- Film:
- Robert Altman
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating:
- 5
Summary:
The Player is a terrific fly on the wall look into Hollywood studio life.
More DetailsAbout The Player (1992)Starring: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher
Directed by: Robert Altman
Runtime: 124 minutes
Studio: New Line Home Video
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDBReview: The Player
Hollywood. It’s one of the first words that comes to mind when you think of the film industry but what happens in the run up to all these films being released? Robert Altman’s The Player is something of a satire of the Hollywood studios but weaves an intriguing murder mystery together while having a host of Hollywood talent appearing in so many cameos that you’ll struggle to remember all of them.
The film’s focus is on Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) who works as a studio executive, listening to pitches from screenwriters and assessing whether they’re worth considering for films. Griffin’s is a tough job, having to wade through all the scripts (around 50,000) to yield just 12 goldmines a year! The arrival of story executive Larry Levy (Peter Gallagher) has Griffin sweating about his job prospects and even worse he’s started receiving threatening postcards from a screenwriter whose work he rejected.
The Player gives us full access to the Hollywood studio life, with long takes as Griffin listens to pitches from screenwriters while Hollywood talent hang around in cafes and restaurants talking movies and movies alone. In an ironic scene Griffin suggests talking about something other than films only to be greeted with silence, that’s how absorbed everyone is in this life. Griffin’s life is going pretty well until the arrival of Larry Levy. The arrival of sinister postcards leads him to suspect David Kahane (Vincent D’Onofrio). Griffin goes to David’s house to confront him only to sot Kahane’s girlfriend June (Great Scacchi) and fall for her immediately. Eventually tracking David down to a local cinema Griffin takes the writer for a few drinks. Things go wrong when David denies sending the postcards and mocks Griffin only for a fight to ensue in which David is murdered by Griffin! When Griffin receives another postcard he realises he’s killed the wrong man!
The Player is superb throughout. Robbins is a revelation as Griffin and the Hollywood mentality is utterly priceless. Every film that is pitched has to star Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts, while the cameos in this film include Burt Reynolds, Angelica Huston, Cher, Peter Falk, Jack Lemmon, Nick Nolte, Malcom McDowell to name just a few. The film has a brilliant twist at the end, one worth a good conversation with your friends and loved ones about what it all means. I was hesitant about a film with such critical acclaim but The Player ticks all the right boxes and is an absolute must-see.
The Player is a terrific fly on the wall look into Hollywood studio life. Griffin is a brilliant character, self-serving and nasty but equally weak and fearful when threatened. This is worth watching for the Hollywood talent alone including Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis appearing in a film Griffin has commissioned and dear me it looks awful! Terrific film.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 672 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.