murphy

How Cillian Murphy’s Batman Screen Test Turned into the Scarecrow

Batman Begins was a curiosity before it became known as the launcher of director Christopher Nolan’s genre-transformative trilogy. After all, it arrived in the ignominious aftermath of 1997’s Batman & Robin, making it a reboot for which few were asking. Of course, the film proved to be a solid foundation for a franchise off the dualistic performance of lead Christian Bale and—no less significantly—the villainous, literally-gaslighting performance of Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. the Scarecrow. Interestingly, Murphy was close to donning the cape and cowl himself; a process he now looks back upon. Murphy has fielded a successful…
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Coming 2 America is a Sequel to More Than One Eddie Murphy Movie

This article contains Coming 2 America spoilers. One thing Coming 2 Ameirca is not lacking in is nostalgia and easter eggs for the past. Before the opening credits have even concluded, we’ve learned that Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) has surprisingly kept a sentimental photo of his one-time barber from 1988, and another of himself in a McDowell’s uniform. (To be fair though, McDowell’s is at least where he wooed his future queen Lisa.) Soon enough John Amos and Louie Anderson also show up for a bow in the opening montage. Yet one of the best callbacks in the whole film…
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Coming 2 America Review: Eddie Murphy’s Zamunda Needs New Blood

Before watching Coming 2 America, try to think of some successful comedy sequels. If the best you can conjure up is Wayne’s World 2 or 22 Jump Street then that really speaks for itself, doesn’t it? More difficult than the traditional comedy sequel is the many-years-too-late variety of retread. Just ask Zoolander 2 or Dumb and Dumber To. Rehashing the same jokes and running them into the ground, reusing the old beloved catchphrases, and hitting the same story beats typically set comedy sequels up for failure, no matter how nostalgic audiences may be for the original. For every Borat 2,…
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Coming to America: Ranking Every Eddie Murphy Character

Coming to America remains one of Eddie Murphy’s funniest comedies. As a still reliable go-to example of fish out of water humor done right, as well as a vicarious fantasy about a fairy tale like version of Africa, the film has endured for more than 30 years. In its day, (mostly white) film critics dismissed the picture as vulgar and crass, but audiences found the laughs in Murphy at the peak of his skill and popularity, particularly whenever he donned a bucket full of makeup. In the movie, Murphy primarily plays Prince Akeem, heir to the throne of the fictional…
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Coming 2 America: How Wesley Snipes Got Into Rhythm with Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem left his prospective queen to go to America in Coming to America. And he didn’t even have the good grace to leave her at the altar either. Rather she was dismissed while still barking like a dog (under the prince’s orders). The princess and her brother, General Izzi (Wesley Snipes) never forgot. And in Coming 2 America, he’s prepared to go to war over it. Snipes may be most beloved to certain audiences as the half-vampire martial arts master in the Blade superhero movies. But his comic chops are supernatural. From 1989’s Major League through White…
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The Curious Life and Death of… Examines the Mysterious Cases of Brittany Murphy and Brian Jones

Smithsonian Channel will mix forensics, true crime, and well-known names in its new series The Curious Life and Death of… Hosted by famed medical historian Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, the show performs post-mortem examinations on some of the most puzzling deaths in history. The six-part series will premiere on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 9 p.m. ET. “Whether its 90s icon Brittany Murphy, Rolling Stone founder Brian Jones, or axe-murderess Lizzie Borden, the lives of these fascinating individuals are revealed through tests, investigation and autopsies as medical historian, Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris provides a curious and sometimes macabre glimpse into a biography from…
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