Selling De Niro's face
Added 10/3/2009
I didn't bother renting this one based on the description. It looked a lot like they were just trying to sell a lousy movie by putting De Niros face on the cover. Based on the ratings I'm seeing, they probably were.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Don't Miss What Just Happened
Added 8/15/2009
Wow. If you only watched movies based on reviews, chances are you have spent a few months avoiding Barry Levinson's latest, WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
What are you missing?
- A great performance from Robert De Niro: That alone should make this movie worth watching for many people. De Niro has been a bit hit-and-miss with his movie choices lately, but as Hollywood producer Ben, De Niro is simply terrific. In ways both obvious and subtle, he manages to convey many layers of emotion as his character tries to bridge the worlds of creativity and commerce--even as he tries to come to terms with all the compromises, mistakes and challenges that have left him with two ex-wives and a lot of bills to pay. The fact that his two current projects are both collapsing around him only adds to the pressure. But, touchingly, the thing he seems to care most about is that his most recent wife (Robin Wright) is reupholstering his favorite (but no longer his) sofa.
- A great insider view of the movie industry: Sure, it's been done before. But I enjoyed this movie more than "The Player" and found it more compelling and fun than "Entourage.". Catherine Keener as the steely, numbers-oriented studio head? Superb. Michael Wincott as the British director who's both a recovering addict and an unyielding creative primadonna? Nailed it. Stanley Tucci as the screenwriter (and romantic rival) whose next movie is about a florist? Fantastic. John Turturro as the agent who's too scared to talk to his high-powered clients. Hilarious. Robin Wright Penn as the ex-wife who wants to move on but never can say goodbye? Heart-achingly believable. Kristin Stewart as the angst-ridden teen who may have an inappropriate lover? You know she can play that role, "Twilight" fans!
- Funny, self-deprecating cameos by Bruce Willis and Sean Penn: These two guys really get into the spirit of the movie. Willis, especially, seems to thrive on playing "Bruce Willis" as a cocky method actor who is willing to put a whole movie at risk rather than shave the bushy beard he's grown as an "artistic choice" for his character.
This is a movie where you have to get over the fact that, when we get to the Cannes Film Festival, Robert De Niro is just a face in the crowd while "Sean Penn" is a real-world movie star. Plus the fact that Sean Penn's real-life wife is the fictional ex-wife of a character played by De Niro. If you get to that point, though, you will probably be enjoying this movie as much as I did, and these things will barely register.
So ignore the reviews. (Except this one) Watch this movie with an open mind. If nothing else, you'll end up appreciating how hard it is for Hollywood to create a movie that leaves you so thoroughly entertained.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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No Wag the Dog
Added 7/4/2009
This film was worth a look but it's no "Wag The Dog" or "The Player". With this concept and this cast it should have been a classic movie.... but it ended up as only a lightweight unfortunately.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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a good book becomes a weak movie -- ain't that always the way?
Added 6/20/2009
Robert De NIro gives his most appealing, least mannered performance in years. Unfortunately, it's for this lifeless Hollywood satire (based on the fun memoirs of producer Art Linson) that has nothing new to say.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Some Funny Scenes - But Not Great
Added 6/10/2009
What Just Happened? is a dark comedy about a Hollywood producer (Robert De Niro) who is in a deep rut. The film that he just finished (with Sean Penn) appears to be a bomb and the film that he is preparing to start is in big trouble because its star (Bruce Willis) is fat, bearded, and arrogant. On top of that, De Niro's personal life is falling apart.
The film has some funny scenes. This is Hollywood poking fun at itself. It reminded me a little bit of Get Shorty because that movie has a similar theme. As many reviewers pointed out, however, What Just Happened? doesn't seem all that fresh because there are many movies in which Hollywood makes fun of itself.
Another problem is that there are many, many "loose threads" at the end of this film. The film develops several storylines. One, De Niro's 17-year-old daughter supposedly had an affair with one of his friends. Two, De Niro is trying to work things out with his ex-wife. Three, Bruce Willis is represented by an agent who is so nervous from dealing with him that the agent has horrible stomach problems. Amazingly, none of these stories is brought to a decent conclusion.
What Just Happened? is OK. There are some good laughs. But it has several shortcomings.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Selling De Niro's face
Added 10/3/2009
I didn't bother renting this one based on the description. It looked a lot like they were just trying to sell a lousy movie by putting De Niros face on the cover. Based on the ratings I'm seeing, they probably were.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Don't Miss What Just Happened
Added 8/15/2009
Wow. If you only watched movies based on reviews, chances are you have spent a few months avoiding Barry Levinson's latest, WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
What are you missing?
- A great performance from Robert De Niro: That alone should make this movie worth watching for many people. De Niro has been a bit hit-and-miss with his movie choices lately, but as Hollywood producer Ben, De Niro is simply terrific. In ways both obvious and subtle, he manages to convey many layers of emotion as his character tries to bridge the worlds of creativity and commerce--even as he tries to come to terms with all the compromises, mistakes and challenges that have left him with two ex-wives and a lot of bills to pay. The fact that his two current projects are both collapsing around him only adds to the pressure. But, touchingly, the thing he seems to care most about is that his most recent wife (Robin Wright) is reupholstering his favorite (but no longer his) sofa.
- A great insider view of the movie industry: Sure, it's been done before. But I enjoyed this movie more than "The Player" and found it more compelling and fun than "Entourage.". Catherine Keener as the steely, numbers-oriented studio head? Superb. Michael Wincott as the British director who's both a recovering addict and an unyielding creative primadonna? Nailed it. Stanley Tucci as the screenwriter (and romantic rival) whose next movie is about a florist? Fantastic. John Turturro as the agent who's too scared to talk to his high-powered clients. Hilarious. Robin Wright Penn as the ex-wife who wants to move on but never can say goodbye? Heart-achingly believable. Kristin Stewart as the angst-ridden teen who may have an inappropriate lover? You know she can play that role, "Twilight" fans!
- Funny, self-deprecating cameos by Bruce Willis and Sean Penn: These two guys really get into the spirit of the movie. Willis, especially, seems to thrive on playing "Bruce Willis" as a cocky method actor who is willing to put a whole movie at risk rather than shave the bushy beard he's grown as an "artistic choice" for his character.
This is a movie where you have to get over the fact that, when we get to the Cannes Film Festival, Robert De Niro is just a face in the crowd while "Sean Penn" is a real-world movie star. Plus the fact that Sean Penn's real-life wife is the fictional ex-wife of a character played by De Niro. If you get to that point, though, you will probably be enjoying this movie as much as I did, and these things will barely register.
So ignore the reviews. (Except this one) Watch this movie with an open mind. If nothing else, you'll end up appreciating how hard it is for Hollywood to create a movie that leaves you so thoroughly entertained.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
No Wag the Dog
Added 7/4/2009
This film was worth a look but it's no "Wag The Dog" or "The Player". With this concept and this cast it should have been a classic movie.... but it ended up as only a lightweight unfortunately.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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