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 New York Knicks home games were filmed at the Charlotte Coliseum, home of the Charlotte Hornets. For the final game, Hornets fans were told to cheer against the Hornets.

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Goofs

When Nate enters the game to replace Stacey Patton, he removes his jacket, throws it on the bench, and starts to remove his pants. When he gets to the huddle his pants are off and his jacket is back on. He takes the jacket off again.

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Quotes

Coach John Bailey: [during the pre-game pep talk] Let's remember we got a game to win! Where's Taylor?
Carl Zimmer: He's praying.
Coach John Bailey: Well, tell him to pray over here!
Carl Zimmer: Darren!
[Taylor joins the huddle]
Coach John Bailey: Come on, guys, let's go! Hastings! Hastings! Wake up! If you're open, take the jumper, if not, look down low for Ivan!
Ivan Radovadovitch: I-van.
Coach John Bailey: Whatever.
Ivan Radovadovitch: Ivan make basket.
Stacy Patton: Whoa, whoa, whoa, if Stacey Patton don't shoot, Stacey Patton don't play.
[...]

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Connections

References Knute Rockne All American (1940)

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Soundtracks

It's All the Way Live (Now)
Written by Fred Lewis and Coolio (as Artis Ivey, Jr.)
Produced by Wino and Brian "G", co-produced by
Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones
Remixed by Joey Gardner
Performed by Coolio featuring Lakeside
Courtesy of Tommy boy Records and of Intersound, Inc.

User Reviews

NBA all the way!

Eddie starring Whoppi Goldberg is a product of the tremendous interest generated by the game of Basketball in the 90s in the USA, mostly because of the jazz and excitement of the game and players like Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman etc who drew in large crowds and made the NBA big business.

The best feature about this film is it does not take itself seriously from the beginning. There fun poked at greedy players, foreign imports and egotistical coaches! The film itself is about a huge fan of the New York Knicks who becomes coach of the New York Knicks by becoming close to the new owner of the Knicks Wild Bill Burgess( Frank Langella)

The cameos in the film are plentiful and while MJ himself does not make an appearance it gives a funny insight into what its like to be on the court and what makes players tick. One shot of John Salley making a free throw is very striking and would send a shiver down any sports fan of any sport.

Its not a blue chips type basketball film, its a comedy/sports movie that is easy to watch and thats why i am giving it a 7!

P.S look out for a rare cameo from Leroy from Fame as a dancer!

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