The Reviewer Asks "What Just Happened"

Barry Levinson's latest film, What Just Happened is a look inside the Hollywood movie machine, with Robert DeNiro as our guide. DeNiro plays Ben, a harried producer, who is trying to juggle 2 diametrically opposed problems on 2 films. One regarding final cut on a film starring Sean Penn with a drug addled, crazed director (Michael Wincott), who is desperate to keep his artistic integrity with an especially violent ending to his film, while the studio executive the ever wonderful (Catherine Keener) demands it be re-shot. Ben has to appease both sides and hopefully will get the outcome he wants. Meanwhile, a film that is about to shoot, has problems of its own, when a Grizzly Adams bearded Bruce Willis will not shave and threatens to destroy the whole production. Not to mention, while all this is happening, Ben is in therapy so that he and his ex wife (Robin Wright) can have a healthy break up.

This is a decent film that shows the life of a Hollywood producer and all his trials and tribulations. The story is based on the memoirs of producer Art Linson (famous for producing Fight Club, one of my favorite films I might add). The great ensemble cast also features John Turturro as a nerve addled agent with a stomach disorder. And Stanley Tucci rounds out the cast as a writer with a story nobody wants to make. Bruce Willis' role as a high maintenance actor, playing against type must've been fun to play. DeNiro of course does a masterful job with subtlety as the juggling producer. Sean Penn, plays Sean Penn, as we would expect, himself. Simple and honest. There are some good comedic moments in the film, especially with Turturro and DeNiro. I give What Just Happened 3 stars and is out now on dvd.