For the most part, the revelation seems to be receiving mixed reactions from film critics and movie fans: in one corner are die-hard Murphy fans who have remained loyal to the comedian despite the crappy movies he's made them suffer through and, in the other corner, ...is everyone else.
Murphy was hilarious on Saturday Night Live and, through the years, he's had his moments to shine -- it's just that they are too few and far between. I mean, here is a man who is mainly still remembered for The Nutty Professor, Norbit and Daddy Day Care more than anything else. Not exactly a film resume to brag about.
Film critic Patrick Goldstein wrote a piece for the Los Angeles Times about why he's less than enthused about the choice (you can read it here). He makes a few good points, specifically when he references the 2006 Oscars where Murphy threw a tantrum and left the ceremony halfway through when he lost the Best Supporting Actor Oscar to Alan Arkin (for Little Miss Sunshine). As Goldstein wrote: "Murphy, who is infamous in Hollywood for his half-hearted work ethic and sense of entitlement, managed to embarrass himself when he left the Oscar ceremony in a huff ...he didn't even have the class to stick around and watch his Dreamgirls co-star Jennifer Hudson win an Oscar of her own."
He left while the ceremony was still getting underway, yet he's now been invited back as a host. The fact that he was still given the honour in the first place is confusing, to say the least.
From here on in I'll just look at the whole situation as a wait-and-see type of thing and remind myself that, at the very least, it couldn't possibly be worse than last years dreadful Oscars with James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting. Right? Right?!
What are your thoughts on Murphy as the new Oscar host?
I don't think it will be worse than Franco/Hathaway although when was the last time Eddie Murphy was really funny?
ReplyDeleteI loved his old standup routines but over the years, he's played it safe and he's tried too hard to be rough over the years. I'm not really sure about him hosting the Oscars. Couldn't they get someone else or no hosts at all? I'm often mixed about the Oscars in general though they're always fun to watch.
Yep his resume isn't one to brag about is it??! I'm not a Murphy fan as he alone started the smart-arse ( so called wise cracking ) roles starting from Beverly Hills Cop. Chris Rock amoung others have jumped on board and it is a type of humour that gives me a serious pain in the backside. I just don't find it remotely amusing and we owe it all to Murphy.
ReplyDeleteYou are right as he has swallowed the Hollywood lifestyle hook, line and sinker by becoming, 'I'm Eddie Murphy, lick my boots' in attitude. Sure he can be funny but he really isn't the right front for the Oscars I'm afraid.
@theVoid: I'd love to see them do one year where they didn't have a host ...just to see how it would turn out. That way they can have more interesting guest presenters and move on without lame jokes.
ReplyDelete@Brent: See, Eddie Murphy can be funny when he's doing stand-up that he wrote. Or, at least he *used* to be funny (don't know if he does stand-up anymore). Because the Oscars are so censored and terrified of anything that will upset poor, sensitive Hollywood, they likely won't let Murphy do his own jokes ...therefore he will likely fall flat.
ReplyDeleteBut, we'll see, I guess.
Could be a real good year for Murphy with Oscar hosting AND tower Heist! He sounds like a real-life dick but he'll always be a comedy legend for me!
ReplyDelete