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Amazon.com
Somebody once dubbed Hollywood "the Dream Factory"; What Just Happened aims to make sad, occasionally zany comedy of the proposition that unreality is the keynote of Hollywood as place, process, and lifestyle. Art Linson wrote it, and as producer of The Untouchables, Fight Club, Heat, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, et numerous al., he must know the territory. Trouble is, after Robert Altman's way-superior The Player (1992), several seasons of Entourage, and wraparound entertainment coverage on cable TV and the Internet, most of What Just Happened feels secondhand and superfluous. Robert De Niro gives a low-key comic performance as Ben, a seasoned producer being relegated to the edge of Tinseltown's Big Picture. The test screening of his latest movie was a disaster because his arty Cockney director (Michael Wincott, savoring a rare comic opportunity) insists on killing off not only hero Sean Penn but also, unforgivably, his dog. And Ben's next movie may not get made at all because Bruce Willis is adamant about playing his part with an outlandish beard the studio won't stand for. Meanwhile, our beleaguered protagonist is living in a soulless plastic-and-chrome apartment while supporting two ex-wives in their respective Houses Beautiful. The second wife (Robin Wright Penn) has lined up a divorce counselor to help them get on with their separate lives, even as Ben yearns for reconciliation.
What Just Happened re-teams De Niro with director Barry Levinson eleven years after Wag the Dog (1997), their surreal black comedy about Hollywood and Washington, different kinds of dream factory, collaborating on a politically expedient fiction and an unnecessary war. Nothing comparable is at stake here--though at one point studio boss Catherine Keener does evoke memories of President Lyndon Johnson issuing directives while perched on the commode. There are funny bits and deft touches from such redoubtable troupers as John Turturro--playing an agent terrified of talking to his clients--and Stanley Tucci, as a screenwriter who may be moving in on that wife Ben hopes to win back. However, Levinson's direction is so lackadaisical, there's barely a moment that doesn't nudge the whole enterprise toward the direct-to-video bin. --Richard T. Jameson
Product Description
A winningly sharp comedy about two nail-biting, back-stabbing, roller-coaster weeks in the world of a middle-aged Hollywood producer.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Justin Heath
Format:DVD
Director Barry Levinson hasn't had much luck lately - after Bandits, which was a good though not anything very noteworthy comedy caper, he had two colossal duds in a row- Envy and Man of the Year- which, despite an otherwise impressive host of films (i.e. Diner, Rainman, Sleepers, even Toys) could have threatened to throw him off track ala Rob Reiner. But in a way What Just Happened was relatable for Levinson, despite it being the stories of Art Linson, semi-famous producer who's had hits and misses throughout his career, and at the same time gave him some ample material for some sardonic, spot-on satire of the industry. It's not the Player, don't get me wrong, but it gives its winks and nods to the egomania, the preciousness of directors and stars, and how personal lives get caught up in the mix without getting too smug with us common moviegoers.
Probably the funniest, as sort of a near running gag, is the latest film that producer Ben (De Niro) is being test-screened for audiences; a rough cut of "Fiercly" starring Sean Penn (who, as with Bruce Willis, plays "Himself" in the film) disturbs the audience because, on top of a bleak end for its hero, a dog is killed on screen (this, for all the wrong reasons, is hysterical funny, if only for the deadpan reaction from DeNiro to the insanely negative response cards). The director, however, a British hipster (brilliantly played by Michael Wincott), doesn't take it lightly that he doesn't have final cut. This brings around what seems like a moment of levity midway... and then back to the start when it comes time for Cannes. On top of this is Willis's 'plot-line' involving a beard he won't shave off. It's almost like a slight reprisal of his part in Four Rooms, only put to a much bigger, aggrandizing maximum. Both of these, much like seeing certain characters in a Christopher Guest movie, elicit laughs anytime they're on screen.
And the rest of the movie is... still very good. Aside from some scenes where Levinson decides to rush things along via the speedy transitions, he provides a style that suits the feel of the material, of Ben trying to balance his personal struggles (an ex-wife he can't totally let go of, and his rebellious teen daughter with a secret) with the eternal BS of getting work done in an industry concerned, a lot more often than not, with the final dollar over artistic integrity. It's not quite reality TV, but it has that unpredictable, on-the-fly hand-held feeling all the same, which is a method much more effective used here than in Man of the Year. And De Niro is also surprisingly good (maybe not a surprise to some, but considering some of his hit-or-miss turns in recent fare), as he doesn't lay too low-key in the part. One can probably see De Niro having studied producers - not just Linson himself but others- for long stretches to get the right steps for each deliberate step in ego-maniacal Hollywood.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy some near classic self-conscious satire on an industry that deserves anything those in it can dish back out.
Probably the funniest, as sort of a near running gag, is the latest film that producer Ben (De Niro) is being test-screened for audiences; a rough cut of "Fiercly" starring Sean Penn (who, as with Bruce Willis, plays "Himself" in the film) disturbs the audience because, on top of a bleak end for its hero, a dog is killed on screen (this, for all the wrong reasons, is hysterical funny, if only for the deadpan reaction from DeNiro to the insanely negative response cards). The director, however, a British hipster (brilliantly played by Michael Wincott), doesn't take it lightly that he doesn't have final cut. This brings around what seems like a moment of levity midway... and then back to the start when it comes time for Cannes. On top of this is Willis's 'plot-line' involving a beard he won't shave off. It's almost like a slight reprisal of his part in Four Rooms, only put to a much bigger, aggrandizing maximum. Both of these, much like seeing certain characters in a Christopher Guest movie, elicit laughs anytime they're on screen.
And the rest of the movie is... still very good. Aside from some scenes where Levinson decides to rush things along via the speedy transitions, he provides a style that suits the feel of the material, of Ben trying to balance his personal struggles (an ex-wife he can't totally let go of, and his rebellious teen daughter with a secret) with the eternal BS of getting work done in an industry concerned, a lot more often than not, with the final dollar over artistic integrity. It's not quite reality TV, but it has that unpredictable, on-the-fly hand-held feeling all the same, which is a method much more effective used here than in Man of the Year. And De Niro is also surprisingly good (maybe not a surprise to some, but considering some of his hit-or-miss turns in recent fare), as he doesn't lay too low-key in the part. One can probably see De Niro having studied producers - not just Linson himself but others- for long stretches to get the right steps for each deliberate step in ego-maniacal Hollywood.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy some near classic self-conscious satire on an industry that deserves anything those in it can dish back out.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Since most audiences are not part of the Hollywood system, it's difficult to say how effective "What Just Happened" really is. While it's generally entertaining as a brooding comedy, director Barry Levinson and writer Art Linson (who adapted his own novel) have made film that seems less like a satire and more like a commentary, painting a picture so unflattering that it's likely to frighten aspiring filmmakers. Those of us not in the film industry--myself included--essentially have to take their word for it, and I find that a little problematic. Still, I was intrigued by the story, despite the fact that it meandered a little too much. I also appreciated the film's sense of humor, with industry references that are nicely balanced between the obvious and the subtle. Finally, I was fascinated by Levinson's willingness to poke fun at the very system he's relied on for many years; he, of course, knows more about it than I do, meaning I have no reason to doubt his methods.
The plot is basically a series of interconnecting subplots, each revolving around a fading Hollywood producer named Ben (Robert De Niro), who's saddled with troubled film projects and a chaotic personal life. One of the subplots begins with Ben at a preview screening for a Sean Penn film called "Fiercely." It doesn't go very well; not only is the film too long, it also ends with a dog being shot in the head. The moody British director, Jeremy Brunell (Michael Wincott), defends his decision to include that final scene, claiming that the dog's death is artistic and appropriate given the context of the story. A studio chief working for Ben, Lou Tarnow (Catherine Keener), insists that the ending be changed: "I've lost twenty-five million before," she muses, "and I'll lose twenty-five million again. But if you change the ending, I'll probably lose ten to fifteen million less." Ben goes along with it, knowing that a box office bomb will push him that much closer to the end of his career. Brunell's reaction to this is natural, if a little melodramatic. It will ultimately take a boatload of prescription pills and a break from sobriety for him to even consider reediting "Fiercely."
In another subplot, Ben is set to produce a new film starring Bruce Willis. But there's a problem: Willis has grown a beard, and he's put on some weight. He no longer looks like a leading man. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Ben, who knows that the picture will be shut down if Willis doesn't get back in shape. This in turn puts pressure on Willis' agent, Dick Bell (John Turturro), so fearful of his client that he often has severe stomach spasms. Rightly so--Willis is obstinate and downright hostile, pushing over wardrobe racks, knocking down tables, and pounding on doors at the slightest mention of his beard. I have no way of knowing how accurately this represents the real Bruce Willis, but I'll take it as an item of faith that he's playing a caricature of himself. I certainly hope this is the case; in the film, it eventually becomes clear that he's being difficult just for the sake of being difficult. There's really no point to what he's doing other than behaving like a prima donna.
The third subplot focuses on Ben's personal life, which involves two ex-wives, two young children, and an older daughter with problems most can't relate to. It's the weakest subplot because it's the least developed; we only meet his first ex-wife once, and her teenage daughter, Zoe (Kristen Stewart) appears so infrequently that I'm surprised she was included at all. Apparently, she had an encounter with an agent that committed suicide, which is a strange plot device in and of itself. We do, however, get a better idea of Ben's second wife, Kelly (Robin Wright Penn). Despite the fact that she and Ben are divorced, and despite the fact that they have unfinished business, they still have feelings for one another. Both immerse themselves in a special kind of couple's therapy, the kind that will hopefully allow them to separate as civilly as possible. But then Ben finds a man's sock under Kelly's bed, and he suspects it belongs to Scott Solomon (Stanley Tucci), who wrote the Bruce Willis film and is now working on a script that takes place in a flower shop. It seems it doesn't matter to Ben that he and Kelly are divorced; he still doesn't like the idea of her seeing another man.
Inevitably, there comes the climactic scene in which the final cut of "Fiercely" makes its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Will Jeremy Brunell stick to his guns and release a sure-fire failure, or will he bow to the whims of powerful producers and release a blockbuster? I obviously can't answer that. I can say that the very idea plays into the notion that Hollywood is a shallow industry that cares more about money than it does about art. The joke, of course, comes from the fact that few will see art in a dog getting its brains blown out. Is there a message hiding somewhere in this? I'm really not sure. I've seen a lot of what Hollywood produces, but that doesn't mean I understand how the system works. Ultimately, I can only recommend "What Just Happened" for what it presents on the surface; it's occasionally funny, the performances were decent, and Linson's dialogue was clever. For those of us who aren't in show business, well, we can only hope that Levinson knew what he was doing by making this movie.
The plot is basically a series of interconnecting subplots, each revolving around a fading Hollywood producer named Ben (Robert De Niro), who's saddled with troubled film projects and a chaotic personal life. One of the subplots begins with Ben at a preview screening for a Sean Penn film called "Fiercely." It doesn't go very well; not only is the film too long, it also ends with a dog being shot in the head. The moody British director, Jeremy Brunell (Michael Wincott), defends his decision to include that final scene, claiming that the dog's death is artistic and appropriate given the context of the story. A studio chief working for Ben, Lou Tarnow (Catherine Keener), insists that the ending be changed: "I've lost twenty-five million before," she muses, "and I'll lose twenty-five million again. But if you change the ending, I'll probably lose ten to fifteen million less." Ben goes along with it, knowing that a box office bomb will push him that much closer to the end of his career. Brunell's reaction to this is natural, if a little melodramatic. It will ultimately take a boatload of prescription pills and a break from sobriety for him to even consider reediting "Fiercely."
In another subplot, Ben is set to produce a new film starring Bruce Willis. But there's a problem: Willis has grown a beard, and he's put on some weight. He no longer looks like a leading man. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Ben, who knows that the picture will be shut down if Willis doesn't get back in shape. This in turn puts pressure on Willis' agent, Dick Bell (John Turturro), so fearful of his client that he often has severe stomach spasms. Rightly so--Willis is obstinate and downright hostile, pushing over wardrobe racks, knocking down tables, and pounding on doors at the slightest mention of his beard. I have no way of knowing how accurately this represents the real Bruce Willis, but I'll take it as an item of faith that he's playing a caricature of himself. I certainly hope this is the case; in the film, it eventually becomes clear that he's being difficult just for the sake of being difficult. There's really no point to what he's doing other than behaving like a prima donna.
The third subplot focuses on Ben's personal life, which involves two ex-wives, two young children, and an older daughter with problems most can't relate to. It's the weakest subplot because it's the least developed; we only meet his first ex-wife once, and her teenage daughter, Zoe (Kristen Stewart) appears so infrequently that I'm surprised she was included at all. Apparently, she had an encounter with an agent that committed suicide, which is a strange plot device in and of itself. We do, however, get a better idea of Ben's second wife, Kelly (Robin Wright Penn). Despite the fact that she and Ben are divorced, and despite the fact that they have unfinished business, they still have feelings for one another. Both immerse themselves in a special kind of couple's therapy, the kind that will hopefully allow them to separate as civilly as possible. But then Ben finds a man's sock under Kelly's bed, and he suspects it belongs to Scott Solomon (Stanley Tucci), who wrote the Bruce Willis film and is now working on a script that takes place in a flower shop. It seems it doesn't matter to Ben that he and Kelly are divorced; he still doesn't like the idea of her seeing another man.
Inevitably, there comes the climactic scene in which the final cut of "Fiercely" makes its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Will Jeremy Brunell stick to his guns and release a sure-fire failure, or will he bow to the whims of powerful producers and release a blockbuster? I obviously can't answer that. I can say that the very idea plays into the notion that Hollywood is a shallow industry that cares more about money than it does about art. The joke, of course, comes from the fact that few will see art in a dog getting its brains blown out. Is there a message hiding somewhere in this? I'm really not sure. I've seen a lot of what Hollywood produces, but that doesn't mean I understand how the system works. Ultimately, I can only recommend "What Just Happened" for what it presents on the surface; it's occasionally funny, the performances were decent, and Linson's dialogue was clever. For those of us who aren't in show business, well, we can only hope that Levinson knew what he was doing by making this movie.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Amazon Instant Video
I was surprised at some of the negative reviews here about a film I've seen at least 20 times. Based upon Art Linson's autobiographical book of the same name, the movie does a great job of binding disparate chapters into a cohesive story that - while it's in no way fun or pleasant - paints a painfully accurate picture of an industry that's full of money and egos. While there are many industry films out there, What Just Happened reveals the money-focused obsession of studios, the narcissism of actors and the pathological dedication of semi-sane directors. And by the way, Michael Wincott's character here and his film 'Fiercely' is really supposed to be David Fincher's Fight Club.
While admittedly it's more accessible to movie bores like me, I think there's enough wit and cleverness in the script to keep the casual viewer engaged. Robert De Niro is excellent as the producer under fire and there's a fine supporting cast of the likes of Stanley Tucci and Sean Pean who play their respective roles perfectly. A tip of the hat goes to Bruce Willis for an excellent self parody as the actor who threatens an entire production because he won't shave his beard. And Catherine Keener is fantastic as the unflinching studio head who will take final cut from a director if the dollar signs add up.
As someone who has flirted with the entertainment industry on various occasions, the bizarre situations posed in the movie strike a chord and remind you that Hollywood is about 10% product and 90% money, power and egos. What Just Happened is clever, insightful and well scripted and certainly worthy of higher praise than it's been receiving.
While admittedly it's more accessible to movie bores like me, I think there's enough wit and cleverness in the script to keep the casual viewer engaged. Robert De Niro is excellent as the producer under fire and there's a fine supporting cast of the likes of Stanley Tucci and Sean Pean who play their respective roles perfectly. A tip of the hat goes to Bruce Willis for an excellent self parody as the actor who threatens an entire production because he won't shave his beard. And Catherine Keener is fantastic as the unflinching studio head who will take final cut from a director if the dollar signs add up.
As someone who has flirted with the entertainment industry on various occasions, the bizarre situations posed in the movie strike a chord and remind you that Hollywood is about 10% product and 90% money, power and egos. What Just Happened is clever, insightful and well scripted and certainly worthy of higher praise than it's been receiving.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An acquired taste
This movie isn't for everybody. It isn't your standard comedy, drama, action, adventure, or other genres. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Gordon Ewasiuk
3.0 out of 5 stars
Its one of those movies.....
The movie was okay. I bought it cause Kristen Stewart was listed as being in the movie. I couldn't really get a handle on what the movie was about. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Gracie
5.0 out of 5 stars
"What Just Happened" (2008) is a good "behind the scenes" movie about...
"What Just Happened" (2008) is a good "behind the scenes" movie about Hollywood big shots.
I screened a used DVD of "What Just Happened" (2008) starring Robert DiNero... Read more
I screened a used DVD of "What Just Happened" (2008) starring Robert DiNero... Read more
Published 1 month ago by David R. Allen
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not worth the price.
It was free :(, and still not worth the price. Don't bother. The plot kept waiting for something to happen.
Published 2 months ago by Charles A. Thilking
3.0 out of 5 stars
De Niro can fix anything
Put Robert De Niro in any film and it makes it watchable. This film was not his best but certainly could have been worse. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pacific101
3.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Ending
The movie started well but ended poorly. There did not seem to be a true resolution for the main character's conflict.
Published 3 months ago by Kristie Campbell
1.0 out of 5 stars
What did I just watch
What did I just watch? whoever produced this movie needs to be shot. this was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Read more
Published 6 months ago by jopi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Let me get you a valium. Or do you prefer a Vodka instead?
This is a great movie showing the inside of the corrupt and really crazy world of Hollywood. Only De Niro could have made this movie. Nobody can touch him. Read more
Published 8 months ago by zeus
2.0 out of 5 stars
Redundant
rehash of the vapid and soulless community of Hollywood power players. I'm so tired of movies where the lead character answers his cell phone dozens of times. Read more
Published 11 months ago by mr. critic
2.0 out of 5 stars
Movie is confusing
I got this movie because of Kristen Stewart was acting in but I don't know I really didn't like it :/
Published 13 months ago by Steph Bella
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