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Wikipedia

Bowfinger

January 08, 2023

Bowfinger is a 1999 American satirical buddy comedy film directed by Frank Oz. The film 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 movie. It was written by Steve Martin, who also stars alongside Eddie Murphy in two roles, and Heather Graham as an ambitious would-be starlet.

Bowfinger
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrank Oz
Written bySteve Martin
Produced byBrian Grazer
Starring
CinematographyUeli Steiger
Edited byRichard Pearson
Music byDavid Newman
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • August 13, 1999 (1999-08-13) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$55 million[2]
Box office$98.6 million[2]

Bowfinger was released in the United States on August 13, 1999, to largely positive reviews, and grossed $98 million. The film is considered by many as one of Eddie Murphy's best and most underappreciated films.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Plot

B movie film producer Bobby Bowfinger has been saving up to direct a movie since he was ten years old—he now has $2,184 to pay for production costs. He has a script ("Chubby Rain") penned by an accountant, Afrim, and a camera operator, Dave, with access to studio-owned equipment. Bowfinger then lines up several actors who are hungry for work, along with a crowd of illegal Mexican immigrants for a camera crew; the only other thing he needs is access to a studio in order to distribute his masterwork.

He extracts a promise from a high-ranking Universal Pictures executive, Jerry Renfro, that Universal will distribute the film if it includes currently-hot action star Kit Ramsey. Ramsey—a pompous, neurotic, and paranoid actor—refuses, so Bowfinger constructs a plan to covertly film all of Ramsey's scenes without his knowledge. The actors, told that Ramsey is method acting and will not be interacting with them outside of their scenes, walk up to Ramsey in public and recite their lines while hidden cameras catch Ramsey's confused reactions.

The plan goes well at first: Ramsey (who is a member of an organization called MindHead) swallows the movie's alien invasion premise and believes he is genuinely being stalked by aliens, resulting in an exceptionally genuine and intense performance. However, the strain on his already-precarious mental state leads him to go into hiding in order to maintain his sanity, stalling the film's production.

Bowfinger resorts to hiring a Ramsey lookalike named Jiff. Jiff is unassuming, amiable and very naive. For a shot, Bowfinger persuades him to run across a busy freeway by assuring him the many cars racing by are all "stunt drivers". During a chat with the other cast members, Jiff reveals that he is Kit's twin brother, explaining the likeness. Using this new knowledge, Bowfinger tasks Jiff with finding out Kit's location and plans so they can ambush him and film the final scene.

Only one scene remains to be shot: the finale set at the Griffith Observatory. Though otherwise pleased with Kit's unscripted dialogue, Bowfinger considers his character's final line "Gotcha, suckas!" to be the key moment of the film. Bowfinger directs Daisy to guide Kit through the scene under the guise of showing him how to get rid of the "aliens". During the filming, Kit becomes terrified and struggles to deliver the final line. At this point, Kit's MindHead mentor, Terry Stricter, who has discovered evidence that Kit's "aliens" may not be just in his head, shows up at the observatory and shuts down production.

Bowfinger's camera crew show him B-roll footage of Kit Ramsey they were filming off-set, just in case they caught anything they could use. The footage shows Kit donning a paper bag over his head and exposing himself to the Laker Girl Cheerleading Squad, something Terry Stricter previously dissuaded him from doing. Bowfinger blackmails Stricter and the MindHead leadership with the footage, threatening to release it and ruin Ramsey's career (which would impact MindHead's finances as Ramsey is a major donor). MindHead advises the star to finish the project. Bowfinger and the cast and crew finally get to attend the film's premiere, and are awed. Following the apparent success of the film, Bowfinger receives a FedEx envelope containing an offer to direct a martial arts film in Taiwan starring Jiff Ramsey. The film ends with an elaborate fight scene from the new movie, Fake Purse Ninjas, featuring everyone who worked on Chubby Rain.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Brian Grazer's company Imagine Entertainment, in conjunction with Universal Studios.[9] The working title for the film was Bowfinger's Big Thing.[10][11] Martin originally wrote the role of "Kit Ramsey" with an actor such as Keanu Reeves in mind, but Brian Grazer suggested Eddie Murphy instead and Martin approved.[12] The film was initially scheduled for a July 30, 1999 release, but in May 1999, Universal Studios pushed its release back to August 27, 1999.[13] Its final release date was August 13, 1999.[14][15] The film's costs amounted to US$44 million.[16] The executives at Universal wanted to cut the freeway scene because they felt it would be too expensive; Martin replied he would not cut the funniest scene in the film.[17]

Casting

Graham described Daisy in an interview with CNN's Entertainment News. "It's about these losers in Hollywood who want to make a movie, and I'm this naive, innocent girl who wants to be an actress. I'm willing to stop at nothing."[18] Graham stated that she has a "special attachment" to the roles she chooses, and explained "I think it's kind of like you fall in love with the person, like you fall in love with the script."[18] The character of Daisy was inspired by actress Anne Heche, whom writer Steve Martin was dating at the time.[19][20]

Themes

The fictional organization "MindHead" has been compared by film critics to the Church of Scientology.[21][22][23] Paul Clinton wrote in CNN online: "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."[22] Andrew O'Hehir wrote in Salon that "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')."[23] The Denver Post, the Daily Record and the San Francisco Chronicle made similar comparisons,[24][25][26] and the Albuquerque Journal and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram called MindHead a "thinly veiled" parody of Scientology.[27][28] A review in The New York Times described actor Terence Stamp's role in the film as "a cult leader for a Scientology-like organization called Mind Head", and The Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle made similar statements about Stamp's character.[29][30][31] Writer Steve Martin told the New York Daily News "I view it as a pastiche of things I've seen come and go through the years", and stated "Scientology gets a lot of credit or blame right now, because they're the hottest one."[32] The Cincinnati Enquirer noted in its review "For the record, Mr. Martin denies MindHead is based on Scientology."[33]

The film spoofs the cult of celebrity and experiences film producers can undergo when attempting to get a movie made in Hollywood. Time Out Film Guide called the film a "satire on Hollywood's lunatic fringe."[34] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer noted that "it takes swipes at stupid action films" and "the ageism of the industry."[35] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer also noted Eddie Murphy's ability to spoof himself in the film, including "kidding his own legendary paranoia, evoking his real-life sex scandal and allowing himself to be the butt of Martin's extended gag."[35] Leonard Schwarz of Palo Alto Online described the film as "arch and knowing about the ways of Hollywood", including "producers who want to keep their cars more than their kids when they get divorced."[36] Russell Smith of The Austin Chronicle noted the film's satire of "L.A. movie culture, and brain-dead blockbuster films."[37] An article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Bob Graham wrote that "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."[38] Laurie Scheer writes in Creative Careers in Hollywood "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."[39]

Themes within the film have been compared to Mel Brooks' The Producers; a critique in the Denver Rocky Mountain News wrote that the film has "...the madcap velocity of Mel Brooks' The Producers."[40] Roger Ebert wrote that "Like Mel Brooks' The Producers, it's about fringe players who strike out boldly for the big time."[41] The New York Times wrote that "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."[42] Jeff Millar of the Houston Chronicle compared Steve Martin's character in the film to Edward Wood, Jr., and Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times described Bowfinger International Pictures as "a company so threadbare even schlockmeister Ed Wood would've looked down on it."[43][44] Comparisons were also made to Tim Burton's eponymous film about the director, Ed Wood.[45]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 81% based on 111 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "A witty commentary on modern film-making, with enough jokes to keep it entertaining throughout."[46] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[47] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[48]

Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars, and wrote "Bowfinger is one of those comedies where everything works."[41] The film received three out of four stars from the TLA Video & DVD Guide, where it was described as a "goodspirited, funny look at a hack Hollywood producer who will go to any lengths to get his film made."[49] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer gave the film a rating of "A−" in its review, writing "This is one terrific comedy that doesn't let up for an instant."[35] The Rocky Mountain News highlighted the film as a "Critics' Choice", and wrote that "Steve Martin takes gentle but funny aim at Hollywood" in the film.[50] In The Washington Post, Jane Horwitz described the film as a "riotous farce".[51] The Kansas City Star called it a "frequently hilarious comedy".[52]The New York Times highly recommended the film, and reviewer Janet Maslin wrote "This hilarious, good-hearted spiritual descendant of The Producers is a comic coup for Mr. Martin."[53]

A review in the Deseret Morning News was critical, giving the film two and a half out of four stars, and called it a "funny but frantic and somewhat mean-spirited comedy."[54] A review in The Austin Chronicle was also critical. Film critic Russell Smith gave the film two and a half stars, and wrote "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."[37] Leonard Maltin also gave the film two and a half stars, and wrote in his Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide "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."[55]

Stacey Wilson Hunt from Vulture considered Bowfinger as Murphy's underrated classic. About that, Murphy said: "I love Bowfinger. That's a funny one. It was all mostly on page—I don't remember doing a lot of improvising. I kind of played what he wanted to play. It was all Steve Martin's creation."[56]

Box office

The film debuted at the #2 spot behind The Sixth Sense, with an initial box office weekend return of US$18.2 million at 2,700 theaters in the United States.[14][57] It held onto the number two spot in its second week, earning an additional $10.7 million and grossing $35.7 million in its first ten days.[58][59][60] As of September 7, 1999, Bowfinger was at the fourth spot, with a weekend return of $7 million and a total gross of $55.5 million.[61] By September 13, 1999, the film had slipped to 5th place, with a weekend return of $3.7 million, for a total take of $60.5 million.[62] By October 11, 1999, the film had earned $65 million in the United States.[63] The film did not fare as well overseas as it did in the United States.[64]

Soundtrack

Bowfinger
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedAugust 10, 1999
LabelVarèse Sarabande
  1. "There is Always One More Time" - Johnny Adams
  2. "You're a Wonderful One" - Marvin Gaye
  3. "And I Love You So" - Perry Como
  4. "Mambo U.K." - Cubanismo
  5. "Super Bad, Super Slick" - James Brown
  6. "Secret Agent Man" - Johnny Rivers
  7. "Betsy Chases Kit/The First Shot/A Short Ride/Dave Makes a Call/Dave Returns Camera"
  8. "Cafe Set-Up/Shooting The Cafe/Stealing Renfro's Car/Auditioning the Butts"
  9. "Chubby Rain"
  10. "Clothing Store/Daisy Rescues Kit"
  11. "The Observatory"
  12. "Finale/Fed Ex Delivers"

See also

References

  1. ^ "BOWFINGER (12)". British Board of Film Classification. 1999-07-13. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. ^ a b "Bowfinger (1999)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  3. ^ "Eddie Murphy's 10 best films... Ranked!". NME. March 2021.
  4. ^ "10 Best Eddie Murphy Movies, Ranked".
  5. ^ "Eddie Murphy's 10 best movies, ranked". 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ "12 Eddie Murphy Movies We Couldn't Live Without". 22 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Eddie Murphy's 10 Best Performances in Honor of His 60th Birthday". 2 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Eddie Murphy movies: 13 greatest films ranked from worst to best". April 2020.
  9. ^ Staff (August 18, 1999). "Universal Names New Head of Production". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  10. ^ Staff (January 6, 1999). "Coming in 1999: The Wild Wild Phantom Menace". Associated Press.
  11. ^ Staff (May 7, 1999). "What's on summer's movie screens". Deseret News.
  12. ^ "BOWFINGER (1999)". AFI Catalog.
  13. ^ Hindes, Andrew (May 26, 1999). "U's 'Bowfinger' pushed to August: Martin- Murphy starrer gets some breathing room". Variety. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  14. ^ a b King, Susan (August 17, 1999). "Weekend Box Office; 'Sixth Sense' Pulls Big Dollars and Cents". Los Angeles Times. p. 5.
  15. ^ McNary, Dave (June 24, 1999). "Hollywood Sizzles: Box Office Heat Wave Breaking Summer Records". Los Angeles Daily News.
  16. ^ McNary, Dave (May 11, 1999). "How Big A 'Menace'? 'Phantom' Not The Only Game In Town". Los Angeles Daily News.
  17. ^ Semlyen, Nick (March 2009). "In conversation with Steve Martin". Empire. p. 116.
  18. ^ a b Vercammen, Paul (June 15, 1999). "Heather Graham earns adoration as Felicity Shagwell". CNN Entertainment News. CNN.
  19. ^ . The Telegraph. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Martin later used Heche as his inspiration for one of his most memorable characters
  20. ^ Mal Vincent (August 12, 1999). . The Virginian-Pilot. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30. I wasn't thinking of Anne," Martin says. "Anne and I are still good friends. Only that last scene could be identified with her at all.
  21. ^ Laforest, Kevin N. . Montreal Film Journal. 1998–2007 Montreal Film Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-01-13. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  22. ^ a b Clinton, Paul (August 12, 1999). "Review: 'Bowfinger' over-the-top farcical treat". CNN. pp. Section: Movies. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  23. ^ a b 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 2007-12-18.
  24. ^ Booth, Michael (July 16, 2007). "Martin skewers Hollywood". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  25. ^ Staff (October 22, 1999). "Martin makes Murphy make magic; BOWFINGER". Daily Record. pp. Section: Features.
  26. ^ Morris, Wesley (August 13, 1999). ""Bowfinger" has the touch. Martin, Murphy make mincemeat out of Hollywood as a down-and-out producer and his "star"". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  27. ^ Staff (January 1, 2007). "'Bowfinger' Lacks Chemistry Between Martin, Murphy". Albuquerque Journal.
  28. ^ Staff (January 21, 2000). "Hollywood looks in the mirror, and laughs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  29. ^ Staff (October 23, 1999). "Actor Terence Stamp makes the most of his film roles". The Dallas Morning News.
  30. ^ Holden, Stephen (September 3, 1999). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Laughs, Schmaffs. Does It Have an Edge?". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Millar, Jeff (October 15, 1999). "Good acting gives hard-to-follow 'Limey' a boost". Houston Chronicle. pp. Page 4.
  32. ^ Staff (July 28, 1999). "Steve Martin on Scientology". New York Daily News.
  33. ^ McGurk, Margaret A. (August 13, 1999). "Murphy and Martin: Commandants of comedy strut their absurdist stuff in 'Bowfinger'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  34. ^ Tch. "Bowfinger movie review". Time Out Film Guide. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  35. ^ a b c Arnold, William (August 13, 1999). "'Bowfinger' hits the comedy jackpot". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-01-10.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ Schwarz, Leonard (August 1999). "Movies - Review: Bowfinger". Palo Alto Online. pp. Section: Movie Screener.
  37. ^ a b Smith, Russell (August 20, 1999). "Calendar: Film listings - Bowfinger". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas: Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  38. ^ Graham, Bob (August 13, 1999). "Bowfinger Pokes Hipsters In Hollywood". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  39. ^ Scheer, Laurie (2002). Creative Careers in Hollywood. Allworth Communications, Inc. p. 135. ISBN 1-58115-243-4.
  40. ^ Denerstein, Robert (August 13, 1999). "Follywood Tinseltown Takes it on the Chin in 'Bowfinger'". Denver Rocky Mountain News.
  41. ^ a b Ebert, Roger (August 13, 1999). "Bowfinger". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  42. ^ Maslin, Janet (August 13, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; A Genuine Fake in a World of Make-Believe". The New York Times.
  43. ^ Millar, Jeff (March 11, 2004). . Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  44. ^ Turan, Kenneth (August 13, 1999). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  45. ^ Grady, Pam. . Reel.com. Movie Gallery US, LLC and Hollywood Entertainment Corporation. Archived from the original on November 2, 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  46. ^ "Bowfinger". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  47. ^ Bowfinger at Metacritic   CBS Interactive
  48. ^ "Find CinemaScore" (Type "bowfinger" in the search box). CinemaScore. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  49. ^ Bleiler, David (2004). TLA Video & DVD Guide 2005: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. New York City: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 80. ISBN 0-312-31690-9.
  50. ^ Voelz Chandler, Mary; Pearson, Mike; Saunders, Dusty; Denerstein, Robert; Mehle, Michael; Shulgold, Marc; Thorn, Patti (August 15, 1999). "Critics' Choice: The best of the arts this week, compiled by News entertainment writers and critics". Rocky Mountain News.
  51. ^ Horwitz, Jane (August 20, 1999). "A Comedic 'Mickey'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
  52. ^ Staff (August 20, 1999). "Eddie Murphy doubles the laughs in 'Bowfinger'". Kansas City Star. pp. Section: What's New.
  53. ^ Maslin, Janet (September 10, 1999). "Movie Guide: Now Playing". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  54. ^ Staff (December 10, 1999). "Playing at local movie theaters". Deseret Morning News.
  55. ^ Maltin, Leonard (August 2003). Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2004 Edition. New York City: Penguin Group (USA) Inc. p. 168. ISBN 0-451-20940-0.
  56. ^ Hunt, Stacey Wilson (December 2016). "Eddie Murphy on Making His First Indie Movie, Celebrating Pluto Nash, and Returning to Stand-up". New York City: New York Media.
  57. ^ Natale, Richard (August 16, 1999). "Sense' Scares Off Challengers; Box Office.Thriller holds onto No. 1 spot, keeping 'Bowfinger' comedy at bay". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
  58. ^ Klady, Leonard (August 23, 1999). "B.O. dollars & 'Sense': Thriller tops for 3rd week at $24 mil; 'Mickey' taps $10 mil". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  59. ^ Staff (August 23, 1999). "Blame It On The Rain". The Boston Globe.
  60. ^ "'Sixth Sense' tops box office for third week". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Associated Press. August 23, 1999.
  61. ^ Klady, Leonard (September 7, 1999). "'Sixth Sense' takes fifth, powers holiday: 'Bride' on honeymoon". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  62. ^ Klady, Leonard (September 13, 1999). "'Stigmata' bleeds BO: 'Sense' slips to second; 'Stir' in mix". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  63. ^ Lyman, Rick (October 11, 1999). "Universal Hopes 1999's Hits Will Silence the Rumor Mill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  64. ^ Groves, Don (December 16, 1999). "America's pics find foreign B.O. hit, miss puzzle: O'seas box office doesn't always follow U.S. money-makers". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2007.

External links

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Bowfinger.

January 08, 2023
bowfinger, 1999, american, satirical, buddy, comedy, film, directed, frank, film, depicts, down, filmmaker, hollywood, attempting, make, film, small, budget, with, star, does, know, that, movie, written, steve, martin, also, stars, alongside, eddie, murphy, ro. Bowfinger is a 1999 American satirical buddy comedy film directed by Frank Oz The film 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 movie It was written by Steve Martin who also stars alongside Eddie Murphy in two roles and Heather Graham as an ambitious would be starlet BowfingerTheatrical release posterDirected byFrank OzWritten bySteve MartinProduced byBrian GrazerStarringSteve Martin Eddie Murphy Heather Graham Christine Baranski Terence StampCinematographyUeli SteigerEdited byRichard PearsonMusic byDavid NewmanProductioncompanyImagine EntertainmentDistributed byUniversal PicturesRelease dateAugust 13 1999 1999 08 13 United States Running time97 minutes 1 CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 55 million 2 Box office 98 6 million 2 Bowfinger was released in the United States on August 13 1999 to largely positive reviews and grossed 98 million The film is considered by many as one of Eddie Murphy s best and most underappreciated films 3 4 5 6 7 8 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Casting 4 Themes 5 Reception 5 1 Critical response 5 2 Box office 6 Soundtrack 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksPlot EditB movie film producer Bobby Bowfinger has been saving up to direct a movie since he was ten years old he now has 2 184 to pay for production costs He has a script Chubby Rain penned by an accountant Afrim and a camera operator Dave with access to studio owned equipment Bowfinger then lines up several actors who are hungry for work along with a crowd of illegal Mexican immigrants for a camera crew the only other thing he needs is access to a studio in order to distribute his masterwork He extracts a promise from a high ranking Universal Pictures executive Jerry Renfro that Universal will distribute the film if it includes currently hot action star Kit Ramsey Ramsey a pompous neurotic and paranoid actor refuses so Bowfinger constructs a plan to covertly film all of Ramsey s scenes without his knowledge The actors told that Ramsey is method acting and will not be interacting with them outside of their scenes walk up to Ramsey in public and recite their lines while hidden cameras catch Ramsey s confused reactions The plan goes well at first Ramsey who is a member of an organization called MindHead swallows the movie s alien invasion premise and believes he is genuinely being stalked by aliens resulting in an exceptionally genuine and intense performance However the strain on his already precarious mental state leads him to go into hiding in order to maintain his sanity stalling the film s production Bowfinger resorts to hiring a Ramsey lookalike named Jiff Jiff is unassuming amiable and very naive For a shot Bowfinger persuades him to run across a busy freeway by assuring him the many cars racing by are all stunt drivers During a chat with the other cast members Jiff reveals that he is Kit s twin brother explaining the likeness Using this new knowledge Bowfinger tasks Jiff with finding out Kit s location and plans so they can ambush him and film the final scene Only one scene remains to be shot the finale set at the Griffith Observatory Though otherwise pleased with Kit s unscripted dialogue Bowfinger considers his character s final line Gotcha suckas to be the key moment of the film Bowfinger directs Daisy to guide Kit through the scene under the guise of showing him how to get rid of the aliens During the filming Kit becomes terrified and struggles to deliver the final line At this point Kit s MindHead mentor Terry Stricter who has discovered evidence that Kit s aliens may not be just in his head shows up at the observatory and shuts down production Bowfinger s camera crew show him B roll footage of Kit Ramsey they were filming off set just in case they caught anything they could use The footage shows Kit donning a paper bag over his head and exposing himself to the Laker Girl Cheerleading Squad something Terry Stricter previously dissuaded him from doing Bowfinger blackmails Stricter and the MindHead leadership with the footage threatening to release it and ruin Ramsey s career which would impact MindHead s finances as Ramsey is a major donor MindHead advises the star to finish the project Bowfinger and the cast and crew finally get to attend the film s premiere and are awed Following the apparent success of the film Bowfinger receives a FedEx envelope containing an offer to direct a martial arts film in Taiwan starring Jiff Ramsey The film ends with an elaborate fight scene from the new movie Fake Purse Ninjas featuring everyone who worked on Chubby Rain Cast EditSteve Martin as Bobby Bowfinger Eddie Murphy as Kit Ramsey Jiffrenson Jiff Ramsey Heather Graham as Daisy Christine Baranski as Carol Terence Stamp as Terry Stricter Robert Downey Jr as Jerry Renfro Jamie Kennedy as Dave Adam Alexi Malle as Afrim Kohl Sudduth as Slater Barry Newman as Hal Kit s agent Alejandro Patino as Sanchez Alfred De Contreas as Martinez Ramiro Fabian as Hector John Cho as Nightclub cleaner Phill Lewis as Audition actor Marisol Nichols as Young audition actressProduction EditThe film was produced by Brian Grazer s company Imagine Entertainment in conjunction with Universal Studios 9 The working title for the film was Bowfinger s Big Thing 10 11 Martin originally wrote the role of Kit Ramsey with an actor such as Keanu Reeves in mind but Brian Grazer suggested Eddie Murphy instead and Martin approved 12 The film was initially scheduled for a July 30 1999 release but in May 1999 Universal Studios pushed its release back to August 27 1999 13 Its final release date was August 13 1999 14 15 The film s costs amounted to US 44 million 16 The executives at Universal wanted to cut the freeway scene because they felt it would be too expensive Martin replied he would not cut the funniest scene in the film 17 Casting Edit Graham described Daisy in an interview with CNN s Entertainment News It s about these losers in Hollywood who want to make a movie and I m this naive innocent girl who wants to be an actress I m willing to stop at nothing 18 Graham stated that she has a special attachment to the roles she chooses and explained I think it s kind of like you fall in love with the person like you fall in love with the script 18 The character of Daisy was inspired by actress Anne Heche whom writer Steve Martin was dating at the time 19 20 Themes EditThe fictional organization MindHead has been compared by film critics to the Church of Scientology 21 22 23 Paul Clinton wrote in CNN online 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 22 Andrew O Hehir wrote in Salon that 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 23 The Denver Post the Daily Record and the San Francisco Chronicle made similar comparisons 24 25 26 and the Albuquerque Journal and the Fort Worth Star Telegram called MindHead a thinly veiled parody of Scientology 27 28 A review in The New York Times described actor Terence Stamp s role in the film as a cult leader for a Scientology like organization called Mind Head and The Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle made similar statements about Stamp s character 29 30 31 Writer Steve Martin told the New York Daily News I view it as a pastiche of things I ve seen come and go through the years and stated Scientology gets a lot of credit or blame right now because they re the hottest one 32 The Cincinnati Enquirer noted in its review For the record Mr Martin denies MindHead is based on Scientology 33 The film spoofs the cult of celebrity and experiences film producers can undergo when attempting to get a movie made in Hollywood Time Out Film Guide called the film a satire on Hollywood s lunatic fringe 34 The Seattle Post Intelligencer noted that it takes swipes at stupid action films and the ageism of the industry 35 The Seattle Post Intelligencer also noted Eddie Murphy s ability to spoof himself in the film including kidding his own legendary paranoia evoking his real life sex scandal and allowing himself to be the butt of Martin s extended gag 35 Leonard Schwarz of Palo Alto Online described the film as arch and knowing about the ways of Hollywood including producers who want to keep their cars more than their kids when they get divorced 36 Russell Smith of The Austin Chronicle noted the film s satire of L A movie culture and brain dead blockbuster films 37 An article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Bob Graham wrote that 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 38 Laurie Scheer writes in Creative Careers in Hollywood 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 39 Themes within the film have been compared to Mel Brooks The Producers a critique in the Denver Rocky Mountain News wrote that the film has the madcap velocity of Mel Brooks The Producers 40 Roger Ebert wrote that Like Mel Brooks The Producers it s about fringe players who strike out boldly for the big time 41 The New York Times wrote that 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 42 Jeff Millar of the Houston Chronicle compared Steve Martin s character in the film to Edward Wood Jr and Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times described Bowfinger International Pictures as a company so threadbare even schlockmeister Ed Wood would ve looked down on it 43 44 Comparisons were also made to Tim Burton s eponymous film about the director Ed Wood 45 Reception EditCritical response Edit On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 81 based on 111 reviews with an average rating of 7 10 The website s critical consensus reads A witty commentary on modern film making with enough jokes to keep it entertaining throughout 46 At Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 33 critics indicating generally favorable reviews 47 Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of B on an A to F scale 48 Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars and wrote Bowfinger is one of those comedies where everything works 41 The film received three out of four stars from the TLA Video amp DVD Guide where it was described as a goodspirited funny look at a hack Hollywood producer who will go to any lengths to get his film made 49 The Seattle Post Intelligencer gave the film a rating of A in its review writing This is one terrific comedy that doesn t let up for an instant 35 The Rocky Mountain News highlighted the film as a Critics Choice and wrote that Steve Martin takes gentle but funny aim at Hollywood in the film 50 In The Washington Post Jane Horwitz described the film as a riotous farce 51 The Kansas City Star called it a frequently hilarious comedy 52 The New York Times highly recommended the film and reviewer Janet Maslin wrote This hilarious good hearted spiritual descendant of The Producers is a comic coup for Mr Martin 53 A review in the Deseret Morning News was critical giving the film two and a half out of four stars and called it a funny but frantic and somewhat mean spirited comedy 54 A review in The Austin Chronicle was also critical Film critic Russell Smith gave the film two and a half stars and wrote 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 37 Leonard Maltin also gave the film two and a half stars and wrote in his Leonard Maltin s Movie Guide 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 55 Stacey Wilson Hunt from Vulture considered Bowfinger as Murphy s underrated classic About that Murphy said I love Bowfinger That s a funny one It was all mostly on page I don t remember doing a lot of improvising I kind of played what he wanted to play It was all Steve Martin s creation 56 Box office Edit The film debuted at the 2 spot behind The Sixth Sense with an initial box office weekend return of US 18 2 million at 2 700 theaters in the United States 14 57 It held onto the number two spot in its second week earning an additional 10 7 million and grossing 35 7 million in its first ten days 58 59 60 As of September 7 1999 Bowfinger was at the fourth spot with a weekend return of 7 million and a total gross of 55 5 million 61 By September 13 1999 the film had slipped to 5th place with a weekend return of 3 7 million for a total take of 60 5 million 62 By October 11 1999 the film had earned 65 million in the United States 63 The film did not fare as well overseas as it did in the United States 64 Soundtrack EditBowfingerSoundtrack album by Various artistsReleasedAugust 10 1999LabelVarese Sarabande There is Always One More Time Johnny Adams You re a Wonderful One Marvin Gaye And I Love You So Perry Como Mambo U K Cubanismo Super Bad Super Slick James Brown Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers Betsy Chases Kit The First Shot A Short Ride Dave Makes a Call Dave Returns Camera Cafe Set Up Shooting The Cafe Stealing Renfro s Car Auditioning the Butts Chubby Rain Clothing Store Daisy Rescues Kit The Observatory Finale Fed Ex Delivers See also Edit Film portalList of films featuring fictional filmsReferences Edit BOWFINGER 12 British Board of Film Classification 1999 07 13 Retrieved 2012 12 22 a b Bowfinger 1999 Box Office Mojo IMDB Retrieved 2009 08 16 Eddie Murphy s 10 best films Ranked NME March 2021 10 Best Eddie Murphy Movies Ranked Eddie Murphy s 10 best movies ranked 9 March 2022 12 Eddie Murphy Movies We Couldn t Live Without 22 November 2021 Eddie Murphy s 10 Best Performances in Honor of His 60th Birthday 2 April 2021 Eddie Murphy movies 13 greatest films ranked from worst to best April 2020 Staff August 18 1999 Universal Names New Head of Production The New York Times Retrieved 2007 12 18 Staff January 6 1999 Coming in 1999 The Wild Wild Phantom Menace Associated Press Staff May 7 1999 What s on summer s movie screens Deseret News BOWFINGER 1999 AFI Catalog Hindes Andrew May 26 1999 U s Bowfinger pushed to August Martin Murphy starrer gets some breathing room Variety Retrieved 2007 12 18 a b King Susan August 17 1999 Weekend Box Office Sixth Sense Pulls Big Dollars and Cents Los Angeles Times p 5 McNary Dave June 24 1999 Hollywood Sizzles Box Office Heat Wave Breaking Summer Records Los Angeles Daily News McNary Dave May 11 1999 How Big A Menace Phantom Not The Only Game In Town Los Angeles Daily News Semlyen Nick March 2009 In conversation with Steve Martin Empire p 116 a b Vercammen Paul June 15 1999 Heather Graham earns adoration as Felicity Shagwell CNN Entertainment News CNN Steve Martin amp Anne Heche My unlikely Valentine Hollywood s most bizarre celebrity couples The Telegraph February 13 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 02 14 Martin later used Heche as his inspiration for one of his most memorable characters Mal Vincent August 12 1999 FICKLE FINGER The Virginian Pilot Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on 2021 06 30 I wasn t thinking of Anne Martin says Anne and I are still good friends Only that last scene could be identified with her at all Laforest Kevin N Review Bowfinger Montreal Film Journal 1998 2007 Montreal Film Journal Archived from the original on 2009 01 13 Retrieved 2008 01 10 a b Clinton Paul August 12 1999 Review Bowfinger over the top farcical treat CNN pp Section Movies Retrieved 2007 12 18 a b 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 2007 12 18 Booth Michael July 16 2007 Martin skewers Hollywood The Denver Post Retrieved 2007 12 18 Staff October 22 1999 Martin makes Murphy make magic BOWFINGER Daily Record pp Section Features Morris Wesley August 13 1999 Bowfinger has the touch Martin Murphy make mincemeat out of Hollywood as a down and out producer and his star San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 2007 12 18 Staff January 1 2007 Bowfinger Lacks Chemistry Between Martin Murphy Albuquerque Journal Staff January 21 2000 Hollywood looks in the mirror and laughs Fort Worth Star Telegram Staff October 23 1999 Actor Terence Stamp makes the most of his film roles The Dallas Morning News Holden Stephen September 3 1999 CRITIC S NOTEBOOK Laughs Schmaffs Does It Have an Edge The New York Times Millar Jeff October 15 1999 Good acting gives hard to follow Limey a boost Houston Chronicle pp Page 4 Staff July 28 1999 Steve Martin on Scientology New York Daily News McGurk Margaret A August 13 1999 Murphy and Martin Commandants of comedy strut their absurdist stuff in Bowfinger The Cincinnati Enquirer Retrieved 2008 01 10 Tch Bowfinger movie review Time Out Film Guide Retrieved 2008 01 10 a b c Arnold William August 13 1999 Bowfinger hits the comedy jackpot Seattle Post Intelligencer Retrieved 2008 01 10 permanent dead link Schwarz Leonard August 1999 Movies Review Bowfinger Palo Alto Online pp Section Movie Screener a b Smith Russell August 20 1999 Calendar Film listings Bowfinger The Austin Chronicle Austin Texas Austin Chronicle Corp Retrieved January 10 2008 Graham Bob August 13 1999 Bowfinger Pokes Hipsters In Hollywood San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 2008 01 10 Scheer Laurie 2002 Creative Careers in Hollywood Allworth Communications Inc p 135 ISBN 1 58115 243 4 Denerstein Robert August 13 1999 Follywood Tinseltown Takes it on the Chin in Bowfinger Denver Rocky Mountain News a b Ebert Roger August 13 1999 Bowfinger Chicago Sun Times Retrieved December 18 2007 Maslin Janet August 13 1999 FILM REVIEW A Genuine Fake in a World of Make Believe The New York Times Millar Jeff March 11 2004 Movie reviews Bowfinger Houston Chronicle Archived from the original on January 15 2009 Retrieved 2008 01 10 Turan Kenneth August 13 1999 Bowfinger Murphy s Rich Man Poor Man On Target Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on February 24 2009 Retrieved 2008 01 10 Grady Pam Bowfinger 1999 Reel com Movie Gallery US LLC and Hollywood Entertainment Corporation Archived from the original on November 2 2005 Retrieved 2008 01 10 Bowfinger Rotten Tomatoes Flixster Retrieved 2013 04 01 Bowfinger at Metacritic CBS Interactive Find CinemaScore Type bowfinger in the search box CinemaScore Retrieved March 25 2021 Bleiler David 2004 TLA Video amp DVD Guide 2005 The Discerning Film Lover s Guide New York City St Martin s Griffin p 80 ISBN 0 312 31690 9 Voelz Chandler Mary Pearson Mike Saunders Dusty Denerstein Robert Mehle Michael Shulgold Marc Thorn Patti August 15 1999 Critics Choice The best of the arts this week compiled by News entertainment writers and critics Rocky Mountain News Horwitz Jane August 20 1999 A Comedic Mickey The Washington Post Retrieved 2007 12 18 Staff August 20 1999 Eddie Murphy doubles the laughs in Bowfinger Kansas City Star pp Section What s New Maslin Janet September 10 1999 Movie Guide Now Playing The New York Times Retrieved December 18 2007 Staff December 10 1999 Playing at local movie theaters Deseret Morning News Maltin Leonard August 2003 Leonard Maltin s Movie Guide 2004 Edition New York City Penguin Group USA Inc p 168 ISBN 0 451 20940 0 Hunt Stacey Wilson December 2016 Eddie Murphy on Making His First Indie Movie Celebrating Pluto Nash and Returning to Stand up New York City New York Media Natale Richard August 16 1999 Sense Scares Off Challengers Box Office Thriller holds onto No 1 spot keeping Bowfinger comedy at bay Los Angeles Times p 1 Klady Leonard August 23 1999 B O dollars amp Sense Thriller tops for 3rd week at 24 mil Mickey taps 10 mil Variety Retrieved December 18 2007 Staff August 23 1999 Blame It On The Rain The Boston Globe Sixth Sense tops box office for third week Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Associated Press August 23 1999 Klady Leonard September 7 1999 Sixth Sense takes fifth powers holiday Bride on honeymoon Variety Retrieved December 18 2007 Klady Leonard September 13 1999 Stigmata bleeds BO Sense slips to second Stir in mix Variety Retrieved December 18 2007 Lyman Rick October 11 1999 Universal Hopes 1999 s Hits Will Silence the Rumor Mill The New York Times Retrieved December 18 2007 Groves Don December 16 1999 America s pics find foreign B O hit miss puzzle O seas box office doesn t always follow U S money makers Variety Retrieved December 18 2007 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Bowfinger Bowfinger at IMDb Bowfinger at AllMovie Bowfinger at Box Office Mojo Bowfinger at Rotten Tomatoes Bowfinger at Metacritic Bowfinger at the American Film Institute Catalog Official website Archived from the original on October 10 1999 Retrieved December 19 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Restored version of the original 1999 official Bowfinger site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bowfinger amp oldid 1118707643, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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