Swimming with Sharks - At 'Dem Flicks with Malcolm

As long as we recognize Lucas is washed up and most TV sucks, we'll all get along fine.
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Malcolm
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Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 1:04 pm
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Post by Malcolm »

Synopsis :
An up & coming writer/film school/Hollywood hopeful-type dude (Frank Whaley, of "Pulp Fiction" fame) lands a job as the personal ass't for one of the industry's biggest players (Kevin Spacey).

Review :
A film that slipped me by over a decade ago, I put in the queue years ago & it finally got its chance. Whoever the writer was had a serious ax to grind. His cynicism even approaches my level on a few occasions. Btw, no matter what anyone says or what the labels read, this is about as much a comedy as "Lost in Translation," though for different reasons.

Frank Whaley performs rather well as the reserved film school nerd that gets emotionally & mentally bitchslapped by a fucking evil movie executive (Spacey) who tries to show him how the biz really works. Lessons include pimping, getting screwed out of credit, & double-crossing everyone you know on a daily basis.

Oh, yeah, Ensign Ro (Michelle Forbes) is in there, trying to play the savvy, yet less evil producer that also gets screwed by Spacey. She just looks weird w\o the nose ridges.

Anyhoo, the film is nonchronological, which means you'll've to juggle two versions of Frank's character. The differences are marked & while I believe such transformations are possible, this one seems forced and unlikely at best. However, that's a choice that the writer made to break out his "fuck the world because the world fucked you" speech.

The ending is ballsy, I'll give it that. I might not like it, but it fits the tone of the film overall.

Verdict : 7 of 10. If you sincerely believe the worst of Hollywood & its vices, you'll at least see eye-to-eye w\ the director & writer. If you believe in the basic goodness of humanity, then you have no biz seeing this film.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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TPRJones
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Post by TPRJones »

I believe in the basic goodness of humanity, yet still liked this one quite a bit. I'd go 8 out of 10, as I was willing to believe the changes in Guy.
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Malcolm
Posts: 32040
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 1:04 pm
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Post by Malcolm »

TPRJones wrote:I believe in the basic goodness of humanity, yet still liked this one quite a bit. I'd go 8 out of 10, as I was willing to believe the changes in Guy.
I just couldn't make that leap w\o turning off a brain cell or two. It contradicts damn near all my instincts & intuition.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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