Netflix pick for 5/9/16 – ‘Bowfinger’

As heard in episode 174 of Cinema Crespodiso.

Movies about making movies is tricky genre to crack because most people don’t like seeing how the sausage is made, but every now and then something is done in this weird subgenre and it works, and “Bowfinger” from 1999 is one of those movies, a satirical spoof comedy about a bottom of the ladder Hollywood producer trying to put all his minimal resources together to make his version of a big blockbuster on a shoe string budget. Written by and starring Steve Martin, directed by legendary Frank Oz, and featuring Eddie Murphy in two roles (he plays polar opposite twin brothers), this is both a broad comedy about a bunch of hustlers and dreamers trying to make a movie, and a critique of the airheaded, profit minded, superficial, hyper sexual and unfulfilling underbelly of Hollywood and Los Angeles Culture.

Bobby Bowfinger (Martin) is a Roger Corman type of movie producer, barely getting by in the industry by cranking out low budget schlock, and he finally wants to strike out on his own and direct his first movie. He has everything in place except for a studio to distribute the movie, and he manages to get a deal from a big time producer with the caveat that the lead role is played by gigantic movie star Kit Ramsey (Murphy). When Ramsey turns down Bowfinger, he decides to secretly film Kit as he went about his business in LA in order to illegally integrate him into the movie. And when Kit disappears, they have to find a lookalike to fill in for him – enter Jiff (also Murphy).

The comedy is solid and the social commentary, while not exactly scathing, is still on point throughout. Add to the mix people like Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, Terence Stamp and some guy named Robert Downey Jr. and you got yourself a damn fine movie.

See for yourself and check out “Bowfinger” right here on the Netflix Instant.