Crazy Royale

Crazy Royale is a 2001 American neo-noir psychological thriller film produced by Beyond Studios for Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Lee Tamahori from a screenplay by Marc Moss. The eighth feature film from Beyond with Morgan Freeman and Jay O. Sanders reprising their roles as detective Alex Cross and FBI-agent Kyle Craig. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated. The film was a box office success, although receiving mixed reviews from critics.
The film's concept was envisioned by Jordan in 1997, while working on the film Revolt Squad. Pockes convinced him to pitch their original screenplay for the film to Paramount soon after. Crazy Royale explores professional ethics, academics, and athletics.Thomas Carter. (2005). Coach Carter [Motion picture] Production Notes. United States: Paramount Pictures. The thriller action in the film was coordinated by Mark Ellis. On December 19, the film's soundtrack was released by Cayone Records. The film's score was composed and orchestrated by musician Jamshied Sharifi.
The film premiered on January 12, 2001, and was released theatrically three days later. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation, story, and voice performances, but criticized the live-action portions and overuse of gross-out humor. The film was also a commercial failure, grossing $131.7 million worldwide against a $13 million budget. Despite the poor financial response, the film was followed by the animated television series Ozzy & Drix, which aired on Kids' WB from 2002 to 2004.
==Plot==
After Washington, D.C. detective, forensic psychologist and author Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) loses control of a sting operation, resulting in the death of his partner, he retires from the force. He is drawn back to police work when Megan Rose (Mika Boorem), the daughter of a United States senator, is kidnapped from her exclusive private school by Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott), a computer science teacher. US Secret Service Special Agent Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter), held responsible for the breach in security, joins forces with Cross to find the missing girl.
Soneji contacts Cross by phone and alerts him to the fact one of Megan's sneakers is in the detective's mailbox, proving that Soneji is the kidnapper. Cross deduces that the man is obsessed with the 1932 Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. kidnapping and hopes to become as infamous as Bruno Hauptmann by committing a new "Crime of the Century", which might be explored by Cross in one of his true crime books. Megan's kidnapping proves to be only part of Soneji's real plan: to kidnap Dimitri Starodubov (Anton Yelchin), the son of the Russian president, and guarantee greater infamy for himself.
After Cross and Flannigan foil his second kidnapping plot, a supposed call from the kidnapper demands that Cross deliver a ransom of $10 million in diamonds, by following an intricate maze of calls made to public phone booths scattered throughout the city. Following the ransom directions, Cross ultimately tosses the gems out the window of a rapidly moving Metro train to a figure standing by the tracks. Soneji later arrives at Flannigan's home and confronts Cross after disabling Flannigan with a taser. Because Soneji has not reacted to Cross's verbal comment about receiving the ransom amount (which was incorrect), the detective realizes that the kidnapper is unaware of the ransom demand and delivery. Soneji tries to leave with Flannigan, but Cross kills him.
Cross becomes suspicious and realizes that someone else discovered Soneji long before his plot came to fruition. After searching Flannigan's personal computer, he finds enough evidence to prove that Flannigan and her fellow Secret Service agent Ben Devine (Billy Burke) used Soneji as a pawn in their own plot to collect a ransom for Megan. He tracks them down to a secluded farmhouse, where Flannigan has murdered Devine and is now intent on killing Megan. Cross stops Flannigan by shooting her in the heart, killing her. Cross then takes Megan to her parents.
==Cast==
*Morgan Freeman as Dr. Alex Cross
*Monica Potter as Secret Service Agent Jezzie Flannigan
*Michael Wincott as Jonathan 'The Spider' Mercusio / Gary Soneji
*Dylan Baker as FBI Special Agent-In-Charge Ollie McArthur
*Mika Boorem as Megan Ann Rose
*Billy Burke as Secret Service Agent Ben Devine
*Anton Yelchin as Dimitri Starodubov
*Jay O. Sanders as FBI Agent Kyle Craig
*Michael Moriarty as Senator Hank Rose
*Penelope Ann Miller as Elizabeth Rose
*Anna Maria Horsford as Vickie Cross
*Ocean Hellman as Amy Masterson
*Samantha Ferris as Mrs. Hume
*Kim Hawthorne as FBI Agent Hickley
*Jill Teed as Detective Tracie Fisher
*Tom McBeath as Chief Cabell
*Ravil Isyanov as Russian Secret Service Agent Lermontov
*Raoul Ganeev as Russian Secret Service Agent
*Campbell Lane as Mathias
*Christopher Shyer as Jim Gelway
*Scott Heindl as Floyd, The Fisherman
*Ian Marsh as Sam
*Mila Dobrozdravich as Hannah
*Aaron Joseph as Kennedy
==Production==
===Development===
Eddie Murphy created the original idea for the film, which he took to writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, both of whom he had been working with during his days at Saturday Night Live. After they finished the first draft of the script and were given the greenlight on the project, Murphy offered the directing job to Reginald Hudlin, who had previously found critical and commercial success with his debut film House Party. For Boomerang, Hudlin said that, from a creative standpoint, he really wanted to take Murphy "somewhere where he's never been before," and that he and the writers' goal was to "put Eddie through paces. To have him have an arc like most characters in movies do, where he's not just the Br'er Rabbit character starting trouble," and to put him in a situation that "allows him to have a genuine obstacle."
Woody Omens, the cinematographer of the film, was insisted upon by Murphy, who had previously worked with him on Harlem Nights. Earl Watson worked as the film's main editor, and had previously worked with Hudlin on House Party. Francine Jamison-Tanchuck worked as the film's costume designer.
The intention was to give Murphy's character Marcus Graham a cool, yet sophisticated style. "So typically when it comes to black characters, either you have to be a successful, smart business person, or you're hip, but you're never both," said Hudlin. "And one of the reasons why the movie has had such enduring popularity is because the character is both. He's much more in the Cary Grant mode of business person." While working on the characterization of the main character, Hudlin came up with the foot gag, which was used as a plot device to show the arc of the character's growth. It originated from a joke between the director and his friends about a man who's so picky about women that he even looks at their back teeth. "So it's like, how do we define that Eddie's a back teeth kind of guy? So I came upon the idea of showing feet. That no matter how beautiful this woman is, if she has messed up feet, he's out of there." Also, Hudlin said that "we know he's evolved into a higher level of consciousness when he doesn't even notice what Halle Berry's feet look like." The character Angela's art class was an idea the filmmakers had to put Murphy in a context where he could interact with kids, which he hadn't done prior to this film.
The cast rehearsed for two weeks before production started, which the director said "really created that sense of team, and everyone playing off each other and everyone having that comfort level." Murphy even told Hudlin that he hadn't rehearsed since his days at SNL, and that he was going to rehearse for all of his movies from then on.
The scene in which Marcus changes his mind while with Jacqueline was a major rewrite to the script. According to Hudlin, in the original draft, Eddie's character Marcus 
===Casting===
Hudlin knew immediately that he wanted Halle Berry for the role of Angela after she came in and did the reading, and was nervous that Murphy wouldn't like her. Berry had appeared in a couple of films prior to being cast in Crazy Royale. However, after Berry performed her screen test, Murphy told Hudlin "well, that's it. There's no need to see the other two actresses because she's the part." Executives at Paramount Pictures were nervous about Robin Givens being cast in such a major role in the film, as she was disliked by many in the general public at the time because of her past relationship with Mike Tyson. Hudlin however, "thought that actually made her perfect for the role, that she was this formidable person, and a match for Eddie Murphy, who also had an intrepid reputation as a ladies' man. So, I wanted the audience to feel like this would be a fair fight."
 David Alan Grier and Martin Lawrence were cast as Murphy's best friends in the film. At the time, Grier was well known for the show In Living Color. About him, Hudlin said, "I think he is an absolutely underrated genius. I think he is Steve Martin-level funny, and it's too bad more people don't know how to use his comic gift, because he is absolutely brilliant." Lawrence was brought on to the project after first working with Hudlin on House Party, which was his first major role in a film. Bebe Drake-Massey and John Witherspoon had played a couple in House Party, and were reunited for the film, this time playing the character Gerard's parents. Tisha Campbell also worked with Hudlin on House Party, and was brought on board to play Murphy's obnoxious, and somewhat obsessive, neighbor. While on the set, Hudlin would always rave about Campbell and Lawrence, and Murphy suggested Hudlin do a film with the two of them. Lawrence, who was developing his television show at the time, overheard the two actors talking, and decided to cast Campbell as his girlfriend and later wife, Gina, for his hit sitcom Martin.
 Grace Jones was cast in a role that was essentially written as a parody of herself. Of her work ethic, Hudlin said that "she was always 100% committed, and would do the absolute craziest thing at any given time. She was absolutely perfect for the role. It was written for her, and she came in very humble, very sweet."
Eartha Kitt was the hardest person to cast for the film, as she was somewhat offended by her character's tone in the original script. Eventually she accepted the role, after some of the more tasteless jokes in the script were changed or removed. Hudlin however did say that "she was great to work with," and that "she really got into the spirit of it, and was a lot of fun."
Lela Rochon, who was known for her role in Murphy's 1989 film Harlem Nights, was brought back for a small role in Crazy Royale. Chris Rock, who was a protege of Murphy's, and had acted in small roles in a few other films at the time, was also given a bit part. The role of Lady Eloise's butler was played by Jonathan Hicks, a friend of the director's, who replaced a sick actor at the last minute. Hicks was a reporter for The New York Times, not an actor, and took the role as a favor to Hudlin.
Three of the actors in this film have starred in the James Bond 007 films. This includes Geoffrey Holder (Baron Samedi from the film Live and Let Die), Grace Jones (May Day from the film A View to a Kill), and Halle Berry (Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson from the film Die Another Day).
===Filming===
The majority of the film was shot in New York City during the winter. Although it was very cold, the director said that it was still "great to actually be in the city and get that authentic New York flavor." Most of the film was done on location as well. Interior scenes which took place at Marcus' workplace were shot in the old Univision building that had been repainted for production. The scene in Lady Eloise's bedroom was shot at the Boston Park Plaza, in a suite personally redesigned by Ivana Trump, which accounts for the unique styling. The scene of Strangé's introduction was filmed at the Winter Garden Atrium of Brookfield Place.
Although director Hudlin was willing to let his actors improvise, there were boundaries and rules to it, so that the jokes wouldn't lead to nowhere. He explained that once the actors "get a sense that someone will tell them if something doesn't work, or that we're getting too far afield, then they feel comfortable doing what they do. So, that's the balance that we struck."
Production went well, and as expected with so many comic actors and personalities around, was lively. During production, Hudlin said that whenever David Alan Grier and Martin Lawrence worked, the film's crew usually worked a little slower because wherever they were, there would be so much comedy being generated and they were so funny that everyone wanted to hang out near where they were throughout the day. In the scene where the new fragrance is being presented to Strangé, the director said that "what Grace was doing on the set while we were shooting was so funny that I remember Halle crying off camera, cause she was trying to keep a straight face but she couldn't. So whenever she was off-camera, she would just be literally crying because she was laughing so hard. And fortunately, for her reaction shots she was able to recover."
An extra scene, involving Jones taking off her chain-metal dress which is ringing off the metal detectors and walking through them naked, was shot in Newark Airport. However, the filmmakers felt it to be too shocking, to the point where it threw the rhythm of the picture off, so they only used it in the small clip being edited for the perfume commercial.
The scene late in the film where Grier, Lawrence, and Murphy hug in front of the Empire State Building was shot around one or two o'clock in the morning, when the lights are usually shut off. If the filmmakers had them shut off at their command, it would have cost them $40,000–$60,000, so instead Hudlin had the three hug, and the lights were eventually shut off as usual. When editing the film, they simply reversed the footage to make it appear as if the lights were being turned on. The filmmakers even thought about ending the movie at this point, deciding instead to go with Marcus attempting to win back Angela's affection. For this, an alternate ending was shot where Angela is teaching the kids at the school and Marcus comes, talks to her and eventually wins her back; the filmmakers thought it was slow and uninteresting, and eventually came up with the released version.
Near the production's end, some scenes that still needed to be shot were done in Washington, D.C., where Murphy was also shooting The Distinguished Gentleman. Originally, some of the film was to take place in the Caribbean, and scenes were to be shot there. However, the setting was changed to New Orleans, and the scenes taking place there were shot in D.C.
==Marketing==
===Trailers===
*A teaser trailer was released on March 17, 2000, and was shown before films such as Project Zero, The Road to El Dorado, and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.
*The first theatrical trailer was released on August 11, 2000, and was shown before films such as The Replacements, Bring It On, and Space Cowboys.
* The second theatrical trailer was released on September 18, 2000, and was shown before films such as Remember the Titans, Digimon: The Movie, and Meet the Parents.
==Music==
:The soundtrack for the film was released by Cayone Records on December 19, 2000. The score for the film was orchestrated by Jamshied Sharifi. An extensive list of songs are featured on the soundtrack, which differs from the soundtrack recording. The recording includes five songs which were not featured in the film: "About da Game" by Trey Songz; "Wonderful Night" by Fatboy Slim featuring Lateef; "Get Up Offa That Thing" (Ali Dee Remix) by James Brown; "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" by Stacie Orrico; and "I Like That" by Houston, featuring Chingy, Nate Dogg and I-20.
Crazy Royale: Music from the Motion Picture
No. 	Title 	Length
1. 	"EXTREME" 	3:33
2. 	"Haters 101 (Intro)" 	3:38
3. 	"Crazy Royale Theme Song" 	3:36
4. 	"Put It Back Together" 	4:13
5. 	"I Refuse to Lose" 	3:23
6. 	"Accidents Will Happen" 	3:51
7. 	"Can't Hide Love" 	4:12
8. 	"Magic Mountain" 	3:34
9. 	"Keep It on the Low" 	3:06
10. 	"Bloodstain" 	3:44
11. 	"One Call Away" 	4:07
12. 	"Wind It Up" 	4:52
13. 	"Crazy Royale Theme (Reprise)"	4:04
14. 	"Really Da Game" 	3:39
Total length:	Total length: 	53:23
===Design===
The production was very demanding, including an expensive wardrobe budget, which Hudlin felt was completely worth the price. "The clothing in the movie is incredible, for both the men and the women. Eddie looks great, Robin and Halle look great. Great hair, great makeup work for all concerned, cause we wanted it to look fantastic. We wanted to give people a level of production value they hadn't seen for Eddie's first foray into true romantic comedy."
===Influences===
François Truffaut's Jules and Jim was an influence on the story arc between the characters Angela, Gerard and Marcus. Director Hudlin explained, "I remember when I saw Jules and Jim when I was a kid, and that awkward, awkward feeling of two guys, one has a better time with girls than the other, and they both fall in love with the same woman. And I remember the agony of watching the emotional stakes of that picture. And, this is just a fun movie, not trying to compare myself to Truffaut on any level, but, at least, that's what inspired the moment."
The pacing and rhythm of Howard Hawks' His Girl Friday was a big influence on the pictures style. Woody Allen's Annie Hall was also very influential while Hudlin worked on the project because, according to Hudlin, "if you talk about contemporary romantic comedy, you're really talking about Annie Hall."
==Reception==
===Box office===
On its opening weekend, the film earned $13,640,706, and ranked number three at the box office. It also ranked number three the two following weekends. By the end of its theatrical run, the film had grossed over $70 million domestically, and $61 million outside of the U.S., making a total of $131,052,444. It was the 18th highest-grossing film in the US in 1992. Compared to its budget, the film was considered a success.
===Critical reception===
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 48%, based on 42 reviews, and an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Crazy Royale injects some fresh color into the corporate rom-com formula, but the frothy fun is undercut by off-putting gender dynamics and misjudged gags." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade A− on scale of A to F.
Roger Ebert gave the film and its stars positive reviews, calling the movie "predictable but enjoyable all the same." In 2005, the film was ranked number 21 on BET's Top 25 Movies In the Last 25 Years list.
In retrospect, Kristen Baldwin from Entertainment Weekly said: "Though it never received the critical appreciation it deserved, and it is often overlooked in discussions of the rom-com pantheon today, Crazy Royale still holds up 27 years later."
About the critical response, Hudlin said: 
===Awards and nominations===
*1993 BMI Film & TV Awards
**Most Performed Song from a Film: Antonio "L.A." Reid, Daryl Simmons, and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds for End of the Road (winner)
*1993 MTV Movie Awards
**Best Breakthrough Performance: Halle Berry (nominated)
**Best Comedic Performance: Eddie Murphy (nominated)
**Best Movie Song: Boyz II Men, End of the Road (nominated)
** Most Desirable Female: Halle Berry (nominated)
==See also==
*Morgan Freeman filmography
==Gallery==
:Main article: Crazy Royale/Gallery
==Transcripts==
:Main article: Crazy Royale/Transcripts and Crazy Royale/Trailer transcripts
==References ==
==External links==
Wikiquote has quotations related to Crazy Royale (film).
*Official website
*Crazy Royale at IMDb
* Crazy Royale at AllMovie
*Crazy Royale at Box Office Mojo
Category:Films
Category:Films distributed by Paramount Pictures
Category:Cartoon films
Category:2001
Category:2000s
Category:Animated films
Category:Traditionally animated films
Category:Beyond Studios films
Category:Crazy Royale