Harlem Nights (1989)

Written, directed, and starring Eddie Murphy, this film follows the exploits of club/casino owner "Sugar" Ray, played by Richard Pryor, and his son (not really) Quick, played by Eddie Murphy.

1930s Harlem. Rife with gangsters all trying to get a piece of illegal pie. "Sugar" Ray runs the hoppingest club in Harlem, and mobster Bugsy Calhoune, played by Michael Lerner, wants his share. Ray, not to be outpriced, rallies his troops and decides to scam the scammer, using whatever tricks at his disposal.

In a nutshell, that's all the story's really about. It's not difficult, it's not complex, and it's not even very well written. This film was really an excuse for Murphy to get some really great talent together and have fun. Plus, Murphy gets to play a character named Quick and shoot people. I don't think it could have been more obvious what the intentions of this movie were. No wonder he won a Razzie for Worst Screenplay, and was nominated for Worst Director. In the film's favor, it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design for Joe I. Tompkins. Murphy does seem to get that right in his films, also landing that Oscar nod for Coming To America.

Anyways, I could not believe Richard Pryor as a fatherly figure. Sorry, but maybe his past clouded my mind on this, but it's hard to let that go when the characters are so blatantly supposed to be extensions of the actors, as Murphy tried to write them. Best example of this is Redd Foxx and Della Reese as bickering duo Bennie Wilson & Vera. They were great to watch, merely because of the crap that came out of their mouths. And really, did Murphy write in all those obscenities (and I'm not a schtickler on this, but there were SO many in this film), or did the cast just improvise so much and that's what ended up coming out? But, cameos abound, even Arsenio Hall and Charles Murphy, if that could be considered a cameo.

There is no real grounding of this film in the 30s. You just have to sort of put that hope out of your mind. It's more like a 1989 costume party. Really, don't get your hopes up on even the slightest feel of believability.

Despite it all, a fun ride, if you're not looking for substance. Have low standards before viewing.