What would Hollywood be without a good ole Blaxploitation film? And now that “They Cloned Tyrone” has hit Netflix screens, conversations about the Blaxploitation movies that crawled so that “They Cloned Tyrone” could pimp walk have come to the forefront.
Juel Taylor’s film welcomes watchers to The Glen, a normal, everyday neighborhood where its predominately Black residents live out their lives shopping, going to church and enjoying the fruits of their labor. However, beneath the surface, but right in front of their eyes, the government is executing a plot to keep the community in an endless cycle of unhealthy behavior that ultimately blocks them from mental and financial wellness.
Like many Blaxploitation films, “They Cloned Tyrone” creatively calls out and highlights the systemic issues Black community faces while also celebrating Black culture and Black people’s perseverance.
When “They Cloned Tyrone” hit Netflix, people online began discussing the films that influenced it,...
Juel Taylor’s film welcomes watchers to The Glen, a normal, everyday neighborhood where its predominately Black residents live out their lives shopping, going to church and enjoying the fruits of their labor. However, beneath the surface, but right in front of their eyes, the government is executing a plot to keep the community in an endless cycle of unhealthy behavior that ultimately blocks them from mental and financial wellness.
Like many Blaxploitation films, “They Cloned Tyrone” creatively calls out and highlights the systemic issues Black community faces while also celebrating Black culture and Black people’s perseverance.
When “They Cloned Tyrone” hit Netflix, people online began discussing the films that influenced it,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
In 2021, Wesley Snipes used an Esquire "What I've Learned" column to make a fascinating confession: "I've got to learn how to be a movie star."
Snipes was 58 at the time of the article's publication, and enjoying a career renaissance due to his portrayal of actor-director D'Urville Martin in Craig Brewster's uproarious "Dolemite Is My Name." Though he'd officially made his comeback as an aging gang leader in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" four years prior, Martin was the perfect vehicle through which Snipes could examine the frustration of an ambitious artist shunted from A-list roles to low-aiming exploitation flicks.
Snipes' Martin is a bitter, alcoholic filmmaker trying, and failing miserably, to make nightclub comic Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) look like a Blaxploitation action star on par with Richard Roundtree. Martin is a defeated man, and it's hard not to sense Snipes reckoning with the sun setting on his own action-hero stardom.
Snipes was 58 at the time of the article's publication, and enjoying a career renaissance due to his portrayal of actor-director D'Urville Martin in Craig Brewster's uproarious "Dolemite Is My Name." Though he'd officially made his comeback as an aging gang leader in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" four years prior, Martin was the perfect vehicle through which Snipes could examine the frustration of an ambitious artist shunted from A-list roles to low-aiming exploitation flicks.
Snipes' Martin is a bitter, alcoholic filmmaker trying, and failing miserably, to make nightclub comic Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy) look like a Blaxploitation action star on par with Richard Roundtree. Martin is a defeated man, and it's hard not to sense Snipes reckoning with the sun setting on his own action-hero stardom.
- 5/1/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
May on the Criterion Channel will be good to the auteurs. In fact they’re giving Richard Linklater better treatment than the distributor of his last film, with a 13-title retrospective mixing usual suspects—the Before trilogy, Boyhood, Slacker—with some truly off the beaten track. There’s a few shorts I haven’t seen but most intriguing is Heads I Win/Tails You Lose, the only available description of which calls it a four-hour (!) piece “edited together by Richard Linklater in 1991 from film countdowns and tail leaders from films submitted to the Austin Film Society in Austin, Texas from 1987 to 1990. It is Linklater’s tribute to the film countdown, used by many projectionists over the years to cue one reel of film after another when switching to another reel on another projector during projection.” Pair that with 2008’s Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach and your completionism will be on-track.
- 4/21/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
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 Men Can’t Jump, and To Wong Foo, and Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, his choices are fearless and his timing is fierce.
This coalesced in his impatiently poignant turn as D’Urville Martin, who directed Murphy’s Rudy Ray Moore in the film within the film Dolemite is My Name.
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 Men Can’t Jump, and To Wong Foo, and Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, his choices are fearless and his timing is fierce.
This coalesced in his impatiently poignant turn as D’Urville Martin, who directed Murphy’s Rudy Ray Moore in the film within the film Dolemite is My Name.
- 3/3/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
By Todd Garbarini
One of the most frustrating things that I find true of lackluster movies is that following the passage of time, usually several decades, a film that was initially, and often rightfully, considered a stinker is then later touted as “the original classic!” Generally, these accolades are tied-in with advertising to promote and ultimately sell product and give the uninitiated and the curious a reason to buy the film sight-unseen. Efren C. Piñon’s Blind Rage (1976) isn’t necessarily a bad film, it just isn’t a particularly good one. Despite its 82-minute running time, the film feels twice as long and that’s never a good sign.
Blind Rage is a good example of an interesting premise executed in a fashion that can best be described as pedestrian. A product of 1970’s “chopsocky” cinema, the opening credits play over the vocals of Helen Gamboa singing the title track,...
One of the most frustrating things that I find true of lackluster movies is that following the passage of time, usually several decades, a film that was initially, and often rightfully, considered a stinker is then later touted as “the original classic!” Generally, these accolades are tied-in with advertising to promote and ultimately sell product and give the uninitiated and the curious a reason to buy the film sight-unseen. Efren C. Piñon’s Blind Rage (1976) isn’t necessarily a bad film, it just isn’t a particularly good one. Despite its 82-minute running time, the film feels twice as long and that’s never a good sign.
Blind Rage is a good example of an interesting premise executed in a fashion that can best be described as pedestrian. A product of 1970’s “chopsocky” cinema, the opening credits play over the vocals of Helen Gamboa singing the title track,...
- 4/24/2020
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
From superheroes to real life heroes, to tales of Hollywood and voyages to the Moon, the year that was 2019 had much to offer to audiences flocking to theaters for a few hours of escapism from the world.
Filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, Celine Sciamma, Quentin Tarantino, Olivia Wilde, Taika Waititi and Bong Joon-Ho brought a wealth of stories to the silver screen.
We saw the culmination of the Marvel phase 3 story arc, the culmination of the Skywalker Saga and the still in progress, groundbreaking John Wick series, as well as a host of other interesting, quality movies unleashed into cinemas.
Wamg presents its list for the Top 10 films of 2019.
1. Martin Scorsese reminds us why he is still a master movie maker with The Irishman, a compelling foray into familiar territory, making use of new tech to complete the “mob trilogy’ he began nearly thirty years ago with Goodfellas.
Filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, Celine Sciamma, Quentin Tarantino, Olivia Wilde, Taika Waititi and Bong Joon-Ho brought a wealth of stories to the silver screen.
We saw the culmination of the Marvel phase 3 story arc, the culmination of the Skywalker Saga and the still in progress, groundbreaking John Wick series, as well as a host of other interesting, quality movies unleashed into cinemas.
Wamg presents its list for the Top 10 films of 2019.
1. Martin Scorsese reminds us why he is still a master movie maker with The Irishman, a compelling foray into familiar territory, making use of new tech to complete the “mob trilogy’ he began nearly thirty years ago with Goodfellas.
- 1/5/2020
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: The Craig Brewer-directed Dolemite Is My Name stars Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, the unsung filmmaking hero who would eventually help define the Blaxploitation era of cinema.
Written by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, Dolemite is essentially a story about the American Dream and a sense of community for those in the margins in Hollywood. Moore was a comedian who had more failures than successes until he assumed the persona of Dolemite. Many saw the alter ego as crude, and his blatantly explicit album covers and songs were too racy for radio, so they began selling bootlegs of his albums.
Wanting to elevate and expand the character, Moore went to socially minded playwright Jerry Jones (played in the film by Keegan-Michael Key) to make a film, helped by his new comedic partner in crime Lady Reed (Da’Vine Joy Randolph...
Written by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, Dolemite is essentially a story about the American Dream and a sense of community for those in the margins in Hollywood. Moore was a comedian who had more failures than successes until he assumed the persona of Dolemite. Many saw the alter ego as crude, and his blatantly explicit album covers and songs were too racy for radio, so they began selling bootlegs of his albums.
Wanting to elevate and expand the character, Moore went to socially minded playwright Jerry Jones (played in the film by Keegan-Michael Key) to make a film, helped by his new comedic partner in crime Lady Reed (Da’Vine Joy Randolph...
- 12/12/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Almost 45 years after the original, a new look at the blaxploitation film “Dolemite” is making its way to Netflix. Featuring a star-studded cast including Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, and Chris Rock, “Dolemite is My Name” follows the story of the original “Dolemite” star Rudy Ray Moore, whose stagnant entertainment career suddenly skyrocketed into blaxploitation fame after he appeared in the film.
Directed by D’Urville Martin, the 1975 “Dolemite” tells the story of a one-time pimp who, after his release from jail, seeks revenge on the drug dealers and corrupt cops who framed him by using a team of martial arts-skilled prostitutes called Dolemite Girls.
The action-packed blaxploitation genre spawned a number of reboot films and parodies, such as the late John Singleton’s reimagined version of “Shaft” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Keenan Ivory Wayans Jr.’s “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” Much like Rudy Ray Moore’s Dolemite, characters like...
Directed by D’Urville Martin, the 1975 “Dolemite” tells the story of a one-time pimp who, after his release from jail, seeks revenge on the drug dealers and corrupt cops who framed him by using a team of martial arts-skilled prostitutes called Dolemite Girls.
The action-packed blaxploitation genre spawned a number of reboot films and parodies, such as the late John Singleton’s reimagined version of “Shaft” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Keenan Ivory Wayans Jr.’s “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” Much like Rudy Ray Moore’s Dolemite, characters like...
- 10/25/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Let's take a second to give props to Netflix for rounding up such an amazing cast for Dolemite Is My Name. Not only does Eddie Murphy star in the upcoming comedy, but he'll be joined by Wesley Snipes, Tituss Burgess, Keegan-Michael Key, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Craig Robinson, T.I., and more in bringing the true story to life.
The film, which will debut in select theaters and on the streaming giant this Fall, follows struggling comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Murphy) as he decides to create an outrageous onstage alter ego - Dolemite - to put an end to his long string of failures in show business. The creation of the obscene pimp character eventually leads him to cross paths with pretentious and skeptical director D'Urville Martin (Snipes), who agrees to helm his movie. Against all odds, Moore's Dolemite becomes a box-office smash and one of the most memorable films from the '70s blaxploitation era.
The film, which will debut in select theaters and on the streaming giant this Fall, follows struggling comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Murphy) as he decides to create an outrageous onstage alter ego - Dolemite - to put an end to his long string of failures in show business. The creation of the obscene pimp character eventually leads him to cross paths with pretentious and skeptical director D'Urville Martin (Snipes), who agrees to helm his movie. Against all odds, Moore's Dolemite becomes a box-office smash and one of the most memorable films from the '70s blaxploitation era.
- 8/16/2019
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
Netflix has dropped the first trailer for Eddie Murphy’s new film, Dolemite is My Name, which is a biopic that will tell the story of the life of Rudy Ray Moore, “a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.”
The movie looks fantastic, and it’s awesome to see Eddie Murphy in a great movie role again! It looks like he’s going to give a hell of a performance! He’s in the zone! I missed this Eddie Murphy!
The movie comes from director Craig Brewer, and it has an impressive supporting cast that includes Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chris Rock, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Mike Epps, T.I., and Chelsea Gilson.
Here’s the synopsis that was released for the film:
Stung by a string of showbiz failures, floundering comedian Rudy...
The movie looks fantastic, and it’s awesome to see Eddie Murphy in a great movie role again! It looks like he’s going to give a hell of a performance! He’s in the zone! I missed this Eddie Murphy!
The movie comes from director Craig Brewer, and it has an impressive supporting cast that includes Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chris Rock, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Mike Epps, T.I., and Chelsea Gilson.
Here’s the synopsis that was released for the film:
Stung by a string of showbiz failures, floundering comedian Rudy...
- 8/12/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Eddie Murphy's upcoming Netflix film, Dolemite Is My Name!, just added a great ensemble cast! Murphy will be joined by Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
The film is a biopic that will tell the story of the life of Rudy Ray Moore, the star of the blaxploitation Dolemite films.
Moore worked in a Hollywood record store in 1970 when he began hearing obscene stories of a pimp and hustler named Dolemite. He started a club act where he became Dolemite. He then began generating records that mixed humor and a ghetto fantasy character, burnishing the legend. While too racy to be put on display in record stores, the records became a big inner city underground hit. The proceeds allowed Moore to finance the 1975 film Dolemite, which he starred in as a kung fu-capable pimp ghetto hero who stuck it to The Man. Moore followed with three sequels.
The film is a biopic that will tell the story of the life of Rudy Ray Moore, the star of the blaxploitation Dolemite films.
Moore worked in a Hollywood record store in 1970 when he began hearing obscene stories of a pimp and hustler named Dolemite. He started a club act where he became Dolemite. He then began generating records that mixed humor and a ghetto fantasy character, burnishing the legend. While too racy to be put on display in record stores, the records became a big inner city underground hit. The proceeds allowed Moore to finance the 1975 film Dolemite, which he starred in as a kung fu-capable pimp ghetto hero who stuck it to The Man. Moore followed with three sequels.
- 6/18/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
In the immediate aftermath of Rudy Ray Moore's Dolemite and its surprise success, it was decided that the team needed to keep the momentum going and a sequel was green lit almost immediately. Jerry Jones, who wrote the screenplay for Dolemite, was brought back to write this new film, The Human Tornado, but one gentleman who wasn't brought back was director D'Urville Martin. After a lackluster directing job on the first film, Moore and his team decided to bring in some new blood, and a young theater director named Cliff Roquemore. It was Cliff Roquemore who shaped Rudy Ray Moore's screen legacy perhaps more than anyone outside of Moore himself. Roquemore was determined to make The Human Tornado something completely out of this world, and with...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/9/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Cult movie star Rudy Ray Moore has died due to complications from diabetes.
Born in Arkansas in 1937, Moore began his career as a singer and comedian but really made his mark as an icon of the blaxploitation movie genre.
He starred as fast-talking hustler Dolemite in director D'Urville Martin's 1975 classic, and the character went on to inspire hip-hop stars like Snoop Dogg and Big Daddy Kane.
Moore embraced hip-hop culture and even collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg and 2 Live Crew. He became known as the Godfather of Rap.
He released more than 30 controversial comedy albums and appeared in 18 movies. He recently completed his final film, It Came From Trafalgar.
Born in Arkansas in 1937, Moore began his career as a singer and comedian but really made his mark as an icon of the blaxploitation movie genre.
He starred as fast-talking hustler Dolemite in director D'Urville Martin's 1975 classic, and the character went on to inspire hip-hop stars like Snoop Dogg and Big Daddy Kane.
Moore embraced hip-hop culture and even collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg and 2 Live Crew. He became known as the Godfather of Rap.
He released more than 30 controversial comedy albums and appeared in 18 movies. He recently completed his final film, It Came From Trafalgar.
- 10/21/2008
- WENN
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