Genre: Drama.
Studio:
Unknown (North America)/Storm Entertainment (Intl.)
Production Company:
Storm Entertainment/Carol Drive Productions.
Project Phase: In the Can.
Who's In It: Sean Penn; Robin Wright-Penn; Kevin Spacey; Chazz Palminteri; Meg Ryan; Garry Shandling; Anna Paquin (Donna).
Who's Making It: Anthony Drazan (Director; David Rabe (Screenwriter); Anthony Drazan, Richard Gladstein, David Hamburger (Producers); Chang Wei (Director of Photography); based on the play by David Rabe.
Premise: Three desperate Hollywood wannabes in modern-day Malibu struggle to define themselves in relation to the women they love, their careers and each other.
Release Date: December 25, 1998.
Rumors: Unknown.
Sccop Feedback:
[Page drafted and submitted by 'Deadpool'.]
December 29, 1997... Shooting began December 8th in and around San Francisco and L.A. [Scoop by 'Deadpool'.]
August 18, 1998... The picture is scheduled to be released on December 25, 1998. [Submitted by 'C'.]
October 25, 1998... Some interesting comments from this scooper: "Well most reviews are saying its a good movie but not even half as good as the play. Though every critic has said that the performance that sean penn is playing is unbelievable and looks like he will get his MUCH deserved Oscar! He already won the venice film festival best actor award. That award was the ONLY won by an american film this year at the festival!" [Comments sent in by 'lordarock']
November 3, 1998... Our first review is in!
"Talk, talk talk. This is the talkiest movie in I don't know how long! Geez!
"Eddie (Sean Penn) and Mickey (Kevin Spacey) are two casting directors in Hollywood who share a house in the hills. They are both straight. Mickey bedded down Eddie's girlfriend Darlene (Robin Wright-Penn) and is none to happy about it. So Eddie whines and makes philosophical speeches.
"Later, neanderthalic Phil (Chazz Palminteri) comes around to hang out. He's an actor who likes to hit women. He's stupid, but very deep.
"These three guys are pontificating when Artie (Garry Shandling) comes with a gift. Her name is Donna (Anna Paquin) and she's a sixteen year old slut. Phil doesn't like the fact that she's still there when he returns the next day. In a long speech, he explains why the psudoprogressive left hates heterosexuality and headbutts her. He'd rather watch the football game and she's just sooooo distracting.
"Later, the guys invite Bonnie (Meg Ryan), the exotic dancer and sex-fiend to cheer poor Phil up. He chucks her out of her car in a most cartoony sort of Way. She returns to complain to Eddie, who whines and whines.
"The acting in this useless movie is spectacular. Everybody gives there all, and we've got Oscar-caliber performances from pretty much everybody. Only the script drones on and on and none of the characters are the least bit likable. Evil people doing evil things.
"There's no real reason to see this except to find out what some people thought was art in the mid-80s when the original play was first perfomed." [Reviewed by Eric Lurio.]