Whoopi-Goldberg Movie Reviews

Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man," Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" and Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind" brilliantly portrayed mentally challenged characters, and each film won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. In this movie, Jim Belushi plays Homer, a mildly retarded man. He is portrayed as a pathetic caricature, not as a realistic character. Whoopie Goldberg plays Eddie, a patient that escaped from a mental institution, who is dying from an inoperable brain tumor. Spouting profanities and shooting clerks dead in a series of robberies, Eddie is one of the most unlikable characters ever created. Most disappointing of all, blonde bombshell Angelyne is only seen in a cameo lasting a few seconds. Jim Belushi and Whoopie Goldberg have no chemistry together, and their characters are too mismatched to make their growing friendship believable. This movie fails to create an emotional bond between the viewer and the characters. When Eddie is shot dead, the only thing I felt was relief, because I knew this film was finally coming to an end. "Homer And Eddie" should have won the Razzie Award for Worst Motion Picture Of The Year.

Don't get mistaken. It is NOT a comedy movie. Rather a road movie with a bitter taste to it. As Whoopie Goldberg plays a vagrant with a tumor in her head which is slowly killing her and Belushi plays a retard who's in search of his parents who have left him behind in hospital 14 years ago.

This is rather a drama and shows superior acting skills by both main characters. Definitely worth an oscar (but never nominated). So don't go thinking this is a family movie that you can watch during christmas eve !! It is NOT.

If you like James Belushi and Whoopi Goldberg then you'll love this comedy that's about 2 travelers.It's a must see!!

Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man," Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" and Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind" brilliantly portrayed mentally challenged characters, and each film won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. In this movie, Jim Belushi plays Homer, a mildly retarded man. He is portrayed as a pathetic caricature, not as a realistic character. Whoopie Goldberg plays Eddie, a patient that escaped from a mental institution, who is dying from an inoperable brain tumor. Spouting profanities and shooting clerks dead in a series of robberies, Eddie is one of the most unlikable characters ever created. Most disappointing of all, blonde bombshell Angelyne is only seen in a cameo lasting a few seconds. Jim Belushi and Whoopie Goldberg have no chemistry together, and their characters are too mismatched to make their growing friendship believable. This movie fails to create an emotional bond between the viewer and the characters. When Eddie is shot dead, the only thing I felt was relief, because I knew this film was finally coming to an end. "Homer And Eddie" should have won the Razzie Award for Worst Motion Picture Of The Year.

Don't get mistaken. It is NOT a comedy movie. Rather a road movie with a bitter taste to it. As Whoopie Goldberg plays a vagrant with a tumor in her head which is slowly killing her and Belushi plays a retard who's in search of his parents who have left him behind in hospital 14 years ago.

This is rather a drama and shows superior acting skills by both main characters. Definitely worth an oscar (but never nominated). So don't go thinking this is a family movie that you can watch during christmas eve !! It is NOT.

If you like James Belushi and Whoopi Goldberg then you'll love this comedy that's about 2 travelers.It's a must see!!

Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated in 1963. In this movie, directed by Meathead of All In The Family, justice is about to be served - finally. The guilty party is brought to trial by a competent attorney in front of a jury that is two thirds black. The ending of the movie is good, but it takes too long to get there. Most of the movie really isn't enjoyable.

Alec Baldwin stars as a lawyer in this true story of the re-trial of the murderer of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. When Evers' widow Whoopi Goldberg approaches the District Attorney's office about re-opening the case of her late husband's murder, Baldwin takes an interest as he considers the injustice and the suffering of the Evers' family. The first two trials, 25 years earlier, were declared mistrials, and the hunt begins for new evidence that might make a re-trial a viable option. Needless to say, much stands in the way for Baldwin, both professionally and personally as he takes an unpopular stand in a still racially divided Mississippi. Baldwin, a good actor that has appeared in too few good films, is strong in this role, although he is outshone by James Woods in a flashy performance as Byron de la Beckwith, the accused racist. Woods has a field day, in heavy makeup and padding, make the most of his moments on screen. Goldberg is very subdued, and I found her performance adequate, but a bit disappointing. Actually, the film itself is quite subdued, too. Director Rob Reiner is sloppy here, not establishing much in the way of pacing or tone, but he is fortunate that the subject of the film and the fact that it is true maintains the viewer's interest despite its shortcomings. Although I recommend the film, especially to those who enjoy true stories and stories with a courtroom bent, I do wish a better film had been made about this important case in civil rights history.

Even before there was a name for the civil rights movement of the 1960's, there was Medgar Evers, perhaps the first casualty of the movement. June 12, 1963, the very night that President John Kennedy made his landmark speech to the nation about equality of the races and his administration's pledge to the basic rights of all people, Evers took a mortal hit in his back outside his home in Jackson, Miss., from a bullet fired out of racism and powered by hate. Nearly 30 years later, after two mistrials with hung juries, Evers' suspected killer, avowed bigot and hate-mongerer Byron de la Beckwith, faces his third trial set up by an idealistic prosecutor, acted with restrained emotionality but an unshakeable sense of justice by Alec Baldwin. As Evers' widow, Whoppi Goldberg brings a sense of majestic class to the lady who never gave up in her own quest for justice. And James Woods is nothing less than superlative in his portrayal of the accused, and Woods holds nothing back in projecting the cockiness, the poisonous racism and lethal hatred the real character apparently carried for most of his life. Director Rob Reiner treats us here to a lesson in history that perhaps has not given Evers his just due as a pioneer in the march for civil rights, and Reiner treats this very serious topic with respect, dignity, sincerity and commitment. In real life, Beckwith died in prison and with him hopefully went one more voice for hate and division. But, because it took nearly three decades to bring Beckwith to justice, "Ghosts of Mississippi" asks the subtle question if justice delay isn't also justice denied. The film is a magnificent achievement!

This wasn't the best movie ever made, but it wasn't terrible, either. Amazon.com, you need to update your cast list! Vanessa Williams was the voice of Beauty, Gregory Hines was the voice of the Beast, Paul Winfield was the voice of Beauty's father, and Debbie Allen was the voice of her sister, Precious. If you're wondering what Robert Guillame's role was, he was the narrator! I think the person who was the voice of her brother, Tree, was named something like Treat Williams. Whoever did the cast list for this movie needs to pay better attention to the closing credits!

I don't know who reviewed this video for Amazon, but they didn't pay very close attention to the ending. There's no housekeeper, there's no keys to the kingdom, and Beauty and the former Beast don't live forever. However, the narrator does say that Beauty's father comes to live with them, the former Beast is a prince, and they all live happily ever after. This version of Beauty and the Beast isn't as beautiful a movie as Disney's, but it's a lot closer to the original story. The songs are a lot of fun, the Beast's servants are pretty funny, and the Beast himself has a great sense of humor.

This is one bizarre piece of work! Experimental film at its zenith(or nadir depending on your point of view.) In varying spots, I'd agree with both arguments. On the minus side, all the action takes place more or less on one set and it's ALL Whoopi's show and Whoopi's show alone with very little interaction with anyone else other than her phone. It gets very claustrophobic very fast. One definitely feels like a voyeur before the first 20 minutes are done. It really is easy to see why this movie failed so disastrously commercially. It's not easy to sit through.
Your opinion of Whoopi will pretty much dictate whether or not you like this. From as objective a standpoint as I can get away with, she gives a dynamite performance with some not always dynamite material. Her character Vashti Blue is definitely a couple of ribs short of a barbecue, but Whoopi resisted the urge to go over the top and turn it into a grotesque caricature. She's at turns funny, off-the-wall, touching, and ultimately pathetic.
And check out that ending! Disturbing is hardly the word!
While I wouldn't discourage anyone from seeing this I wouldn't recommend it wildly either. It's been roundly trashed by critics, the public and even Whoopi herself(she sued to keep it from being released). I've seen it half a dozen times and it still gets me. You could even call it one of my guilty pleasures. I'm of the opinion that Whoopi. despite the oscar, a previous nomination, and countless other honors turns in probably her finest performance here. Katharine Hepburn would be hard-pressed to make this character symapthetic or even believable, but Whoopi pulls it off.
Check it out-let your own taste decide.

This movie was hilarious!!! Whoopie is very good at playing someone who is clinically insane!!!
I assure you the ending is a suprise and is worth your while. Apart from the language this movie comes highly recommended by me to those of you that apprieciate tasteless comedic monologs!!

Just when you thought it was safe to watch television, this thing comes farting onto the screen. Basically, two cops in rubber suits try to take out a bunch of bad guys, and end up in supposed to be funny situations. Kids may, as the editorial said, enjoy the dino. Other than that, pray that this thing is not still on the air when smellavision is invented.

If you saw the Dionosaur show that Henson did on TV, then you will enjoy this movie, and what's not to like about Whoopi, she makes anything bad good. So don't listen to the last reviewer, if you like Whoopi, buy this vhs, and I will look out for the DVD, as well. Whoopi you ROCK.

Just when you thought it was safe to watch television, this thing comes farting onto the screen. Basically, two cops in rubber suits try to take out a bunch of bad guys, and end up in supposed to be funny situations. Kids may, as the editorial said, enjoy the dino. Other than that, pray that this thing is not still on the air when smellavision is invented.

If you saw the Dionosaur show that Henson did on TV, then you will enjoy this movie, and what's not to like about Whoopi, she makes anything bad good. So don't listen to the last reviewer, if you like Whoopi, buy this vhs, and I will look out for the DVD, as well. Whoopi you ROCK.

Just when you thought it was safe to watch television, this thing comes farting onto the screen. Basically, two cops in rubber suits try to take out a bunch of bad guys, and end up in supposed to be funny situations. Kids may, as the editorial said, enjoy the dino. Other than that, pray that this thing is not still on the air when smellavision is invented.

If you saw the Dionosaur show that Henson did on TV, then you will enjoy this movie, and what's not to like about Whoopi, she makes anything bad good. So don't listen to the last reviewer, if you like Whoopi, buy this vhs, and I will look out for the DVD, as well. Whoopi you ROCK.

[Add a star if you love Whoopi Goldberg.]

OK, class. Once again. It's important to realize what our perceptions are going in to a movie like this before one starts judging it. My perception going in was that we have yet another sports fantasy from the Disney sports fantasy factory. These are the same people who didn't know to stop with The Bad News Bears. So, they gave us The Mighty Ducks, Little GIANTS, and Angels In The Outfield.

This time out of the box it's "the Bad News Bears play NBA Basketball". Subbing for the Bears are the New York Knicks. Believe me, it's definitely bad news to see Mark Jackson back in a Knick uniform. Anyway, these Knicks are hopelessly bad. They're in last place and they have no signs of getting better. However, every sports team, no matter how bad, has its loyal fans.

Meet Eddie Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg). Eddie is fanatical about the Knicks. She loves them. She loves them so much that she, a limo dispatcher, does play-by-play and commentary over the limo service's airwaves. Where Eddie's friend goes to Knick games to meet men, Eddie goes to see the game.

Well, the Knicks are so bad that they've been sold to a new owner, one Wild Bill Burgess (Frank Langella). Will Bill is one of those stereotypical Texan billionaires who does everything large. Langella plays him well, but I could have seen Dennis Weaver in this role. Anyway, Burgess takes a ride in from the airport in Eddie's limo, who is inexplicably driving that day. Eddie's been listening to the FAN (WFAN Sports Radio 66, NYC) and ESPN Sports Radio. Eddie hates the Knicks' coach, played by Dennis Farina; so much so that she calls up Burgess, who doing a radio call-in, without realizing that he's in the back seat behind the glass. Burgess spies Eddie at the game later and decides to fix the halftime "Honorary Coach" contest so that he can throw Eddie and Bailey (Farina) together.

Eddie sinks the requisite free-throw and we're off. Franklin and Bailey don't like each other. (Bailey doesn't like anybody.) When Eddie steps on the court to protest a call, the referee assesses the Knicks a technical foul and Bailey has Eddie thrown out of the Garden to howls of protest from the fans. Seeing this, owner Burgess conspires to get rid of Bailey and hire a new coach. Meanwhile, he can hire Eddie as a one-shot interim coach until the dirty deed is done.

Of course, the plot is convoluted and full of holes, but the movie could still be entertaining if there were any energy on the screen. For the most part, there is none. The only chemistry I enjoyed was that between Franklin and veteran player Nate Wilson (John Salley).

As a native New Yorker, I especially thought it irritating that the movie's producers split up the announcing team of Marv Albert and Walt Frazier. Although both men play themselves, Frazier plays a sports-talk host rather than his usual (and colorful) role as Knick radio analyst. Anyone who has heard Albert and Frazier work together knows what I mean.

As in all these Disney sports fantasies, the Knicks start playing better under Franklin's coaching, but there's further trouble ahead. Actually, there's so much plot in this movie, they could have loaned some to Twister.

In conclusion, I'd wait for this movie to come to cable unless you just like Whoopi Goldberg films.

[Originally written 3 June 1996]

The Story: Whoopi Goldberg plays a fan of the NY Knicks who wins a chance to coach for a day. It works so well that she gets hired.

The story is interesting and the movie starts out with lots of heart and humor. Then, two things happen to spoil it.

First, a scene is inserted (and it really feels like it was inserted, almost as an afterthought) wherein Whoopi Goldberg has a heated argument with the team owner, with profanity inserted in what seems a forced and contrived way. I've seen this in other movies (e.g., "Magic" starring Anthony Hopkins), and it looks like the profanity is inserted just to change the rating to grab the attention of teens, who go to the movies a lot.

Second, the film loses it's way and gets boring throughout much of the second half.

Ms. Goldberg, I hope you redo this movie and carry the heart and humor of the first half through the entire movie. It could be a 4-star or even a 5-star family movie.

This is a very enjoyable comedy, starring the irrepressible Whoopi Goldberg in the role of Edwina "Eddie" Franklin, the widow of a New York City police officer. Following in her late husband's footsteps, she coaches basketball for inner city kids. She is also the number one fan for the New York Knicks, a team that, despite the talent on it, can't seem to win a game. Eddie loves the team, no matter what, and can be seen high up in the rafters of every Knicks game, rabidly and raucously cheering them on.

When "Eddie" wins the honorary coach for the day contest at one of the Knicks' games, she manages to get thrown off the court by the head coach (Dennis Farina), when she protests a ref's call. This causes the fans to go wild, chanting her name as she leaves the court. When the head coach for the Knicks gets fired by the team's owner, Wild Bill Burgess (Frank Langella in a ten gallon hat), he hires "Eddie" as an interim head coach, as it seems that fans of the Knicks love "Eddie" and respond to her very positively. After all, she was one of them. Burgess, however, has no expectations of "Eddie's" ability to coach the team. "Eddie", however, aims to do everything she can to bring the Knicks out of their slump. For her, this is a dream come true.

This is a feel good sort of movie. Whoopi is very funny , as she goes about setting right what has gone wrong with the team. Frank Langella is terrific as the deal making team owner whose folksy manner belies the fact that he has his eye on the bottom line. Dennis Farina is credible as the head coach with a mouth as big as his monumental ego. While the film is fairly predictable, it is quite enjoyable. The viewer is also treated to a few fun cameos by Donald Trump, sports announcer Marv Alpert, and former NBA star, Walt Frazier. If you are not a big fan of basketball, however, deduct one star from my rating.

I didnt like this tape at all.Most of these comedians i really like & i thought i would enjoy this tape.It shows a couple minutes at most of each ones stand up routine.Its more of a back stage interview with each comic.

This is a comical, laugh-out-loud, kind of stand up comedy that makes you want to watch it again and again.

I have seen this video several times and each time I like it even more. As a young female comic just starting out in the business, this tape has been an invaluable resource for me, not to mention highly entertaining. If you're looking for just another tape of stand-up then this isn't it. However, if you're interested in learning about female comics and looking at this male-dominated field from a female perspective, then I highly recommend Wise Cracks. It's several years old, but still very relevant. Some of the comics are professionals, many of whom have gained even more fame since the release of this film. Other comics are amateur, but all of them represent the very real world of women in comedy, from all levels of talent. Watch for the thinly veiled reference made by a pre-out Ellen regarding her sexual orientation. All this and more! Wise Cracks is a dumb title, but it's worth watching.