By Steve Evans
“I believe in America.”
That’s the opening line in The Godfather (1972). It’s also a sentiment I share. Because of that belief, I’ve always rooted for the underdog and embraced rags-to-riches stories.
I’ve also been a fan of the late comedian Rudy Ray Moore since before I was old enough to buy and listen to his records legally. Rudy told absolutely filthy jokes in a wild, rapping rhyme style while wearing fluorescent tuxedoes and flaunting a gloriously defiant attitude. Rudy was a poor black dude who escaped Arkansas, made it to Los Angeles, and eventually recorded some top-selling comedy albums and shot a few films during the 1970s heyday of Blaxploitation cinema. We’re talking films with improbable titles like Disco Godfather and The Human Tornado and Dolemite, the name of Rudy’s signature character.
Dolemite was always persecuted by whitey and harassed by vicious drug dealers in the ‘hood. But he knew how to street fight and had an army of fabulous Kung Fu bitches at his beck and call. Plus some retina-burning fashions and an ungodly vocabulary. These movies were made on the cheap and are among the most entertaining motion pictures you’ve probably never seen.
Eddie Murphy transforms into this self-made entrepreneur in the new Netflix film, Dolemite is My Name. It’s dynamite. I have sorely missed Eddie Murphy doing what he does best – balls-to-the-wall street comedy. Having seen all of Rudy Ray Moore’s films, I can tell you unequivocally that Murphy nails the character and the man behind him. This is Oscar-worthy stuff. Also extremely foul-mouthed and hilarious.
Funnier still, the spot-on script about 1970s black culture was written by a couple of white boys: Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, perhaps best known for writing the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon (1999). They totally capture the era of urban cinema, of hustlers and hucksters, and give Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Snoop Dogg, Chris Rock and others some of their best material in years. This is a great film. Would make a terrific double feature with The Disaster Artist -- stories that reinforce the notion that determination, not talent, is often the greater key to success.
God, I love this country. I believe in America.
Dolemite was always persecuted by whitey and harassed by vicious drug dealers in the ‘hood. But he knew how to street fight and had an army of fabulous Kung Fu bitches at his beck and call. Plus some retina-burning fashions and an ungodly vocabulary. These movies were made on the cheap and are among the most entertaining motion pictures you’ve probably never seen.
Eddie Murphy transforms into this self-made entrepreneur in the new Netflix film, Dolemite is My Name. It’s dynamite. I have sorely missed Eddie Murphy doing what he does best – balls-to-the-wall street comedy. Having seen all of Rudy Ray Moore’s films, I can tell you unequivocally that Murphy nails the character and the man behind him. This is Oscar-worthy stuff. Also extremely foul-mouthed and hilarious.
Funnier still, the spot-on script about 1970s black culture was written by a couple of white boys: Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, perhaps best known for writing the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon (1999). They totally capture the era of urban cinema, of hustlers and hucksters, and give Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Snoop Dogg, Chris Rock and others some of their best material in years. This is a great film. Would make a terrific double feature with The Disaster Artist -- stories that reinforce the notion that determination, not talent, is often the greater key to success.
God, I love this country. I believe in America.
Cinema Uprising copyright © 2019 by Steve B. Evans. All rights reserved.
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