EDITORIAL:
PEOPLE
A Jamie of All Trades
----------------------------
by gerald poindexter
 Add
one more “x” to his last name and you’ll find
that rare area of the entertainment business where Jamie Foxx hasn’t
made an impact. Otherwise, the multi-talented performer has all
the mainstream bases covered: stage, screen, television and music.
When it comes down to it, the question he has to face when considering
all his career options is, “What to do?”
“All of it,” the comedian-actor-singer-Coors pitchman
answers confidently. But most immediately, Foxx, 33, is focused
on laughs, pure and simple. That’s the impetus of his recent
stand-up comedy performances.
“It’s all going down,” he says. “I’ve
got a gang of jokes. Basically, I’m taking a page from Richard
Pryor and talking about my life...how Hollywood changes people.
How it really changed me.”
Foxx’ “True Hollywood Story” got rolling at U.S.
International University in San Diego, where he majored in music,
and when he was still Eric Bishop from Terrell, Texas. He left school
early for L.A. and eventually landed in the ensemble of the popular
sketch comedy series “In Living Color.”
After four years and developing a solid fan base, he recorded the
independent album “Peep This,” and appeared in the big-screen
comedies “Booty Call” and “The Truth About Cats
and Dogs.” In 1996, he started a five-year run as the star
of the WB sitcom the “The Jamie Foxx Show.”
In concert, Foxx’ whose created some memorable characters
along the way, promises a few characterizations. Just don’t
expect Wanda, the lovable, overbearing and under-attractive female
character Foxx played on “In Loving Color.” He’ll
also move beyond personal issues to topical ones, meaning that anyone
and anything is fair game. Specifically, he recalls recently being
in Africa filming. During some downtime, Foxx and others took a
safari, with the comedian making unique observations that escape
most trained wildlife observers.
“Everybody was scared of a lion when he walked past...as if
he were Suge Knight just getting out of jail,” says Foxx,
fearlessly ribbing the recently sprung Death Row Records (now Tha
Row Records) president and alleged enforcer.
Such one-liners are welcome at a time when recently, on Saturday
Night Live, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, had to remind
the country that “It’s okay laugh.” Of course,
laughter at the expense of Suge Knight is...well, foolish, but understandable.
Is it okay to tell jokes related to September 11th?
“Of course, but respectfully” said Foxx. “It’d
be real messed up if you’re on a plane and you check around.
Everyone is American and you’re happy...until you hear ‘welcome
to flight 666.’ ”
Comedy, says Foxx, is about the need “to address what’s
really going on. When you address people’s fears it’s
easy for them to be unfearful by laughing at them.”
But back to Foxx.
As his stand up routine will attest, Hollywood changed him from
being all funny, all the time. That came when he played the brash
rookie quarterback Willie Beamen in the tough-minded 1999 football
drama “Any Given Sunday,” co-starring Al Pacino and
directed by Oliver Stone. The movie grossed more than $75 million
dollars, putting Foxx on the media’s “it” lists
and on directors’ short lists.
Earlier this year, Foxx spent 2-1/2 months on location in South
Africa, Mozambique and Ghana, shooting “Ali” for director
Michael Mann. The epic biopic (opening December 7) starring Will
Smith details the life and times of Muhammad Ali. Foxx, naturally,
was tapped to play a multitasker, the pivotal role of Ali confidante,
advisor, motivator Drew “Bundini” Brown.
Now, not surprisingly, with such prestigious roles in the can, the
determining factor in the projects Foxx chooses is quality. This
should please those who remember watching his talents exceed lame
sitcom material (according to Foxx, “Oliver, detested my show.”).
And he could probably score other such unchallenging projects and
make millions more. But he hints that he won’t do that again.
He recalls, “On one project I took the easy route (for money),
and I thought ‘Why’d I do that?’” (Check
your local cable listings for the little-seen flicks “Bait”
and “Held Up”).
Give partial credit for
Foxx’ enlightenment and discretion to Stone’s demanding
styles of teaching and directing. Also give props to an influential
Foxx fan – Denzel Washington.
“He’s taught
me a lot about staying focused, “ said Foxx of the Oscar-winning
actor. “The most important thing is not the money, not the
fame – it’s the art. You want to leave art when you
leave this earth. Once you’ve made a little money, it turns
into another quest that says ‘Hey, I can really do something
here.’”
Foxx continues his stand up tour until November when he films a
performance for HBO. By then, the “Ali” buzz will be
full-throttle and the tale of the tape may include Oscar speculation,
similar to what he enjoyed for “Any Given Sunday.” Then
early next year he’ll complete his second CD of music, serve
as producer for an unsold TV legal drama, and appear in a movie
spoof about the fictitious long-lost, underappreciated twin brother
gold superstar Tiger Woods.
Like Foxx said, “It’s all going down.”
|
