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Bowfinger Appreciation Thread

post #1 of 58
8/21/08 at 11:12pm
Thread Starter 
Yes its the last good movie that Eddie Murphy did, and possibly ever will do (I think the same could be said for Steve Martin too)

But I saw it again recently, and in light of Tropic Thunder's release, I was surprised at how much hollywood spoofing was already done in Bowfinger.

Robert Downey Jr. is even in Bowfinger!

Overall, I always remembered it as a very very underrated film, but after rewatching it, its obvious that its just a damn good comedy.

And...seriously Eddie Murphy was fucking good in this movie, no fat suit, just straight up comedy.
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post #2 of 58
8/21/08 at 11:31pm
It's one of Eddie's funniest movies.

"I'll tell you what, you better find me a line as good as the time I told Tommy Lee Jones "FUCK Y'ALL" and blew his brains out!"

And I always laugh when he does that nerdy giggling as JIF.
Yer doin greaaaaaaaaaaaat
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post #3 of 58
8/21/08 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadew1 View Post
It's one of Eddie's funniest movies.
BULL. SHIT.

I think it's an entertaining movie. Fun little story with lots of amusing situations but nowhere near one of Eddie's funniest flicks. Maybe funniest in the last decade and a half or so but that says more about where his career has been since.
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post #4 of 58
8/21/08 at 11:52pm
Only a handful of Eddie's movies are actually funny.
Bowfinger's one of them.
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post #5 of 58
8/21/08 at 11:59pm
"That's after net gross point...cash, every movie costs 3,882 dollars."

Love this one. The bit when Martin nearly calls it "Mind Fuck" kills me. Also, the ending. And Christine Baranski.
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post #6 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:10am
One of my favorite movies about movies ever made. And it pisses me off, because it shows that Martin and Murphy both still know how to be smart and funny, and they're choosing not to be, because that's not where the money is.

And Crazy Jim, you live up to your username. Bowfinger is absolutely comparable to Murphy's best films, and far better than most of them.
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post #7 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:32am
I love the Heather's subplot and Steve stealing from her purse is pure genius.
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post #8 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David View Post
And Crazy Jim, you live up to your username. Bowfinger is absolutely comparable to Murphy's best films, and far better than most of them.
Stand behind my comments. Also should note that while I don't think Bowfinger is one of his "best" either, my complaint was actually that it was not one of his "funniest".
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post #9 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:40am
Of course BOWFINGER is one of Eddie's funniest movies. What else is there? In terms of sheer laughs, I'd rank 'em...

TRADING PLACES
BOWFINGER
48 HRS. (mostly just a great fucking action movie)
COMING TO AMERICA (hilarious until James Earl Jones hits NYC)
BEVERLY HILLS COP
THE NUTTY PROFESSOR

And that's the extent of the funny. There are moments in the others, but that's the good stuff (stand-up excluded).
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post #10 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:44am
The Golden Child?

(It sucks, yet is funny)
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post #11 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:44am
I still can get a few chuckles out of The Golden Child, but no arguments with that list, Beaks.

Bowfinger definitely brings the funny. Was it a hit? Didn't it get lost in the summer of '99?
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post #12 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:45am
Bowfinger is funnier than Coming To America? Seriously? I feel like Eddie from Raw after the ladies clap for "wanting half". GIMME A FUCKING BREAK WITH THAT SHIT!
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post #13 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:48am
The cool thing about 48 HRS is he's almost the straight man to Nolte's crazy.
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post #14 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:49am
I enjoy Coming to America, but that freeway scene alone in Bowfinger probably makes me laugh harder than anything in America.

I've never really considered 48 Hrs to be even an action comedy. Beaks said it, it's really just a top shelf action picture, punctuated with a few laughs, that actually come from character and not just situation. First and foremost in its DNA is the Walter Hill goodness. It is not a barrel of laughs, and that's not a knock.
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post #15 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:51am
I have to admit to The Golden Child as a guilty pleasure. It's kind of a disaster as a story. But even though Murphy has admitted that he basically walked through that film, I still think he has some inspired stuff in there. It's just that none of it really contributes to the film as a whole.
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post #16 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:52am
The top four are pretty interchangeable in my opinion, but COMING TO AMERICA has lulls. The others do not.

And BOWFINGER was actually a hit in '99. Coincidentally, I'm writing a review right now in which I reference the biggest (and most undeserving) comedy bomb of that summer: DICK.

THE GOLDEN CHILD isn't a terrible movie, but it's got serious pacing issues. I do love Eddie's bits with Victor Wong. Still, I'd rather sit through BOOMERANG again.
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post #17 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:53am

48 Hrs.

Yeah, it's a Action picture first, but I just find the character interactions hilarious.
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post #18 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:53am
I love Dick, actually started a thread around here for it a couple of years back. Everybody needs to see that flick, it's wonderful.
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post #19 of 58
8/22/08 at 12:58am
I also love Dick.
You've been kicking ass over there, Beaks. Tore Death Race a new one!
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post #20 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:08am
Bowfinger's a great film. I feel the reason it went overlooked during summer '99 was due to people thinking: "Great, another stupid Eddie Murphy where he dresses up in silly costumes and plays various characters".

Love the freeway sequence and the parts with the Laker girls kill me every time.
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post #21 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Fordyce View Post
I love Dick, actually started a thread around here for it a couple of years back. Everybody needs to see that flick, it's wonderful.
Please tell me the thread was called "I Love Dick".
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post #22 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:12am
To paraphrase Norm McDonald, I love Dick, in my mouth, in my ass, I don't care.

Yes, Mom and Dad, it's true. Shout it from the mountain tops, I LOVE DICK!
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post #23 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:25am
Bowfinger and Dick are very similar movies in that I had to watch them twice to enjoy them (although I never watched Dick twice... theoretically, though, I think it's true). The first time I spend wanting them to be less goofy and throwaway and less populated with types. It's a style of comedy where I wish there were more gags, and that they were presented faster. It's very aimable, and it wins you over, but... Drop Dead Gorgeous, which some people love dearly, is another one like this, I suspect. I guess I want to show the makers of the films Airplane.

When I first saw Bowfinger the only things I liked were: Martin being mean to Anne Heche, the dog in high heels, and Jiff. RDJ doing so very little is an example of how frustrating satires that are sweet when you expect them to be openly biting can be.
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post #24 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:32am
There was a time in high school when I would watch Drop Dead Gorgeous every time it was on cable. I remember laughing at that one a lot.
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post #25 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:38am
How do these threads keep getting hijacked by Drop Dead Gorgeous? Haven't seen that movie, so I'm not remarking on its quality.
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post #26 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:47am
Bought the dvd of Bowfinger a few months ago at Wal-Mart and loved it. Eddie Murphy getting increasingly paranoid about the "filming", and my favorite bit is when they're trailing him in the frosty freeze ice cream truck.
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post #27 of 58
8/22/08 at 1:48am
The dog in high heels always kills me, too.

What was the name of the movie, Chubby Rain?
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post #28 of 58
8/22/08 at 2:45am
this movie was great


must echo the love for the freeway scene. simply amazing

'their stunt cars. just go with it'
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post #29 of 58
8/22/08 at 4:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Fordyce View Post
How do these threads keep getting hijacked by Drop Dead Gorgeous?
Kirsten Dunst's publicist must post here or something. I enjoy Bowfinger, haven't seen Dick, but Drop Dead Gorgeous? Am I missing something because I remember that flick being a fairly big piece of shit?
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post #30 of 58
8/23/08 at 2:48pm
Thread Starter 
bringin the convo back to Eddie, Beaks makes an excellent point that I, a DIE HARD eddie murphy fan, have held up for years. These legendary comedians of the 80s really only have a handful of actual bonafide good movies to their names. Akyroyds, Murrays, etc really only have 4-5 true hits to their names as does Eddie.

They all made a ton of shit though over the course of their careers too.

With that said, Bowfinger was one of the few bright spots in Eddie's later years that really did give us movie fans the faint hope that he may one day return to what he used to do best.

Also, as far as commentary on Hollywood, i think bowfinger did a better job than Tropic Thunder.
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post #31 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:02pm
Am I a sentimental SOB for feeling really happy for the cast and crew as they finally watch the fruits of their labors? Especially when the make-up FX guys get their time in the sun.

"Catch you latuh, suckas!"

I think that was the one-liner.
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post #32 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:05pm
BOWFINGER seems to be one of those movies from the late 90s that no one remembers. Barely on TV, not much discussion on it. The first X-Files movie has the same problem. Regardless, I love the shit out of BOWFINGER and have been dying to revisit it. The last scene is just incredible.

Also, Beaks is crazy. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR sucks.
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post #33 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:11pm
Are you talking about the scene where they're filming their kung-fu epic? Actually, while I laughed, I was a little underwhelmed by that finale. It was mostly because of the overused 'Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting' though. I do love seeing none of Jif's punches landing and seeing the henchman go flying.
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post #34 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:14pm
The best thing about the finale is Jif's bruce lee chest stomp.
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post #35 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
"Catch you latuh, suckas!"

I think that was the one-liner.
The line's "Gotcha Suckas!" if memory serves.
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post #36 of 58
8/23/08 at 3:16pm
Yeah, that sounds right. And a lot more concise. Thanks!

EDIT: I may close the store for a second to go use a free rental on this. You guys've made me want to put Barry Lyndon on hold and watch this immediately
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post #37 of 58
8/24/08 at 2:27am
Quote:
Akyroyds, Murrays, etc really only have 4-5 true hits to their names as does Eddie.
I would agree with you on this for Akyroyd, Murphy and Martin, but Murray at least quality wise and if ask Joe public is batting a 1000 compared to any other alum.

Martin I think still has it in him to say make another L.A. Story, but its not worth the work unless the stars align.

Murphy and Akyroyd are beyond the point of no return.

And i second the Nutty Professor WTF?
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post #38 of 58
8/24/08 at 2:49am
This is his second best movie after Trading Places.

"Would you be willing to cut your hair?"
"Yeah, but it's usually better if someone else does it."

"Gotcha suckas!"

"The letter 'K' is in that script...."
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post #39 of 58
8/24/08 at 3:03am
This is a very consistent comedy with lots of really good, hard laughs spaced evenly throughout the running time. Martin and Murphy are great, but it's Christine Baranski who truly elevates this movie into the stratosphere for me. She's always good, but she's on another plane of existence here.
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post #40 of 58
8/24/08 at 10:14am
This thread inspired me to go back and rewatch it last night, and I'll be damned at how well it holds up. There's at least one great joke every 5-10 minutes, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy at the top of their games, Heather Graham's storyline, and everything paced to perfection.

We are finished, we are over.
How come?
You had sex with Jif.
So?
...I never thought of it that way.
See you tonight?
What time?
8
okay
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post #41 of 58
8/24/08 at 1:42pm
I always liked it when they're interviewing Jif, and when they ask him about his training he mumbles something about "Un cinema de Film".

Murphy is great here because he shows just how he can create another character without the need for Stan Winston. Hell, he just makes Jif so likeable.

It's a shame with Martin. With this, The Spanish Prisoner and Shopgirl I thought he was doing a "film for them, film for me" kind of thing. Sadly though he just seems to have given in the same way Murphy has.
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post #42 of 58
8/24/08 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Christine Baranski
I'd smash.
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post #43 of 58
8/24/08 at 3:42pm
I normally try to avoid the "Dude, I'd fuck her." "Dude, she's ugly, dude." stuff, but I'd wine and dine and make sweet passionate love to Baranski as well. Just to prove that I'm totally not gay, bro.
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post #44 of 58
8/24/08 at 4:26pm
Quote:
...but it's Christine Baranski who truly elevates this movie into the stratosphere for me. She's always good, but she's on another plane of existence here.
I love how Sunset Blvd. she gets when she's watching her 'scene with Kit' in the parking lot. Screaming "Bastaaaard!" over and over.

This movie is so cynically earnest, I loved watching it again last night. I think I enjoyed Murphy's performance as Jiff the most. Awesome... awesome!

"Heavenly God, Heavenly God!!!"
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post #45 of 58
8/24/08 at 5:41pm
frank oz is the man

that guy has a golden touch when it comes to nearly any position behind or in front of the camera.
i didn't realize he made this till i saw a commercial for death at a funeral and it said 'from the director of bowfinger'
had to go check that
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post #46 of 58
8/24/08 at 5:43pm
Didn't realize that the marketing for Death at a Funeral boasted the Bowfinger connection. I find that odd, since Bowfinger is relatively old and not remembered as a big hit.

But yay for Bowfinger.
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post #47 of 58
8/24/08 at 6:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alanthar View Post
frank oz is the man

that guy has a golden touch when it comes to nearly any position behind or in front of the camera.
i didn't realize he made this till i saw a commercial for death at a funeral and it said 'from the director of bowfinger'
had to go check that
OZ has done some bad movies, but also some great one too.
Bowfinger
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
What About Bob?

and co-director The Dark Crystal
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post #48 of 58
8/24/08 at 6:46pm
Let us not bring up The Score
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post #49 of 58
8/24/08 at 6:49pm
Or The Stepford Wives.

The sad thing is, when you look him up on IMDB, the little credit next to his name on the search engine result is "Actor, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace". That's ridiculous. We all know it should be "Actor, An American Werewolf in London".
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post #50 of 58
8/25/08 at 6:00am
Or "Actor, Guard with prophalactic: The Blues Brothers"
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