The true story of Rudy Ray Moore, creator of the
1970's blaxpoitation hit character Dolemite. BIOPIC/COMEDY
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Dolemite Is My Name (2019)Directed by Craig Brewer
Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski Starring Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Wesley Snipes, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Tituss Burgess, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Snoop Dogg, T.I. |
“Dolemite is my name and fucking up motherfuckers is my game.” A line of dialogue which would go on to become iconic. And in a movie which would go on to become a defining moment in blaxploitation cinema. Comedian Rudy Ray Moore became even more of a celebrity and would make seven more additional films after the success of Dolemite. But, the thing that’s even more amazing is how Moore put this film together. A man who would not take no for an answer, he did almost everything himself to get Dolemite made. Moore is a shining example of how successful you can be if you just put your mind to it. And now, we have Dolemite Is My Name to tell this incredible story.
Eddie Murphy plays real life entertainer Rudy Ray Moore. And, wow, Murphy hasn’t been this good in a long time. The famous comedian has suffered a very noticeable slump in recent years. One in which I though he was never going to recover from. I am so happy I was wrong. Murphy plays Moore perfectly, equal parts hilarious and serious. The rest of the cast doesn’t slack, either. Every single one is perfect and fun to watch. If there is one, though, who almost steals the show from Murphy, it’s Wesley Snipes. Having suffered some very public issues recently, Snipes has been working hard to come back. And he better after this performance. He just sinks easily into his role and pretty much outshines everyone. Like many biographies, Dolemite Is My Name is another shining example of what you can achieve if you just put your mind to it. In Rudy Ray Moore’s case, he would become an icon in the black community. Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes are perfect in their roles. I hope this means a creative resurgence for both of them. I can’t recommend this movie enough and I highly suggest watching the original Dolemite before seeing this. |
Only Eddie Murphy could bring a larger than life figure like Rudy Ray Moore to life on screen, and he does so in one of the finest performances of his career. There's no doubt in my mind that Dolemite Is My Name will finally be the comeback vehicle that Murphy has been waiting for. This film is hilarious, inspirational, and a great retelling of one man's quest for fame. Rudy Ray Moore knew he had something to offer the world, and that something was Dolemite, the kung-fu fighting pimp with a heart of gold who made Moore a 1970's underground superstar.
Murphy's performance as Moore is flawless. He plays him as a determined man who never forgets his roots, and even after he achieves fame, it doesn't change who he is. Of course, movies often bend the truth when it comes to telling real stories, so I can't verify if that's what really happened, but it's a nice touch in the film. The supporting cast is great, particularly Wesley Snipes as pretentious professional actor D'Urville Martin. He definitely is playing against type here, and it shows. It's awesome to see Eddie Murphy in a good movie again. It's been too long. Dolemite Is My Name shows the lengths that Rudy Ray Moore went to in order to be somebody. He created the character of Dolemite as a stand-up routine, but it evolved into a significant piece of his life and led to one of the most celebrated cult films of all time. In the end, Moore became a cult icon and got his wish to be remembered forever. "Dolemite is my name! And fucking up motherfuckers is my game!" |