I had known about the film Dolomite for a long time. When I was told about Dolemite Is My Name I was under the impression that this was a remake of the original film. I was wrong. Instead Dolemite Is My Name gives us an honest, even if brief glance into the life of Rudy Ray Moore.
The film begins with Rudy struggling through life working at a record store and doing comedy shows at night. The in store DJ refuses to play his music and he is far from the funniest person at the comedy shows. I fact, he isn't a featured act at all. He's simply there to buy time between singers, dancers and others.
After a night out with Friends Rudy gets discouraged about his career in comedy. He gets an idea and rushes out to a homeless camp. There he chats with the homeless people who tell him colorful stories in a style similar to Jamaican toasting. Rudy rewrites the stories and modifies the style to create a new character, Dolemite.
Initially he's stopped from stepping on stage in his new attire. He's allowed to go on under the condition that he doesn't try any new material. However, he goes into a Dolomite routine and the crowd goes wild. Soon Rudy is begging his aunt for money so he can release a comedy album. She finally gives in. Rudy begins to sell his albums independently at the record store.
They take off. Rudy is soon offered contracts to produce his new albums. Again, they shoot up the charts. After watching a comedy film The Front Page. While white viewers find the film hilarious, none of the black film goers laugh. That's where Rudy gets the idea to create a Dolemite film.
Rudy cashes in on future record royalties and lives on the film set. He calls in every favor he can get, relying on friends and college interns to help create the film. Then, nobody agrees to play it. That is, until he gets to Indianapolis. A radio DJ gives him a contact at a movie theater and let him know that the film can be released independently. After spending the last of his money on marketing he's surprised to see a massive turn out. You have to watch the film to know what happens next.
One thing about this film that I love is it truly does pay homage, not just to Rudy Ray Moore but Blaxploitation, Dolemite and many people who may have been overlooked in the past. For example, Lady Reed is a comedian and actress that appears in the Dolemite films. Before watching, I had no idea she was a comedian. D'Urville Martin played a much larger role than I originally knew. At the same time I was unaware that he had caused some issues on set. Which may be why he wasn't in subsequent Dolemite films.
They could have skipped the film premiere, but I'm glad they didn't. I assumed they would use clips from the original or not show anything at all. However, they recorded scenes from the original movie. Original costumes, dialogue and even fights. It gives an added layer of respect to the film. It shows that Eddie truly is a fan of Rudy's work.
Dolemite Is My Name is not the hard hitting biopic some people wanted. Nor is it the gut busting film that others wanted. It tows the line and it pays off. I honestly can't think of anything wrong with the film. In a film such as this you have to treat not only the characters but the actual people you're portraying with dignity and respect. Both where done here all while delivering an entertaining story. A perfect representation of art mimicking life.
You can check out some of my fiction at 12 AM Fiction or follow my web serial Exsanguinate and of course hear me on the Powerbomb Jutsu podcast.
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