- Title: USA: 'METRO' STARRING EDDIE MURPHY PREMIERES IN THE U.S.
- Date: 11th January 1997
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 11 AND 15, 1996) (RTV) EXTERIOR OF MANN'S CHINESE THEATRE WHERE PREMIERE WAS HELD EDDIE MURPHY ARRIVES WITH HIS WIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKE PICTURES OF EDDIE MURPHY AND CARMEN EJOGO MURPHY SAYS HE DOESN'T FEEL ANY MORE PRESSURE IN THE WAKE OF HIS RECENT SUCCESS WITH "THE NUTTY PROFESSOR" (ENGLISH) CARMEN EJOGO TALKING TO JOURNALISTS MICHAEL WINCOTT ARRIVING THOMAS CARTER SAYING MURPHY'S AT A GOOD TIME IN HIS CAREER (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 26th January 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics:
- Reuters ID: LVA71HON8OTX1LB9B0F0ST0LI20
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Eddie Murphy's return to form looks set to continue with his latest film "Metro", another box office success following the summer smash-hit "The Nutty Professor".
"Metro" shot to the number two slot in the United States charts after taking more than 11 million dollars in its first week. It was only just pipped at the post by "Beverly Hills Ninja" which opened at the top. "Evita has slid down to third place.
In "Metro", Murphy plays Scott Roper, a fast-talking, wisecracking hostage negotiator for the San Francisco police Department.
But even Roper's gift of persuasion isn't enough to overcome a face-off with psychotic killer Michael Korda, played by veteran character actor Michael Wincott. Now the city of San Francisco must brace itself for an explosive confrontation between the two men.
Meanwhile, Roper has to train his talented but inexperienced partner Kevin McCall, played by Michael Rapaport, whilst trying to deal with his on-again-off-again romance with feisty newspaper photographer Ronnie Tate, played by British newcomer Carmen Ejogo.
Murphy said the film had broadened his range as an actor, pushing him into drama and action sequences as well as his trademark comic banter.
He said he was pleased with the results, a feeling shared by director Thomas Carter.
"Metro" is only Carter's second feature film effort, following the World War II-era musical "Swing Kids." However, he's much more prolific when it comes to television.
He directed the television series pilots for the programs "Miami Vice," "St. Elsewhere," "A Year in the Life," and "Call to Glory." He's a five-time Emmy Award nominee and he won the award for Best Director of a Dramatic Series in 1990 and 1991 for his work on the critically acclaimed series "Equal Justice." Murphy's credits are more well-known. He made his feature debut in 1982 opposite Nick Nolte in the hit action-comedy "48 Hours." He went on to star in "Trading Places," "Beverly Hills Cop" and its two sequels, "Coming to America," and "Harlem Nights," which he directed, executive produced and co-wrote. But his most recent success was last year's re-make of "The Nutty Professor," which some critics called his comeback film.
After its summer release in the United States, it went on to earn almost 129 million dollars, making it the 5th biggest-grossing film of 1996.
Last year was also a busy year for Michael Rapaport. He was seen in the films "The Pallbearer," "Beautiful Girls" and Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite." Wincott has played in the films "Strange Days," "The Crow," Oliver Stone's "The Doors" and "Born on the Fourth of July," and last summer's "Basquiat." Carmen Ejogo makes her American feature film debut in "Metro." Her first film was British director Julien Temple's 1986 feature "Absolute Beginners." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None