Dolemite is My Name 🎥
Happy Thursday! It’s going to be a great day today.
Today’s movie is Dolemite is My Name (2019)—streaming on Netflix—a biopic comedy about the Blaxploitation film legend Rudy Ray Moore aka Dolemite. The movie was a return to form for Eddie Murphy, who’s been more absent from our movie screens than in the 2000s. The role very nearly earned him his second Oscar nomination.
Here’s what it’s about: Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian and singer with middling success, begins to find his voice when he creates a bombastic pimp character called Dolemite. Throughout the 1970s, his fame grows, which eventually leads him to attempt to create his own feature-length movie. [Trailer // 120 mins]
Why you should watch it: While Dolemite is My Name is largely in form and story a standard biopic, director Craig Brewer elevates the material by allowing his cast of comedic legends to run with their instincts and create distinctly irresistible characters.
In particular, Murphy gives Dolemite the charismatic persona that he needs for us to root for his success—and he’s damn funny doing it. Other highlights are Wesley Snipes, Keegan Michael-Key, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph playing the role of a strong Black woman that we need to see more of today.
📺 Buy or Rent: Dolemite is my Name is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Pair it with 🍷
Jackie Brown: Jackie Brown (blaxploitation film legend Pam Grier) is a flight attendant who gets caught smuggling cash into the country for a black market gunrunner (Samuel L. Jackson). The cops cut her a deal to catch him, but Jackie hatches a plan to keep the money for herself. [Where to watch]
Take a chance today.
See you Monday —
Karl (@karl_delo)