Although I haven’t seen it for many years, I always got a kick out of Frank Oz’s underrated Bowfinger, which is a loving and very funny tribute to the love and ambition of the people who make the movies, and what they’re willing to go through to do so.
Buy BowfingerThe great Steve Martin stars as Bobby Bowfinger, a two-bit movie producer who usually gets lost in the Hollywood shuffle. One day he received a script that could help into the big time. All he needs is a budget and a star. He meets with a sleazy studio bigwig (Robert Downey Jr.) who promises to release the film if Bowfinger should get megastar Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) to be in it. Easy said than done, but he has an idea, especially when he encounters Ramsey’s lookalike Jiff (also played by Murphy). Things somehow go really well, but when the production runs out of money and time is not his side, Bowfinger needs a miracle to get this once in a lifetime opportunity off the ground.
There are so many fun characters played by Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, Jamie Kennedy, and others, each with their own flair that matches him very well. They all combine into a story about dreamers, people with the desire to make their cinematic dreams, no matter how absurd they seem. Despite seeing only once those years before, but never really forgetting it, I think that this one of Oz’s best films, and one that feels less dated than its contemporaries. It’s hilarious, breezy, affectionate, and well made.
Making its 4K debut this week from Shout Factory, the “collector’s edition” comes with a new transfer and special features including commentary with Oz; Keepin’ It Together: Looking Back at Bowfinger with Frank Oz (new); Spotlight on Location; deleted scenes; and outtakes.
If you haven’t seen Bowfinger in years, or even once, then I highly recommend adding this hidden 1999 gem to your collection. It’s a riot but it’s also spot on about moviemaking and the dedicated people behind it.
Other releases:
West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty (Criterion): A singular musical by Med Hondo that jumps through time and traces the tragic effects of French imperialism across centuries of enslavement and injustice.
The ‘Burbs Collector’s Edition (Shout Factory): Tom Hanks stars in the Joe Dante classic about a stressed-out suburbanite and his eccentric military neighbor (Bruce Dern) who think that the new family who has moved into the neighborhood is a cannibalistic cult. Also starring Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman.
Scream 4 (Lionsgate): In this divisive fourth entry into the iconic Scream franchise, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now the successful author of a self-help book, returns to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. She reconnects with Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well with her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). But wherever Sid goes, a new Ghostface appears, to wreak havoc on her life and those she cares about once more.
