Rather flat but functional as a drama and clearly not anywhere in the same league as "Shawshank," the film obviously works best as a comedy, although it's not always as funny as one might expect considering the presence of its two often uproarious co-stars. The latest entry in the genre, "Life" tries to be a little bit of all three. While most are dramatic - think of Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke" and Clint Eastwood in "Escape From Alcatraz" - some of have been funny - such as "Stir Crazy" (Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor) and "The Longest Yard" (Burt Reynolds) - while others are nothing short of outstanding - such as "Papillon" (Steve McQueen) and the incomparable "The Shawshank Redemption" (Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman). With the penal setting's own societal structure, rules, close quarters and many restrictions, such films have plenty of potential and can be both entertaining and informative if handled correctly.
#LIFE 1999 BISCUIT MOVIE#
OUR TAKE: 5.5 out of 10 The prison movie has long been a favorite of Hollywood and its filmmakers. plays an effeminate prisoner who realizes he can't return to the outside world as a gay/bi man. MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO plays a behemoth of a man who fights with Ray in one scene.BOKEEM WOODBINE plays a mute ball player who secretly fathers a child with a local white lady.BRENT JENNINGS plays his rifle-toting, "yes man" assistant.NICK CASSAVETES plays the hard-nosed "bossman" who rules the prison camp with an iron thumb.NED BEATTY plays a compassionate warden who ends up shooting a man to protect Ray and Claude.
Along the way, he has sex with a prostitute despite being nearly engaged and cusses as well.
#LIFE 1999 BISCUIT SERIES#
#LIFE 1999 BISCUIT HOW TO#
Faced with life there, he constantly tries to figure out how to get out while continually irritating Claude. EDDIE MURPHY plays a profanity spewing, small-time con artist who ends up in prison for a crime he didn't commit.WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For strong language and a shooting. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Murphy or Lawrence, it's a good bet they will. NUNEZ, JR.), as well as Radio (GUY TORRY), Poker Face (BARRY SHABAKA HENLEY) and the prison's resident hulk, Goldmouth (MICHAEL "BEAR" TALIFERRO).Īs the years pass, Ray and Claude attempt to escape a few times, deal with the rampant racism of the deep South, and meet other characters such as Can't Get Right (BOKEEM WOODBINE), a mute baseball player and Dexter Wilkins (NED BEATTY), the camp's superintendent, all while continually getting on each other's nerves. If it's crossed, they'll immediately be shot, so they stick around and meet some of the other inmates including Jangle Leg (BERNIE MAC) and his effeminate underling, Biscuit (MIGUEL A. Dillard (NICK CASSAVETES) and his right-hand man, Hoppin' Bob (BRENT JENNINGS), the prisoners are forced into hard labor and are confined only by a gun line around the camp. Thus, Ray and Claude find themselves sentenced to life in the Mississippi State prison. Unfortunately, they decide to visit a local bar where after a series of misfortunate events, they end up being charged for murdering a man, although the town's local law, Sheriff Pike (NED VAUGHN) is actually the culprit. Fortunately for them, he decides to agree upon Ray's proposal to pay off their debts by driving to Mississippi, picking up some moonshine, and returning it to him.Īlthough the straight-laced Claude isn't crazy about the idea, he reluctantly agrees and the two men - who irritate each other - drive south and pick up the booze. As such, both men find themselves at the mercy of Spanky.
Sensing an easy target, Ray pickpockets Claude who's already been wiped clean by some debt collectors. There, Ray Gibson (EDDIE MURPHY) is a small-time hustler who owes money to Spanky Johnson (RICK JAMES), the owner of a popular speakeasy, that's frequented this night by Claude Banks (MARTIN LAWRENCE), a soon-to-be employed bank teller.
PLOT: As an old-timer prisoner, Willie Long (OBBA BABATUNDE) looks over the freshly dug graves of his former longtime friends, he recounts their story and we suddenly find ourselves in Harlem, 1932. QUICK TAKE: Comedy: Two men - serving life sentences for a murder they didn't commit - try to deal with that fact and that each constantly serves as an irritant to the other as they spend more than sixty years together in prison. (1999) (Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence) (R)
0 kommentar(er)
