says ...

Jeez, you let one helicopter fall on some kids and they never let you forget it...

Heh heh. Nice one, Eve.

comment #18

EveHarrington says ...

Devin, since there were multiple casualties it bears repeating.

EDouglas, if Eddie doesn't win Jeff can sleep without fear. Now if Sienna Miller had been nominated for the exquisitely lame Factory Girl, then maybe you'd be onto something. :)

comment #19

corey3rd says ...

I enjoyed my time hanging out with Landis and he was telling us what a pain it was working with Eddie - especially the fiasco of Beverly Hills Cop III. I've spoken with other people who worked with Eddie and rarely do they speak in awe of him.

And for those who think Landis has lost it, I recommend "The Slasher" - a great documentary about a guy who moves used cars at a Memphis dealership.

comment #20

christian says ...

i'm very sad about what happened with the accident, and it can not be forgotten, but i just like landis. he's always been a candid interview.

comment #21

EveHarrington says ...

CJ, zactly.

comment #22

Hallick says ...

"And for those who think Landis has lost it, I recommend "The Slasher" - a great documentary about a guy who moves used cars at a Memphis dealership."

Thanks for the reminder. I'm going hunting.

comment #23

Piper71 says ...

James Cameron is a good director. He just didn't deserve the Oscar that year for being a great technical director.

comment #24

Rich S. says ...

By the way, Jeffrey and Hollywood Elsewhere are directly quoted in a Reuters' story posted on Yahoo news today referencing the Stop Eddie Murphy movement. The gist of the story is that Hollywood "heavyweights" are rallying around Murphy.

Jeff, you might want to call Michael Moore to see how he felt the day after W was re-elected. Then, assuming these really are heavyweights Reuters is talking about, you might want put a resume up on Monster.com. I'm sure you could get one of your old tabloid gigs back.

comment #25

Craig Kennedy says ...

Sadly Rich, Wells has gotten exactly what he wanted: attention. The cat is out of the bag.

Whatever happens, Wells wins. If Murphy loses, Wells gets to do his end zone dance for the next 8 months. If Murphy wins, it was a foregone conclusion and at least Wells fought the good fight and got a little piece of the spotlight in the process.

Once again, noxious behavior is rewarded.

comment #26

Rich S. says ...

cj,

I agree to a certain extent. But my point is that when you're a "journalist" (or whatever Jeffrey is these days), who relies to a certain extent on the good graces of the studios and the high-powered individuals that run them, it cannot be a good thing to be making enemies of these same individuals. Sounds like this Eddie Murphy vendetta may be doing just that.

comment #27

Craig Kennedy says ...

Rich. I hope you're right and that there is some kind of backlash from the folks who run the place.

I'm a skeptic though.

comment #28

iamanerd says ...

Not defending Landis's uneven career, but you guys act like he was driving the fucking helicopter.

comment #29

L.B. says ...

That's silly. The helicopter pilot was much less culpable than Landis was.