Eddie (1996)

Coincidences lead to the New York Knicks, getting its loudest fan, Edwina "Eddie" Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg), as coach. Season victory?

Director:

Steve Rash

Writers:

Steve Zacharias (story), Jeff Buhai (story)

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Langella, Dennis Farina

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Eddie
Frank Langella	...	Wild Bill Burgess
Dennis Farina	...	Coach Bailey
Richard Jenkins	...	Assistant Coach Zimmer
Lisa Ann Walter	...	Claudine
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Joe Nader
Troy Byer	...	Beth Hastings (as Troy Beyer)
John Salley	...	Nate Wilson
Rick Fox	...	Terry Hastings
Malik Sealy	...	Stacy Patton
Mark Jackson	...	Darren Taylor
Dwayne Schintzius	...	Ivan Radovadovitch
Greg Ostertag	...	Joe Sparks
Vernel Singleton	...	Jamal Duncan
Marv Albert	...	Marv Albert

Storyline

Edwina "Eddie" Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg) is a New York City limousine driver and a fanatical follower of the New York Knicks professional basketball team. The team is struggling with a mediocre record when, in mid-season, "Wild Bill" Burgess (Frank Langella), the new owner, as a public relations gimmick, stages an "honorary coach" contest, which Eddie wins. The fans love it, so "Wild Bill" fires the coach and hires her. She takes the bunch of overpaid prima donnas that make up the team and turns them around. But the owner hopes to move the team, now the darling of the New York City fans, to St. Louis. He may own the team, but it belongs to the city and the fans.

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Plot Keywords:

limousine | limousine driver | new york city | horse | car radio | 

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Taglines:

The Newest Coach In The NBA Has Got The Knicks Right Where She Wants Them.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Cleveland Cavs uniforms were the only visiting teams uniforms who did not accurately match those of their true to life uniforms.

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Goofs

When the Knicks are winning, Eddie comes out in her new Armani suit about three games earlier than its debut.

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Quotes

Ivan Radovadovitch: [Ivan is doing a commercial] Ivan learn important English words like "renegotiate," "eliminate salary cap," and "union lockout."
[the respective words appear on screen]
Ivan Radovadovitch: That is why I am Hooked on Phonics.
[Ivan turns to the camera holds up a box saying "Hooked on Phonics" as the phone number appears on screen]

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Connections

Featured in Coolio: It's All the Way Live (Now) (1996)

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Soundtracks

Skills
Written and Produced by Richard "G", Fredwreck Nassar and Stanley Clarke
Performed by Stanley Clarke
Courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

Not a great film but enjoyable stuff for basketball fans

When the New York Knicks are in the middle of a really poor run when they are purchased by a new owner, Wild Bill Burgess. In an attempt to get the fans into the Garden, he arranges a `honorary coach' contest which fan Eddie Franklin wins. She takes to the bench pushing Coach Bailey's patience to breaking point. When Wild Bill sees the fans react to Eddie he lets Bailey walk and gives her the job. When she turns the losing streak around the team starts to change but what is Wild Bill's financial plan for the Knicks?

As a Knicks fan I am used to seeing them play rubbish and `snatch defeat from the jaws of victory' so I didn't think it would hurt to watch this film – at least in this fictional film they stand a chance of a playoff berth! The plot is quite silly in essence, and very unlikely but it is used well to create jokes and good basketball action. The jokes are a mix of Goldberg's usual stuff as well as New York & NBA in-jokes. The Goldberg stuff is OK if you like her, I always liked her smart mouth so I enjoyed it.

The in-jokes and cameos also help the film. Be it Letterman, the Mayor or a host of NBA stars, the film is carried by these until it realises that it needs to get an actual plot to finish on! At one point I feared a romantic interest but was happy to see that dropped and a plot about Wild Bill's plans brought into play instead. This isn't great but it does OK and provides a good enough framework for Goldberg's wise mouth and lots of NBA cameos! The cast is deep in players, some knicks, most not, some knicks-to-be! Johnson, Jackson, Rodman, Patton, Mouges, Rick Fox and so on, they all play a good part in the film and the `oh look it's' effect helps keep the interest.

Of course many jokes do fall flat and the overall narrative is pretty weak, but the film is a fun diversion. As a knicks fan I did enjoy it on that level but I also felt it wasn't a bad way to spend 90 minutes. It has a watchable energy and is worth seeing if you like basketball and are in an undemanding mood.

Details

Official Sites:

Movie Web

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

31 May 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eddie

Filming Locations:

Charlotte Coliseum - 100 Paul Buck Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,041,972, 2 June 1996

Gross USA:

$31,387,164

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,387,164

Company Credits

Production Co:

Permut Presentations, Hollywood Pictures, Island Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1