Film Review #130: The Player
With prices for cinema tickets now reaching ridiculous heights it’s not often I will treat myself to a new release unless it’s something I simply cannot wait for. Instead, I’m happy to content myself with a cheap DVD or a film on TV which may have slipped through my critical net and, believe me, there have been far too many. Whether the films featured here are recent or old I’ll still be providing my honest opinion on them and, with the benefit of hindsight in many cases, may offer a slightly different take to contemporary reviewers.
The Player (1992)
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 see Kahane’s girlfriend June (Greta 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!
Griffin soon gets to know June and it doesn’t take long for a relationship to begin with Griffin gladly forsaking his current girlfriend Bonnie (Cynthia Stevenson). The studio chief of security Walter Stuckel (Fred Ward) leaves Griffin very worried when he informs him that Detectives Avery (Whoopi Goldberg) and DeLongpre (Lyle Lovett) wish to speak with him about the murder of David as Griffin is reportedly the last person to have seen him alive. Things are not looking great for Griffin. A murder suspect, dating the murder victim’s girlfriend and facing the prospect of losing his job as well. How can he possibly emerge from these crises smelling of roses? Perhaps the pitch for a film called Habeas Corpus is the answer.
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: 10/10
Living in Yorkshire, UK, married to Donna and playing frazzled Dad to six cats! I'm the author of fantasy novel Fezariu's Epiphany and I'm currently working on my second book, A World Apart.
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I haven’t watched the movie yet. But I think this is the best idea to spend another great bonding with friends and family after sending the not so good Valentine’s day yesterday! Thanks for sharing the movie review.
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Twitter: ronald
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This movie is really great, the main story of this is that weaves an intriguing murder mystery that make the movie popular.
Agreed. Really enjoyed this one. Worth all the fuss :)