Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 | |
| Year: | 1994 |
| Country of origin: | USA |
| Director: | George Huang |
| Genre: | Black comedy |
| Starring: | Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Michelle Forbes, Benicio Del Toro |
| Rating: | 4/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114594/ |
| Tagline: | Back Stabbing - Two Faced - Revenge |
| Favourite line: | "I told you, it's gotta be loud loud loud! The audience should feel their balls tremble, their ears should bleed!" |
A year before Spacey's major breakthrough movies, two in a row no less, The Usual Suspects and Se7en, Kev starred in this curio piece as Buddy Ackerman:
He's a high-flying Hollywood executive, who treats all around him with contempt and derision, and demands that his every whim is met.
His assistant, known only as Guy - he is never given a surname, presumably to reflect that this is just an ordinary guy, it could be anybdy essentially - suffers his tempers, his tirades, his unusual and excessive demands without complaint, all in the hope of securing his own big break. He has a project on going with Buddy and a producer named Dawn Lockard, played superbly by the ever reliable Michelle Forbes. He also happens to be in love with her, and they are pursuing a passionate relationship.
Eventually, inevitably, Guy snaps, and takes Buddy hostage, tying him up and beginning a process of torture than will culminate in a deep understanding of both his and his bosses motivations.
An interesting concept that, whilst never feeling entirely convincing, nevertheless manages to draw you in.
The cast are excellent all round, and Spacey's performance typicaly assured, though some of the dialogue he is issued with feels just a touch over the top, but I guess that's the point.
A satirical stab at the dark heart of Hollywood, this is never less than entertaining.
No comments:
Post a Comment