- Actors: Ryan O'Neal, Coolio, Chuck D., Eric Idle, Richard Jeni
- Directors: Alan Smithee, Arthur Hiller
- Writers: Joe Eszterhas
- Producers: Andrew G. Vajna, Ben Myron, Fred C. Caruso, Joe Eszterhas, Michael R. Sloan
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Walt Disney Video
- DVD Release Date: 6 April 2004
- Run Time: 86 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00008L3T0
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 122,612 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
Product details |
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Subtitled An Alan Smithee Film (referring to a long-standing pseudonym for a director who disowns a film), this 1998 satire is notable chiefly for having the same thing happen in real life, as director Arthur Hiller (Love Story) took his name off the picture after clashing with screenwriter and producer Joe Eszterhas(Showgirls and Basic Instinct). The plot of Eszterhas's farce has to do with a filmmaker who really is named Alan Smithee, played by Eric Idle (Monty Python's The Meaning of Life). After signing on to direct a big-budget blockbuster at the behest of a sleazy producer (Ryan O'Neal), Smithee realises he has lost control of the film and decides to remove his name and publicly destroy the project. Along the way he encounters a host of celebrities in cameos, including the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Sylvester Stallone, Jackie Chan and rappers Chuck D and Coolio, all of whom become involved in Smithee's doomed film. Meant as an insider's take on the machinations of Hollywood from one of its most prominent screenwriters, Burn Hollywood Burn is a cheerfully over-the-top send-up of modern moviemaking and the equally outlandish characters involved. --Robert Lane
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:DVD
I really respect Joe Eszterhas. He has written some great films although he is best known for Basic Instinct and Showgirls. But Burn Hollywood Burn is a self fulfilling prohecy. Director Arthur Hiller took his name off the picture and it really did become an Alan Smithee film.
For those who don't know, Alan Smithee is the name the Director's Guild puts on a film which has been dissowned by its director. The film ostensibly is about a director whose name really is Alan Smithee, so when his film is taken off him and recut he can't actually take his name off the film because his name is Alan Smithee. So he steals the negative of the film. The rest of the film is about the dealings of filmmakers, actors, and studio execs trying to thrash out a deal from diametrically opposing standpoints about the film. It seems like a good idea.
The problem is that this is one big Hollywood in-joke. It's Eszterhas' diatribe on the workings of Tinsel-Town. In fact it features several studio execs, agents and producers in cameo performances. And if you are not part of that Hollywood clique then this film falls very flat. You simply will not get the jokes. Add to this the way the film is put together in a non-linear pseudo-documentary style with interview soundbites one after another and you get a dissjointed narrative that frankly any first year film student would wonder about presenting to the world.
In the end this is Eszterhas' folly. Eszterhas himself ended up cutting the film himself after Arthur Miller had downed tools; he organised all the street art opening credits and he is responsible for the soundtrack (which isn't very good though). He did actually steal a print of the film and fell out big-time with distributors Disney.
There is a curiosity value to this film, especially if you have read Eszterhas' autobigraphy Hollywood Animal (which is sensational and touching in turns). The book will explain the whole debacle. As a cutting satire on Hollywood this just doesn't fly. Better efforts are Stephen Kessler's The Independent starring Jerry Stiller, Steve Martin's Bowfinger, Altman's The Player and George Huang's Swimming With Sharks starring Kevin Spacey.
I had this film imported from the United States because it isn't available in the UK. It is cheap enough to do this for the pure curiosity value, but if you have a friend who has it then just borrow it. Sorry Joe.
For those who don't know, Alan Smithee is the name the Director's Guild puts on a film which has been dissowned by its director. The film ostensibly is about a director whose name really is Alan Smithee, so when his film is taken off him and recut he can't actually take his name off the film because his name is Alan Smithee. So he steals the negative of the film. The rest of the film is about the dealings of filmmakers, actors, and studio execs trying to thrash out a deal from diametrically opposing standpoints about the film. It seems like a good idea.
The problem is that this is one big Hollywood in-joke. It's Eszterhas' diatribe on the workings of Tinsel-Town. In fact it features several studio execs, agents and producers in cameo performances. And if you are not part of that Hollywood clique then this film falls very flat. You simply will not get the jokes. Add to this the way the film is put together in a non-linear pseudo-documentary style with interview soundbites one after another and you get a dissjointed narrative that frankly any first year film student would wonder about presenting to the world.
In the end this is Eszterhas' folly. Eszterhas himself ended up cutting the film himself after Arthur Miller had downed tools; he organised all the street art opening credits and he is responsible for the soundtrack (which isn't very good though). He did actually steal a print of the film and fell out big-time with distributors Disney.
There is a curiosity value to this film, especially if you have read Eszterhas' autobigraphy Hollywood Animal (which is sensational and touching in turns). The book will explain the whole debacle. As a cutting satire on Hollywood this just doesn't fly. Better efforts are Stephen Kessler's The Independent starring Jerry Stiller, Steve Martin's Bowfinger, Altman's The Player and George Huang's Swimming With Sharks starring Kevin Spacey.
I had this film imported from the United States because it isn't available in the UK. It is cheap enough to do this for the pure curiosity value, but if you have a friend who has it then just borrow it. Sorry Joe.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Ah, the irony. A mock-documentary about a film director (Alan Smithee, played by Eric Idle) who disowns his own film, which the real life director actually disowned! Life imitating art!
I cannot understand why any director would disown "Burn Hollywood Burn". Certainly, it is not exactly subtle, but was that what the director expected from the original script?
Also, the opening credits go on too long. On the other hand, (a) the graffiti artwork accompanying the credits is excellent, and (b) that was the only time I felt the pace was dragging.
I laughed a lot. I particularly liked the captions describing the characters, particularly the way ALL the female characters describe themselves as feminists.
The cast is good. Idle is hilarious. Leslie Stefanson is hilarious and gorgeous as a groupie (and feminist).
I would give this three stars for being a film I could watch without getting bored. I am adding an extra star because it was great to see people like Sylvester Stallone and Jackie Chan poking fun at themselves.
(This review refers to a VHS copy bought from amazon.co.uk z-shops.)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
24 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
"Burn Negative Burn!"
16 Dec 2010
Format:DVD
Plenty of talent gets ignited in this failed satire based on the "Alan Smithee" pseudonym. Justly recognized as one of the all-time disasters, "Burn Hollywood Burn" (1998) lies on the screen like cinematic roadkill. Writer Joe Eszterhas takes perverse pride in surpassing the awfulness of "Showgirls," but offers no camp value whatsoever. The "in-joke" is dubious and painfully unfunny.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
An OK movie, but could have been better
5 Sep 2009
Format:DVD
First of all, this movie is not for everybody. It is a satire, in the vein of Simon with Alan Arkin.
The casting was good, and the cameos were well done. But the movie is full of inside jokes. Anybody that has not worked in or around the entertainment industry will probably not get them.
And the irony is that the director of this movie himself (Arthur Hiller)had his credit replaced with Alan Smithiee.
In fact, this is the last official "Alan Smithee" movie. The Directors Guild of America retired the name, and will now use names made for each movie.
If you like satire movies, or are a Hollywood Insider, give this a look. And you will see a lot of truth in it.
The casting was good, and the cameos were well done. But the movie is full of inside jokes. Anybody that has not worked in or around the entertainment industry will probably not get them.
And the irony is that the director of this movie himself (Arthur Hiller)had his credit replaced with Alan Smithiee.
In fact, this is the last official "Alan Smithee" movie. The Directors Guild of America retired the name, and will now use names made for each movie.
If you like satire movies, or are a Hollywood Insider, give this a look. And you will see a lot of truth in it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Hollywood satire nowhere near as bad as it is supposed to be
29 Feb 2008
Format:DVD
When it came out, this satire of Hollywood filmmaking (Alan Smithee is the alias directors take when their film has been butchered by the producers and they are too ashamed of the final product) was reviewed as if it was about the worst film ever made. Actually, this movie is nowhere nearly as bad as it's supposed to be. It's artless and amateurish at times, but it's also quite funny. You've got to have some interest in the Hollywood scene to appreciate it. Otherwise, it might look like a waste of time and celluloid.
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