chf_2258
No, this movie was not vying for any major awards or trying to teach lessons about humanity. But if you want to get a mostly entertaining/mocking look at the making of a movie and the people involved you could do worse. Macy didn't quite pull off his witty, wise, and blithe (?) character but he is still fun. The rest of the cast hold their own as well(I've never seen much of LL but he was good). Along with the over-the-top characters(Soapdish comes to mind) you may enjoy the not so mainstream humor. I did and I'm sure I may have missed some of the jokes. So for a movie that I happened upon while surfing I was satisfied.
ichocolat
It would have been nice if there are other users who commented before me, so that I can just copy paste their comments and edit it, rather than having to write it myself. Haha Kidding, it would not be nice to read comments that you know you've read it somewhere else, makes it like something kinda like deja vu, no ? My point exactly. This film is original, and a refreshing watch, after being fed by the many films Hollywood churned out that more or less have the same storyline. This film is original, one has to watch it to the end (without pressing fast forward button, I might add) and felt good that the ending is good.I enjoyed the film very much, and even though it's not Oscar material, it's undeniably a good film. While I expect there are trolls lurking in the Internet, ready to discredit whatever good comments one make, I do not mind the least bit.Recommended watch, especially to those who want storyline that is different than the usual ones they usually watch on their telly.
hanekhw
I knew Macy was an excellent actor who seemed to have acquired all the attributes of a pariah (maybe even a rabid pariah) to the majors but I didn't know he could act AND write. The premise is really good (another Get Shorty) and he takes the viewer through all the bizarre machinations that certainly have a ring of truth and the twisted logic of the very twisted people in the movie business.I enjoyed the chemistry of Meg Ryan and Macy. They made it believable. A growing mutual respect after the initial round of game playing.It plays the ethnic clichés against each other and shows how ludicrous they are.The final message; if a good picture is actually created that process was most likely TOTALLY ACCIDENTAL...
John Cox
What happens when a washed-up movie producer, a rookie screenwriter, a newly converted black Jewish action star, and a tightly wound studio executive decide to make a movie? Meet Charlie Berns (William H. Macy), a veteran Hollywood movie producer whose suicidal tendencies have shaped his brazen and nearly invincible attitude. When his rookie screenwriter nephew hands him a script about Benjamin Disraeli, he decides to green light a $100 million Jewish movie deal without ever reading it. Enter the sharp-witted studio executive Deidre Hearn (Meg Ryan) who sees through Charlie's antics while simultaneously admiring his indifferent personality. Despite their loathing attitudes toward each other, Berns and Hearn lock in the movie deal by signing Bobby Mason (LL Cool J), a newly converted black Jewish action star. In this smart screwball satire, Charlie brashly begins creating a movie that is perceivably successful by Hollywood, but in no way follows his nephew's script. During the movie shoot in South Africa, money hungry thugs kidnap their star Mason and seemingly destroy their chances of finishing the movie. In an attempt to avoid the studio from shutting them down, the mismatched pair conspires to keep the cameras rolling at the studio's expense, and reluctantly fall in love in the process. The mischievous charm in this satire that inconspicuously pokes fun at Hollywood by revealing its stereotypes hinges on the wonderfully crackly Tracy-Hepburn chemistry between William Macy and Meg Ryan. Based on Peter Lefcourt's novel "The Deal", the irrational conduct of the characters in this independent film merge together creating an inside comedic look at the absurdity of Hollywood. Macy's apathetic performance is the thread that weaves together a satirical mood and emotion, evolving the perfect balance of comedy and romance. Amidst the chaos of trying to pull off one of the biggest hustles in Hollywood history, Charlie and Deidre discover that there is more to life than making the deal.
AD
