Displaying items by tag: Eddie Murphy

BEING EDDIE

US, 2025, 103 minutes, Colour.

Eddie Murphy.

Directed by Angus Wall.

Life and career of Eddie Murphy. The framework for this film is a contioused interview with Eddie Murphy himself at the age of 64, looking back at his family, the relationship with his father, his father leaving home but his media background, his relationship with his mother, her second marriage and his stepfather, a true father figure. And a great attachment to his older brother, Charlie, who is interviewed during the film paying tribute to his brother, acting as security guard in later years.

In the later part of the film there is a focus on movie with his 10 children.

Despite his talent being “out there”, it emerges that Eddie Murphy is rather introverted, stepping back in real life, not smoking or drinking, with a basic religious and spiritual sense, confident in himself, realising he has a wide talent for impersonations, stand-up comedy, film comedy, film drama and has fulfilled all those ambitions.

Certainly one of the most attractive features of this documentary is the huge list of actors and comedians, directors, who offer their observations and comments, affirmations of Eddie Murphy. They include: Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, John Landis.

The film also traces the line of Murphy’s appearances, ambitions as a teenager, huge admiration for Richard Pryor, breaking through on Saturday Night Live before he was 20, his film appearances, especially 48 hours, the fact that an African-American could be a partner to a white star, then Trading Places and references to his films during the 1980s including Coming to America, and his directing Harlem Nights.

There are various collages of his impersonations, especially the Jewish man, and the wide variety of the family in The Nutty Professor.

The film also traces some ups and downs, his Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls and his comments about not winning, his speech at the Oscars in 1989 making an award and its not being reported in the media, the number of comedies in the 2000s not quite successful.

Then there was his return to Saturday Night Live, the gathering of the stars, the footage from the preparation for the segments, the interactions with the personnel, and then the performance and the response.

Eddie Murphy has continued to entertain, also recorded songs, a number of films for cinemas and television, even up to the time of filming this documentary, 2025.

During the film there is mention that in the 1980s, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston and Eddie Murphy emerged changing the perception of African-Americans in media, not just music, but in personalities, performances, stand-up comedy, films. They broke through any barriers for those who follow them.

BEVERLEY HILL COP-AXEL F

US, 2024, 118 minutes, Colour.

Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon.

Directed by Mark Molloy.

Older moviegoers remember and realise that they first met a young 20 something Eddie Murphy as Detroit Cop operating in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Axel Foley, and the first Beverley Hills Cop, 1984. There was a sequel. And the third film was released, in fact, 20 years ago, 1994. Could the franchise be resurrected after 20 years? What is the status of Eddie Murphy and film roles by 2024?

The quick answer is that the older fans are very happy to see Axel Foley again, enjoyed Eddie Murphy screen presence, his grin, brashness, ability to take on major criminals. So, it looks as if he will be welcomed by the younger film fans.

In many of the comments, the word nostalgia is used. The first film was such a hit and Eddie Murphy went on to make such engaging films as 48 Hours, Trading Places, Coming to America… As well as having a very successful career with such franchises as Dr Dolittle and the Nutty Professor. But, in more recent times collapse in popularity but a revival within the last 10 years on screen in cinemas and television.

Watching this film, we would think we were back 30 years, Eddie Murphy just the same, absolutely self-confident, grinning and laughing, wisecracks, willing to take on the world, crusading against the criminals. And, for nostalgia so, three characters from the original films return, the police chief played by John Ashton, the partner played by Judge Reinhold, the eccentric manager played by Bronson Pinchot.

But, this time there is Axel Foley’s daughter, estranged from her father, a lawyer in Los Angeles, taking on a client who has been framed by powerful drug dealers, even pushed from a top story garage and her car dangling high above the street. And Axel gets a phone call from Rosewood, Judge Reinhold, which sets him on the course for Beverly Hills, reconciling with his daughter, getting the criminals – headed by a rather sinister -looking and smug-sounding Kevin Bacon.

But, action sequences were the mark of the previous films and, of course, here they are. A robbery is going on at the ice hockey stadium, leading to pursuit, an elaborate car chase, motorbikes, a huge grader and the smashing of cars galore (which, while spectacular, does seem too much of a bad thing). And there will be chases naturally in Los Angeles. And quite a turn with a helicopter falling down, along the streets, a golf course.

In Beverly Hills, Axel makes such an entry, going to Rosewood’s apartment to find him, thugs ransacking the apartment, pursuit and subsequent arrest. Contacting his daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige) who does not want anything to do with him. And there is also her former boyfriend in the Department played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And his old boss, Taggart, John Ashton.

Not difficult to see where the plot developments will go – confrontations with the smarmy Kevin Bacon, his thugs, thwarting drug deals, rescuing Rosewood, and all the time the ups and downs with his daughter.

Which means then that this Axel Foley outing is what audiences were expecting, hoping for – and, most seem to be happy with the outcome. And another one?