VARIOUS: Eddie Murphy and his friends premiere new comedy "Norbit" in Los Angeles

Record ID: 1531064

  • Title: VARIOUS: Eddie Murphy and his friends premiere new comedy "Norbit" in Los Angeles
  • Date: 15th February 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) EDDIE MURPHY, WHO PORTRAYS RASPUTIA, NORBIT, AND MR. WONG IN FILM, SAYING: "I don't see me at all. I see those two characters I don't see me."
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2007 14:51
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAU70DD41IVU53UBFNPB32REZL
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Eddie Murphy is enjoying all his success with a Oscar nomination for "Dreamgirls and the Los Angeles, California premiere of his new comedy "Norbit."
    In "Norbit," Murphy slips into various disguises like he did in "The Nutty Professor," where he played an entire family - mama, papa, granny and grandpa.
    "The movie is about it's a feel good love story about poor Norbit who misses out on his first and then finds it again its a thrilling story. It's Eddie Murphy playing three roles and Eddie Girffin and Marlon Wayans, and Cuba Gooding Jr., and Thandie Newton, and Terry crews, and footnote Katt Williams so I am pretty happy," said Katt Williams , who portrays 'Pimp Lord Have Mercy' in the film.
    The title hero (played by Murphy as a fragile, luckless nerd) is an orphan who gets bullied into marrying the mountainous Rasputia also played by Murphy under mounds of prosthetic flesh, who proceeds to dominate him body and soul.
    "His ability to reinvent himself over and over again. Think about it just recently we had a guy I think he lost it because he was doing all these family movies what they were forgetting to say is that all of his family movies were successful and now he switched it up and did this again so hey come on. The guy is showing that he can change clothes and keep it coming," said Charles Murphy, Eddie's brother and co-writer of "Norbit".
    Life thereafter resembles a series of mental and physical humiliations until his childhood sweetheart Kate played by Thandie Newton shows up with plans to buy the local orphanage. Norbit's innocent love for her allows him to stand up to Rasputia's scheming brothers, who aim to turn the orphanage owned by Mr. Wong , also played by Murphy, into a strip joint.
    "His energy, and he is bad, he is filthy, he is naughty and what is it about Eddie how can you encapsulate it in a sentence? Look at "Dreamgirls" just when you think you know what he is going to do... I am so happy for him because this is the time in your life when you start widening the net and start doing something different so it's great." said Thandie Newton, who wore a navy Fendi dress to the premiere.
    Murphy, who conceived the story with his brother Charles, says that when he looks at himself in the hair and make up he doesnt recognize himself.
    "I don't see me at all. I see those two characters I don't see me," Murphy told Reuters. After more than 25 years in the business, Murphy is enjoying the glory that has come his way for his role as as soul singer James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls."
    Murphy, originally from Brooklyn, New York, started his career at age 19 on "Saturday Night Live" creating infamous sketches such as "Gumby", and Buckwheat from "The Little Rascals."
    The 45-year-old comedy star now finds himself the front-runner among this year's Oscar contenders for Best Supporting Actor.
    Murphy's heroes include Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor, but to today's top comedic actors (some of whom he discovered) like Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle and "Norbit" co-star Katt Williams, no one is more deserving of the Oscar than Murphy.
    "Eddie Muprhy is the finest actor of all time . Of all the time, in the history of this business this man. What else you need me to say? Oh he deserve several OScars not just this Oscar. The "Nutty Professor" Oscar and the "Bowfinger" Oscar too. Four of them at least." Following a run of blockbusters that include the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise, "48 Hrs" franchise, and "Delirious," Murphy found himself the No. 2 box office draw of the 1980's, second only to Harrison Ford. Murphy also has the distinction of having starred in more sequels than any other actor in Hollywood.
    The actor's career, whose cumulative career box office grosses in the neighborhood of $3 billion (USD), has made many swerves from a meteoric rise that made him Hollywood's first black global box office star, through a dismal stretch of disappointments, capped by a surprising rebound in broad family comedies.
    Murphy is known for his direct comedic style, infectious laugh and unstoppable talent leading him to take on numerous roles in films like the "Nutty Professor" franchise, "Dr. Doolittle", "Coming to America" and his new film "Norbit".
    During the 1990's Murphy faced various personal and professional triumphs but his fortunes really turned around in 2006/2007 with the motion picture version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls". Murphy appears alongside Jamie Foxx, Beyonc���� Knowles, and fellow award winner Jennifer Hudson.
    Murphy has already picked up numerous awards for this performance including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and Screen Actors Guild Award.
    Murphy's character in "Dreamgirls" is a dynamic, innovative soul belter who, despite his powerful voice and charismatic presence, has never managed to achieve the fame and respect he feels he deserves.
    From Early's electrifying stage show to his offstage womanizing to his eventual drug-fueled breakdown, Murphy delivers a performance by turns fiery and wounded, triumphant and tragic--essentially, taking the spot-on James Brown impression he did years ago on Saturday Night Live and wringing out the laughs to reveal the underlying pain.
    Though Murphy has joked that its about time he got a nomination he decided to let his friends do his campaigning when it comes to awards season.
    "I told you I don't campaign. I am not campaigning," Murphy said with his famous laugh.
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