what just happened Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Okay, so Righteous Kill (381 screens) wasn't the world's greatest movie. At best it was rudimentary -- and at worst, it was outright stupid. But I have to admit, I got a giant-sized kick out of seeing Robert De Niro and Al Pacino together for the first time (aside from not appearing together in The Godfather Part II and appearing together only briefly in Heat). They had a wonderful banter going that suggested they'd been pals for 30 years. However, we had a right to expect more from two guys who are considered among the greatest screen actors of all time.

This label, I think, has only hurt their careers, because now we tend to think of them in terms of hot and cold. Everyone remembers De Niro in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull and Pacino in The Godfather films and Scarface, but what have they done for us lately? And why on earth did Pacino win an Oscar for Scent of a Woman, of all things? Then we have their most recent films to contend with, De Niro's amiable but lightweight What Just Happened? (36 screens) and Pacino's ultra-lame 88 Minutes. But let me suggest that we ignore the hot-cold concept and concentrate instead on some warmth? After all, both actors have given terrific performances in recent years that deserve some consideration.

(Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" opened in limited release this weekend, so here's our Sundance review from last January.)

By: Scott Weinberg

If you're a ravenous movie nerd like me, then there's very little in Barry Levinson's "inside baseball" Hollywood movie What Just Happened? you don't know already. If, on the other hand, you don't know a whole lot about studio politics, the angst of test-market screenings, and the tricks that movie-makers (or, more specifically, movie-sellers) will pull just to get a festival screening and a huge opening weekend, then you'll most likely get a whole bunch of chuckles out of the flick. To those who know about this stuff all too well, the comedy should still make for an interesting enough diversion -- thanks mainly to a massive, colorful cast and a few solid jabs that hit Hollywood right in the kisser.

Based on producer Art Linson's book What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line, the film version tells the story of one very successful Hollywood producer, and the ways in which he juggles multiple professional crises, as well as some prickly domestic issues at the same time. Robert De Niro is our movie producer, doing his best "sly" comedic work since (probably) Wag the Dog. John Turturro is the archetypal agent: skittish, shifty, and packing a nasty ulcer. Stanley Tucci is the writer who needs our protagonist for professional reasons, but pursues his ex-wife (Robin Wright Penn) for other activities. Michael Wincott is the drug-infested director whose ultra-edgy film is being mangled by horrifying studio boss Catherine Keener.

Here at the Indie Spotlight, we treat your multiplex woes with a healthy dose of limited-release independent flicks. Being an indie film doesn't automatically make it better than a mainstream movie -- but if it's bad, at least you know it didn't cost $100 million to make. Frugality is important in these trying economic times.

It's a rather light week for indies, with just four for our perusal: The Elephant King, Filth and Wisdom, Tru Loved, and What Just Happened. There's also Morning Light, a documentary about competitive open-sea sailing, which, while not an indie (it's from Disney), is opening on a limited number of screens. Cinematical's Jeffrey M. Anderson has a review here.

And now, the rundown!

What Just Happened
What it is: Barry Levinson directs an all-star cast (Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro) in this Hollywood satire about a fading producer.
What they're saying: Cinematical's Scott Weinberg gave it a lukewarm review at Sundance, basically saying that if you're a big movie buff who already knows how Hollywood works, there won't be much new to laugh at. At Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews are 2-to-1 in favor of the flick.
Where it's playing: A few dozen screens in several major markets: New York, L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix.
More info: The official site has a complete list of theaters, as well as where it's opening next.

The Elephant King
What it is: A drama about two American brothers sexing their way through Thailand one summer.
What they're saying: All four reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are scathing, calling it naive and desperate. But Variety's review, for some reason not yet posted at RT, has high praise for the acting and says the movie "deserves to find an audience."
Where it's playing: New York City (Angelika Film Center).
More info: The official site.

Cinematical just received this exclusive poster for What Just Happened? (click to enlarge), which comes to us from director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag the Dog). Based on producer Art Linson's memoir What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line, the film stars Robert De Niro as a middle-aged Hollywood producer who tries to juggle an actual life with an outrageous series of crises in his day job.

As you can see from the poster, however, this puppy is packed with talent. You've got De Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Stanley Tucci, Catherine Keener and the list goes on. When What Just Happened? premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, Cinematical's James Rocchi described it as "movie geek heaven," saying De Niro produces "his best 'sly' comedic work since (probably) Wag the Dog." And how can you not love that poster and its tagline? Hilarious. Really looking forward to seeing this one when it arrives in a few months. (Check out the full synopsis after the jump)

What Just Happened? is set to hit theaters on October 3.

If you're a ravenous movie nerd like me, than there's very little in Barry Levinson's "inside baseball" Hollywood movie What Just Happened? If, on the other hand, you don't know a whole lot about studio politics, the angst of test-market screenings, and the tricks that movie-makers (or, more specifically, movie-sellers) will pull just to get a festival screening and a huge opening weekend, then you'll most likely get a whole bunch of chuckles out of the flick. To those who know about this stuff all too well, the comedy should still make for an interesting enough diversion -- thanks mainly to a massive, colorful cast and a few solid jabs that hit Hollywood right in the kisser.

Based on producer Art Linson's book What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line, the film version tells the story of one very successful Hollywood producer, and the ways in which he juggles multiple professional crises, as well as some prickly domestic issues at the same time. Robert De Niro is our movie producer, doing his best "sly" comedic work since (probably) Wag the Dog. John Turturro is the archetypal agent: skittish, shifty, and packing a nasty ulcer. Stanley Tucci is the writer who needs our protagonist for professional reasons, but pursues his ex-wife (Robin Wright Penn) for other activities. Michael Wincott is the drug-infested director whose ultra-edgy film is being mangled by horrifying studio boss Catherine Keener.

Toss in some supremely amusing "self-mocking" performances from movie stars Bruce Willis and Sean Penn, and you've got the makings of a flick best described as "movie geek heaven." And while What Just Happened? is by all means a colorful and generally pretty funny expose of modern-day Hollywood, it often feels like Levinson and Linson (he also penned the screenplay adaptation) are content to preach to the choir. It's meant to be outrageous and unbelievable how art turns into pure commerce, but there have been plenty of Hollywood satires that demolish the "test screening" mentality, the "beleaguered producer" conceit, and the oh-so-cynical insinuation that Hollywood has no integrity whatsoever. So while much of the material in What Just Happened? is insightful and accurate ... it's just not all that new or shocking anymore.

Looking over Robert De Niro's last several films, it's easy to say "Man, what just happened?" However, knowing he's re-teaming with director Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) on an adaptation of Art Linson's very funny memoir (What Just Happened?) is enough for this writer to, finally, throw a little excitement behind an upcoming De Niro film. Joining an already fantastic cast are Catherine Keener and Robin Wright Penn; the two females will star alongside folks like Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Kristen Stewart and De Niro. Also, Bruce Willis and Sean Penn will make an appearance as themselves.

The film (and book) revolve around a fading Hollywood producer (De Niro) who's struggling to get a movie made, while doing his best to survive the absurd Hollywood politics that surround his every move. Keener and Wright Penn will play the two women in De Niro's life; the latter will take on the role of his ex-wife, while the former will play a studio head with whom our producer is courting. Shooting is scheduled to begin this week in -- where else -- La La Land. "Inside Hollywood" films are often a tough sell because the majority of people out there don't work in Hollywood, and don't get the jokes ... nor do they care. Instead of watching a screenwriter complain about how many drafts he's contracted to write, folks would rather the character throw a script across the room ... only to watch all 100 pages smack an unsuspected visitor upside the head. Needless to say, if Levinson and De Niro can capture a little (or a lot) of Wag the Dog in this film, then we're in store for the type of comedy that desperately needs to make its way back onto the big screen.

One of the greatest things about the film Heat was our chance to finally watch two fantastic actors (Robert De Niro and Al Pacino) act alongside one another. Of course, it wasn't the first time these two Godfathers of cinema appeared in the same film, but it was a moment everyone (including me) had been waiting for. And tell me that scene at the table didn't make the movie.

Now, word is trickling out via MTV and Production Weekly that De Niro might be teaming up with another mega-Hollywood giant, George Clooney. Okay, perhaps it's not as jaw-dropping as the De Niro/Pacino pairing, but nevertheless they're still a delicious on-screen duo. The film in question is Marc Forster's (Stranger Than Fiction) 36, a remake of the 2004 French flick 36 Quai des Orfèvres starring Gérard Depardieu. Pic tells of two cops who compete against each other to solve a series of armored car robberies, with the winner earning a promotion. At first glance, the premise could sound sort of comedic (if you hadn't heard of the original) -- however, I assure you this ain't no comedy. It's a straight-up crime drama, complete with violence, revenge and all that other tasty stuff. De Niro recently told MTV that he will film 36 (which will be based off a script written by The Manchurian Candidate scribe Dean Georgaris) after he's finished with the Barry Levinson pic What Just Happened.

Here's a question: In your own fantasy world, which two actors (or actresses) would you like to see paired up on the big screen?