Clevercell Very disappointing...

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Micransix Crappy film

Takeshi-K The movie is actually fairly dull, not that funny, with kooky characters that are just kooky and not that interesting. That said, it makes an important statement about Hollywood and Hollywood screen writing.The consensus is that this film accurately explains the hellish environment a Hollywood screenwriter goes through in trying to chase their dreams. I've read a couple of biographies of famous writers and the issues they mention are shown in this film. While most people presume that everything we see in a movie is based on the many concrete choices made by its screenwriter or director, the reality is different. For a screenwriter either you never get the film made the way you want it, or you chase the paycheck and compromise with the money men.In this movie the money men are only willing to put up money for a film as long as their girlfriend is handed a juicy part. This of course means the main character, a screenwriter played by Bob Wuhl, has to decide to compromise or not to compromise. A complication exists in that his wife is in New York, trying to get their dreams of a restaurant up and running. Unfortunately this isn't a real fallback option, since she isn't his muse; the Hollywood dream is. Thus the concept "mistress" is multifaceted. Is it a reference to the girlfriends of the producers? Is it his wife? Is it Hollywood? Is it his dream of being a famous respected artist? The movie could have gone deeper and been a powerful satire, a wonderfully entertaining critique and an important cautionary tale. Regrettably its not as deep as all that and only succeeds at the latter. Perhaps this is in itself a statement. A very formulaic film done on purpose to explain why most Hollywood films are indeed formulaic? It feels like a precursor to Adaptation. Or am I trying to see things that aren't there?In any case while the whole experience is a little watered down, if you know someone that wants to be a screenwriter you should show them this film as it does lift the lid on the Hollywood dream and reveals how it really is, at least most of the time. For a better quality satire on the same topic watch The Player (1992).

moonspinner55 Barry Primus directed and co-wrote this 'Hollywood insider's comedy' which isn't very inside and is never terribly funny. Robert Wuhl is a struggling screenwriter who, with help from Martin Landau's over-the-hill movie producer, hopes to get his picture made with financial backing from three hot-tempered high rollers; the catch is, each investor wants his mistress to have a part in the film, and all three women prove very difficult to handle. Potentially interesting premise given over to foul-mouthed neurotics who are never as amusing as they're supposed to be. Wuhl, an actor of quicksilver comedic timing, thanklessly plays the incredulous observer here, while the all-star supporting cast loudly plays up the material until the satirical edge flags and becomes cartoonish. Primus' direction is wobbly and uneven, though he gets some amusing facial expressions from Robert De Niro (who also co-produced, for reasons which are unclear). Shabbily edited, and with ungainly cinematography. *1/2 from ****

esbarnard This film has a few good moments. The story line about the director as an artist unable to overcome the devastating end of his first try to film his masterpiece is convincing and moving. The rest of the plot about the producers and all their girlfriends is silly. But, as you work through this dichotomy, you realize what is happening - somewhat in the manner of "Adaptation," the journey of the script in question is echoed by the journey of the characters to produce the script. However, this film has none of the wit and pace of Adaptation. The characters are fairly one dimensional. Al Pacino does a shrill and annoying job of playing a shrill and annoying character.

George Carr Bob Wuhl, never acclaimed because he has little range, actually turns in an excellent performance as a screenwriter who pulls out all the stops to get his script filmed. Martin Landau is his producer, and the money men they find, one of whom is Robert DeNiro in a wonderful role, all want him to cast their mistresses in the film. Although the film is slow at times, excellents performances all around make this worth seeing.