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.
Theo Robertson
The info button described MISTRESS as thus " An earnest screenwriter sees his dream mangled in the Hollywood movie machine . Robert DeNiro is a crass moneyman demanding a role for his talentless mistress " Great I thought , this is going to be like THE KING OF COMEDY except it`s set in Hollyloot . Twenty minutes later DeNiro`s still not appeared and I`m aware of one thing - info buttons are never right The info button wasn`t so much wrong but it was rather misleading . DeNiro does indeed play a crass moneyman who is after a role for his mistress but she`s not exactly talentless . The plot mainly revolves around a failed director/screenwriter called Marvin who finds himself having to severly alter his script if he wants it produced , it`s a sort of satire/black comedy on the Hollyloot system of film making and once you get over the initial disappointment of it not being a Scorsese / DeNiro masterpiece it`s an enjoyable film , and one with a lot of scathing truth like a pitch is all down to presentation , casting is down to who the actress is sleeping with and a producer`s vulgarity is only matched by his ignorance . Also watch out for the line " This isn`t BATMAN 3 " which at that time hadn`t been produced yet . I guess someone made BATMAN 3 as a homage to MISTRESS ?
george.schmidt
MISTRESS (1992) *** Robert Wuhl, Robert De Niro, Martin Landau, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Danny Aiello, Eli Wallach, Jean Smart, Ernest Brognine (cameo). Bitingly funny satire about a struggling filmmaker wanting to make his dream script facing obstacles by each financial backer wanting their mistress in the film. Christopher Walken and Laurie Metcalf have small roles.
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.
AD
