Just after college I found a film called Dolemite (1975). I used to talk blaxploitation with a coworker, and he had suggested the film. His descriptions of it were out of this world, and I rushed out to find a copy of it. And I did, at long last, in the bargain bin, as a multi-film compilation, at Wal Mart. And what a film it was. It was gloriously low-budget, and terribly acted, but it was possessed of the kind of spirit and earnestness that all so-bad-they're-good movies have.
So when the trailer for Netflix's latest, Dolemite is My Name (2019), dropped earlier this year, my attention was immediately piqued. When I realized that it was the story of how Dolemite was conceived and created, I knew I had to watch it as soon as it dropped.
And here I am.
I. What Is It?
This is the story of Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy), an irrepressible dreamer waiting for his train to arrive. When he catches fire with an irreverent stand-up persona, he sets his sights on the silver screen. What follows is the story of a renegade, bottom-dollar film production by a team of rag-tag, stars-in-their-eyes underdogs.II. Feel-Good Gold
I had a giant smile plastered on my face for most of this film. There were times where I leapt off my couch and clapped and shouted. The movie captures Moore's slingshot into stardom with real heart and finesse, and the energy is contagious.
There is no villain proper. Rudy Ray Moore is just struggling against the world. Against conventional wisdom. And yet he persists, unable to understand or accept the word "no." I think we've all been there, in one way or another, and it is great fun to watch someone grab the brass ring and make the most of their one shot. The evolution of the character into a stand-up act is energizing, and the way the film transitions into the movie production is organic. There is a palpable sense of building momentum.
Eddie Murphy has never been better. He imbues Moore with a manic charm and easy like-ability. His Rudy Ray Moore is practically a force of nature and self-made positivity. This is a man that can raise every ship around him, and does throughout the course of the film. The performance is peppered with just the right edge of pathos that assures us that Moore is no caricature, but the film never dwells in the tragedy of all of Moore's failed schemes. We are constantly lifted by the man's unbeatable attitude and spirited defiance.
The film also boasts an excellent cast of side players and cameos. Keegan-Michael Key has great fun as the hand-picked screenwriter; Wesley Snipes proves again how incredible a talent he is as D'Urville Martin, and I wouldn't be surprised if a Best Supporting Actor nod was in his future. The film also boasts turns from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Titus Burgess, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Ron Cephas Jones, to name only a few. Everyone on this movie looks like they are having a blast. That energy is infectious and hard to resist.
When I first saw Dolemite, I laughed at it. I thought it was terrible. But this movie makes it plain that Moore and Co. were in on the joke: they understood exactly what kind of madness they were making. Dolemite's legacy and fandom are powerful because this is movie of and for African Americans. This team of people carved out their own little corner of Hollywood, and it's hard not to root for them throughout the film. To celebrate with them.
An easy comparison would be 2017's The Disaster Artist. But where that film does play up its subject's heart and determination, it is clear that the audience is still having fun at the expense of all involved. Dolemite is My Name allows the audience to join in the fun of its subject, and never outright mocks Rudy Ray Moore. The film handles him with reverence and care. The man may have been misunderstood in his life, and may have been drug through the mud by critics, but the film is determined to show you the incredibly clever provocateur behind the character. The movie is humanizing and inspiring in ways that similar projects always fail to be.
It is plain that Netflix is putting their muscle behind Scorsese's The Irishman (2019), but they shouldn't be sleeping on the feel-good power of Dolemite is My Name (2019).
This movie is as pretty to look at as it is fun. And that's quite a bit.
- This movie is feel-good gold, and it will make you smile. Maybe you, like me, could use such a thing at this time of year.There is no villain proper. Rudy Ray Moore is just struggling against the world. Against conventional wisdom. And yet he persists, unable to understand or accept the word "no." I think we've all been there, in one way or another, and it is great fun to watch someone grab the brass ring and make the most of their one shot. The evolution of the character into a stand-up act is energizing, and the way the film transitions into the movie production is organic. There is a palpable sense of building momentum.
Eddie Murphy has never been better. He imbues Moore with a manic charm and easy like-ability. His Rudy Ray Moore is practically a force of nature and self-made positivity. This is a man that can raise every ship around him, and does throughout the course of the film. The performance is peppered with just the right edge of pathos that assures us that Moore is no caricature, but the film never dwells in the tragedy of all of Moore's failed schemes. We are constantly lifted by the man's unbeatable attitude and spirited defiance.
The film also boasts an excellent cast of side players and cameos. Keegan-Michael Key has great fun as the hand-picked screenwriter; Wesley Snipes proves again how incredible a talent he is as D'Urville Martin, and I wouldn't be surprised if a Best Supporting Actor nod was in his future. The film also boasts turns from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Titus Burgess, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Ron Cephas Jones, to name only a few. Everyone on this movie looks like they are having a blast. That energy is infectious and hard to resist.
When I first saw Dolemite, I laughed at it. I thought it was terrible. But this movie makes it plain that Moore and Co. were in on the joke: they understood exactly what kind of madness they were making. Dolemite's legacy and fandom are powerful because this is movie of and for African Americans. This team of people carved out their own little corner of Hollywood, and it's hard not to root for them throughout the film. To celebrate with them.
An easy comparison would be 2017's The Disaster Artist. But where that film does play up its subject's heart and determination, it is clear that the audience is still having fun at the expense of all involved. Dolemite is My Name allows the audience to join in the fun of its subject, and never outright mocks Rudy Ray Moore. The film handles him with reverence and care. The man may have been misunderstood in his life, and may have been drug through the mud by critics, but the film is determined to show you the incredibly clever provocateur behind the character. The movie is humanizing and inspiring in ways that similar projects always fail to be.
It is plain that Netflix is putting their muscle behind Scorsese's The Irishman (2019), but they shouldn't be sleeping on the feel-good power of Dolemite is My Name (2019).
III. A Sumptuous Period Piece
This thing buzzes and rattles with life. The costumes are lush; the sets are detailed and beautifully specific; and the soundtrack struts and grooves with spot-on needle drops and Scott Bomar's solid score. Eric Steelberg's photography is slick and colorful, and evocative of seventies cinema.This movie is as pretty to look at as it is fun. And that's quite a bit.
IV. Perfectly Paced and Balanced
This movie tells the story of Rudy Ray Moore's pursuit of the American Dream. We have to see him at his lowest, and then we have to see his evolution. So we can see him soar. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski's script bristles with life and verve. We get all the necessary story beats, and not a single second of the movie's 117-minute runtime feels out of place or wasted. As a viewer, I found myself swept up in the film's world and presentation, and I was mildly sad to see the credits roll. If only because my journey with these people had come to an end.
Why You Should See It
- It's beautifully crafted and a joy to look at and listen to.
- It is perfectly timed and paced.
- Eddie Murphy hasn't been this good in ages: it's a performance for the ages.
In Conclusion
Miscellany
- This marks the first time that Snipes and Murphy have worked together on screen.- The movie boasts a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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