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From Amazon.co.uk
Robert Altman's a biting satire on the Hollywood industry, The Player, has always been acknowledged by insiders as too close to the truth for comfort. Opening with a self-referential nine-minute tracking shot around the studio lot where producer Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) works, the story's intrigue begins with the first of several postcard death threats from a writer he's angered. After accidentally killing the wrong man, Mill moves from one star-studded lunch table to another. All the while he's hounded by the real writer and an obsession with "Ice Queen" artist June Gudmundsdotter (Greta Scacchi) who'd been the deceased's girlfriend. Altman's tradition of improvised dialogue makes each of the dozens of cameos a fascinating treat for movie fans. Blink and you'll miss Angelica Houston, John Cusack, Rod Steiger, or Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts who appear in the hilarious movie-within-a-movie finale. There's an endless list of terrific support from the likes of dry-witted Fred Ward, fly-swatting Lyle Lovett, or tampon-twirling Whoopi Goldberg. Aside from the star-spotting and a script that crackles with sharp dialogue, this also warrants acknowledgement for being the movie to set off an explosion of independent film in the Nineties.
On the DVD: there's a commentary track (which leaves the film's soundtrack playing a little too loud) from director Altman who talks at length about the poor state of today's industry, and writer Michael Tolkin who contributes about ten minutes of veiled displeasure about the treatment of a writer's work. There are five grainy deleted scenes featuring lost cameos from Tim Curry, Jeff Daniels, and Patrick Swayze. Then in a 16-minute featurette a lot of the deleted footage is repeated around an interview with Altman. A trailer rounds out the package. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
Movie executive Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) is receiving death threats from an anonymous screenwriter. Deducing that the letters are coming from rejected hopeful David Kahane (Vincent D'Onofrio), Griffin sets up an 'accidental' meeting with the writer and, during an argument, kills him. While the police investigate the murder, Griffin begins to date the dead writer's girlfriend, but the death threats continue to pour in. Directed by Robert Altman (his first mainstream film for over a decade), this star-studded satire on Hollywood morality features cameos from Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Cher, Andie MacDowell, Burt Reynolds, Rod Steiger and John Cusack.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By redmanshouts
Format:DVD
One of my favourite films of the 90's, clever isnt the word. Tim Robbins excells as Hollywood executive Griffin Mill, who gets himself in hot water when dealing with a writer. To make things worse it looks like his job is up for grabs as there are changes happening within his studio. Things dont look good. Someone is out to get him but who..? The Player is packed full of real stars and real screenwriters where brought in to pitch films. Many brilliant performances from Richard E Grants elaborate pitches to Whoppi Goldbergs crafty detective. The in-jokes come thick and fast. All in all, a top notch thriller from Robert Altman. My only criticism is i hoped the new dvd would have better extras. Dont let that put you off though. Top film.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is very enjoyable. There's so much there, you gotta watch it several times to enjoy all the lovingly subtle stuff in the background.
There's a thriller in there with the story of a stalker--life and death.
But the best bit is the in-joke about Hollywood, movie-making and those that straddle the business which is supposed to be artistic, but has been taken over by accountants and money-grubbing executives.
Enjoy the cameos, the clever bits, the story & the message. I sure did.
There's a thriller in there with the story of a stalker--life and death.
But the best bit is the in-joke about Hollywood, movie-making and those that straddle the business which is supposed to be artistic, but has been taken over by accountants and money-grubbing executives.
Enjoy the cameos, the clever bits, the story & the message. I sure did.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By movie maniac
Format:DVD
This film is one of the best hollywood satires ever made a must buy for any movie lover.
Tim robbins is a movie executive who screenwriters come to to get there scripts made into films when he starts recieving death threats from a screenwriter he turned down in the past his life takes a dramatic turn for the worst.
The thriller plot is great but conversations about films overheard in the background of the film are partly what makes this a very intresting film to watch again and again.
Tim robbins charecter is cooly played in what i believe is his best film.
if you dont watch this film you lose.
Tim robbins is a movie executive who screenwriters come to to get there scripts made into films when he starts recieving death threats from a screenwriter he turned down in the past his life takes a dramatic turn for the worst.
The thriller plot is great but conversations about films overheard in the background of the film are partly what makes this a very intresting film to watch again and again.
Tim robbins charecter is cooly played in what i believe is his best film.
if you dont watch this film you lose.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Player of the year
Just as good on DVD as I remembered the original film when it was released. I can now do away with my old VHS copy
Published 2 months ago by K. G. Jennings
5.0 out of 5 stars
a fascinating portrait of industry and a brilliant character led...
Altman had a fascinating way of framing crowd scenes, with no master audio just all sound overlapping. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rob Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars
We're All Players.....
Famously opening with possibly the longest continuous single crane shot in cinematic history (eight minutes) with the pre-credits rolling, shot outside a major studio and its... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Tim Kidner
1.0 out of 5 stars
WARNING! BUY THE OTHER EDITON FOR EXTRAS
The Amazon listing states this dvd features a commentary w/Robert Altman & michael Tolkin,however i enquired this with a seller and there is none on this dvd edition(there is also... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. E. A. Dobson
4.0 out of 5 stars
a classic
The Player and Being There are 2 examples of 'slow moving' films
that will keep you fascinated until the end. Read more
that will keep you fascinated until the end. Read more
Published on 8 May 2011 by Bob-Notes
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie.Misleading description.
This is a top notch 5 stars movie. But i was greatly disapointed to see there is no commentary by Robert Altman on the DVD as it says in the "On the DVD" description. Read more
Published on 12 April 2011 by ReservoirDawg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific satire on the film business
A young Hollywood producer (Tim Robbins) is receiving threatening postcards from an unknown writer, one of many whose scripts he had rejected. Read more
Published on 6 April 2011 by The CinemaScope Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Classic
I bought this because I have seen it, but didn't have the resource to watch it whenever I felt the need to watch a quality movie without TV interruptions. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2011 by A. M. Bretherton
5.0 out of 5 stars
A near perfect satire
This is full of great moments, great shots, great humor. It's almost a truly great film. But the few moments it gets too smug and/or cartoony for it's own good take a tiny... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2010 by K. Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insider's satire on Hollywood moguls
Tim Robbins stars as Griffin Mill, a hot-shot movie studio executive who has the power to make or break people and careers. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2008 by Kona
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