VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1995) **1/2 For two decades Eddie Murphy has been torn between good and evil: between being a mammoth of a bruthuh shinin' light on the lies of fools and on the glory of the streets, and being an Industry 'ho' (You want me to be a donkey? How much ya got?) shriveling defaced lines that are essentially merde before they're even consumed through shiny teeth . His efforts towards goodness and light, and this is one of them, must be applauded. Wes Craven is a strange directorial choice, but he brings authentic angst to a drama that is, after all, about eternal beings who make their way by consuming the flesh of innocents (and 'ho's). A lot of Eddie's (as writer) scenes and lines are very funny, and they're snapped up like a big dog at a Burger King festival. Eddie's timing, always world class and often impeccable, ranks no better than third to the spectacular showings of John Witherspoon and Kadeem Hardison. It should be said that Eddie gifted his brothers with the best lines, though his stint as a street-corner revivalist evangelical, apparently in the service of Abraxas, is high-octane Eddie like we like it, and sprinkles some light towards meditations on the vulgarity of the herd. Angela Bassett isn't the problem, per sé, but the problems all revolve around her. She isn't a great or endearing actress, for reasons that defy immediate explanation Eddie made her a cop, and Eddie wastes way too much script time (the leaden part) on various romantic tangents, none of which are interesting in the slightest. No one in the history of Hollywood ever had more potential than Eddie Murphy. It's nice to see him trying to reclaim some of it, and he makes a most elegant vampire.
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films home
go back home, or send me email
no more reviews! I want to buy your novel!