Eddie Murphy has a enormous talent that has been shown in big blockbuster comedies like Trading Places, 48 HRS., and Beverly Hills Cop. Those three movies jump-started his career in the movie business. Whether playing a streetwise hustler or a wise-cracking convict, Murphy does the job well. But, in 1989, Murphy wrote and directed a movie called Harlem Nights. My only question is since when did Eddie Murphy choose to direct? Well, to start off, let me explained to you what Harlem Nights is all about. The movie takes place in the 1930's in Harlem, where Murphy plays a nightclub owner and his guardian, played by Richard Pryor, who also owned the nightclub as well, deals with some gangsters that we've seen hundreds of times in period pictures. It's no wonder why great period movies that involved gangsters in the story are true to its own right. Harlem Nights doesn't match any great period picture that I've seen. One thing I will say is that Eddie Murphy, who is responsible for this movie, can't direct. Here is a actor, who is talented and has a very good sense of humor. But, why did he pick this project? Obviously enough, he didn't really care about directing this movie. All he wanted to know is where is the next party going to be. Another reason why Harlem Nights is not a good movie is the characters don't talk in 1930's language. Instead, they drop 4-letter words and 12-letter words and act very cruel to women. Even racism is even brought up in this movie. I think you can say that Harlem Nights put Eddie Murphy into a slump after his other film, The Golden Child, which I found interesting and fun, and that slump only lasted 7 years. After 7 years, he starred in The Nutty Professor, which got him out of his slump. Harlem Nights is probably one of the worst movies of 1989. It's unbearable and not funny. And one other thing, Richard Pryor is in the wrong movie. Redd Foxx also shouldn't be in this movie either. He and Pryor shouldn't even been in this mess. ★ 1 star.
Review of Harlem Nights
