Swimming with Sharks (1994)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

George Huang

Writer:

George Huang (writer)

Release Date:

21 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Back Stabbing - Two Faced - Revenge

Plot:

A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Boss | Assistant | Movie Producer | Torture

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Kevin Spacey	...	Buddy Ackerman
Frank Whaley	...	Guy
Michelle Forbes	...	Dawn Lockard
Benicio Del Toro	...	Rex
T.E. Russell	...	Foster Kane
Roy Dotrice	...	Cyrus Miles
Matthew Flint	...	Manny
Patrick Fischler	...	Moe
Jerry Levine	...	Jack

Also Known As:

The Boss
The Buddy Factor

MPAA:

Rated R for some scenes of psychological/physical torture and pervasive strong language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Germany:16 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG (re-rating) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Cineville

Trivia:

Buddy Ackerman's character was inspired by real life movie mogul Joel Silver. He's a famous producer Huang used to work for.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Guy and Dawn are in the launderette, Dawn's collar alternates between being up and down.

Quotes:

Buddy: Get me packed up, I gotta get to services.
Guy: What services? Who died?
Buddy: No one... yet. It's Yom Kippur, you idiot.
Guy: Oh, I didn't realize Ackerman was a Jewish name.
Buddy: It's Jewish enough, especially when the big players are involved. Besides, I have a sudden need to atone for my sins.
[chuckles]

Movie Connections:

References Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Soundtrack:

GOOD ENOUGH

a misfortunate case of a great fim seen by a few "movie buffs"

Today, when kevin spacey has enough recognition and reputation that won't be tampered even if he'll star on "baywatch" for the rest of his life - my praises won't mean much. spacey is a superb actor, no doubt about it. but for frank whaley, appearences in the "right" films (natural born killers, born in the 4th of july, pulp fiction) as well as a undisputable talent did not turn him to a reknowned actor - which only goes to show that no matter how good you are, in most cases success is a luck depandant variable. On with the movie, the story of an ambitious youngster who wishes to engage in a key role of the film industry and starts to work as an assistant for a completely manipulating, ungreatful, demeaning movie producer george huang

(the writer and director) could come up with. the movie begins with guy (frank whaley) kidnapping buddy ackerman in his own house and concurrently whit guy's act of abuse to his hated boss, unfolds the story of a young kid with high hopes who was entangled both in the cynic world of his women loving, hair losing boss and in a relationship with a struggling movie producer - dawn (michelle forbes- now on "homicide - life on the streets"). the movie continues up to the point where guy has to decide which of those worlds to choose and now i won't add anything in fear of disclosing the end (and its unpredictable no matter which option you chose)

the movie is a complete delight and all i can say is - this may not be the best film you ever seen but it will sure leave enough of an impression to more than justify the two hours of your leisure time.

9 out of 10 in my scale