Bowfinger
From Wikiquote
Bowfinger is a 1999 cult film directed by Frank Oz. Bowfinger depicts a down-and-out filmmaker in Hollywood attempting to make a film on a small budget with a star who does not know that he is in the film. It was written by Steve Martin, and stars Martin, Eddie Murphy, and Heather Graham.
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[edit] Quotes
[edit] Film
- Robert: She had the personality of a ZIP code in Kansas.
- Robert: Yes! We'll be just like Bogey and Bacall!
- Daisy: Who?
- Kit: Them people can't speak English good!
- Robert: We're finished! It's over between us!
- Daisy: But why?
- Robert: You slept with Jiff.
- Daisy: So?
- Robert: You know, I never thought about it all the way.
- Daisy: So, I'll see you tonight?
- Robert: What time?
[interviewing Jiff for the movie]
- Robert: Would you be willing to cut your hair?
- Jiff: Well, yeah. But it would probably be better if someone else did it. I've had a few... accidents.
- Kit: The white man gets all the best catchphrases!
- Robert: This film is only for Madagascar and Iran. Neither of which follow American copyright law.
- Kit: White boys always get the Oscar. It's a known fact. Did I ever get a nomination? No! You know why? Because I hadn't played any of them slave roles, and get my ass whipped. That's how you get the nomination. A black dude who plays a slave that gets his ass whipped gets the nomination, a white guy who plays an idiot gets the Oscar. That's what I need. I need to play a retarded slave, then I'll get the Oscar.
- Robert: See that FedEx truck? Every day, it delivers important papers to people all around the world. And one day, it is going to stop here, and a man is going to walk up and casually toss a couple of FedExes on my desk. And at that moment, we- and by we, I mean me - will be important.
- Daisy: I know what's going on. I may be from Ohio, but I'm not from Ohio.
- Terry: Happy premise #1.
- Kit: Happy premise #1: There are no aliens.
- Terry: Happy premise #2.
- Kit: Happy premise #2: There is no giant foot trying to squash me.
- Terry: Happy premise #3.
- Kit: Happy premise #3: Even though I feel like I might ignite, I probably won't.
- Kit: It's too cerebral! We're trying to make a movie here, not a film!
[edit] Themes
[edit] Scientology
- Bowfinger' could just be viewed as an out-there, over-the-top spoof about Hollywood, films, celebrities and even the Church of Scientology. But Martin has written a sweet story about a group of outsiders with impossible dreams.
- Clinton, Paul (August 12, 1999). "Review: 'Bowfinger' over-the-top farcical treat". CNN (Time Warner): pp. Section: Movies. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- Too much of 'Bowfinger' involves the filmmakers' generically wacky pursuit of the increasingly paranoid Kit, who flees into the clutches of a pseudo-Scientology outfit called MindHead (their slogan: 'Truth Through Strength').
- O'Hehir, Andrew (August 12, 1999). "Bowfinger: Martin and Murphy team up for a good-natured sendup of the mindless summer blockbuster -- and just barely avoid making one themselves.". Salon. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- For the record, Mr. Martin denies MindHead is based on Scientology.
- McGurk, Margaret A. (August 13, 1999). "Murphy and Martin: Commandants of comedy strut their absurdist stuff in ‘Bowfinger’". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Co. Inc.). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- I view it as a pastiche of things I've seen come and go through the years ... Scientology gets a lot of credit or blame right now, because they're the hottest one.
- Steve Martin, quote in — Staff (July 28, 1999). "Steve Martin on Scientology". New York Daily News.
[edit] Film industry
- it takes swipes at stupid action films ... [and] ... the ageism of the industry.
- Arnold, William (August 13, 1999). "'Bowfinger' hits the comedy jackpot". Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- [The film is] arch and knowing about the ways of Hollywood ... [including] producers who want to keep their cars more than their kids when they get divorced.
- Schwarz, Leonard (August 1999). "Movies - Review: Bowfinger". Palo Alto Online: pp. Section: Movie Screener. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- Martin the writer plants some wicked barbs in Hollywood's rear end about creative financing of movies and hoarding of profits, the art of the deal, hipper-than-thou attitudes and exploitation.
- Graham, Bob (August 13, 1999). "Bowfinger Pokes Hipsters In Hollywood". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- Steve Martin's performance as Bobby Bowfinger is one that is not to be missed, especially if you are choosing a career as a producer.
- Scheer, Laurie (2002). Creative Careers in Hollywood. Allworth Communications, Inc.. p. 135. ISBN 1581152434.
- Steve Martin takes gentle but funny aim at Hollywood [in the film.]
- Voelz Chandler, Mary (August 15, 1999). "Critics' Choice: The best of the arts this week, compiled by News entertainment writers and critics". Rocky Mountain News.
[edit] Compared to 'The Producers'
- [The film has] ..the madcap velocity of Mel Brooks' The Producers.
- Denerstein, Robert (August 13, 1999). "Follywood Tinseltown Takes it on the Chin in 'Bowfinger'". Denver Rocky Mountain News.
- Like Mel Brooks' The Producers, it's about fringe players who strike out boldly for the big time.
- Ebert, Roger (August 13, 1999). "Bowfinger". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- The title character in the hilarious, good-hearted Bowfinger is a tireless schemer who, like Zero Mostel in The Producers, is part of a great show-biz tradition: being ruthless, delusional and hellbent on turning lemons into lemonade.
- Maslin, Janet (August 13, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; A Genuine Fake in a World of Make-Believe". The New York Times (The New York Times Company).
- This hilarious, good-hearted spiritual descendant of The Producers is a comic coup for Mr. Martin.
- Maslin, Janet (September 10, 1999). "Movie Guide: Now Playing". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
[edit] Reviews
- 'Bowfinger' is one of those comedies where everything works.
- Ebert, Roger (August 13, 1999). "Bowfinger". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- goodspirited, funny look at a hack Hollywood producer who will go to any lengths to get his film made.
- Bleiler, David; TLA Video (2004). TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 80. ISBN 0312316909.
- This is one terrific comedy that doesn't let up for an instant.
- Arnold, William (August 13, 1999). "'Bowfinger' hits the comedy jackpot". Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- riotous farce
- Horwitz, Jane (August 20, 1999). "A Comedic 'Mickey'". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- frequently hilarious comedy
- Staff (August 20, 1999). "Eddie Murphy doubles the laughs in 'Bowfinger'". Kansas City Star: pp. Section: What's New.
- Martin's back to his zany best ... possibly his best ever.
- Staff (September 19, 1999). "Real To Reel; Ugly face of glamour". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Ltd): pp. Section: Features.
- funny but frantic and somewhat mean-spirited comedy.
- Staff (December 10, 1999). "Playing at local movie theaters". Deseret Morning News.
- As a diehard Martin fan, I'm still hoping for a comeback, but it'll take better efforts than this to get me back in his cheering section.
- Smith, Russell (August 20, 1999). "Calendar: Film listings - Bowfinger". The Austin Chronicle (Austin Chronicle Corp.). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- Likeable costars carry this comedy a long way; there are some good laughs throughout, but it's never as satisfying as you'd like it to be.
- Maltin, Leonard; Cathleen Anderson, managing editor (August 2003). Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2004 Edition. Penguin Group (USA) Inc.. p. 168. ISBN 0-451-20940-0.
[edit] External links
- Official site of the film
- Bowfinger at Allmovie
- Bowfinger quotes at the Internet Movie Database
- Bowfinger at Metacritic
- Bowfinger at Rotten Tomatoes
