Review: What Just Happened

What Just Happened (Magnolia Pictures)

Rated R for language, some violent images, sexual content and some drug material.

Starring Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Michael Wincott.

Written by Art Linson (based on his book).

Directed by Barry Levinson.

GRADE: C

REVIEW

By Dan Metcalf

Hollywood people don't get a lot of love beyond the superficial praise they get from 'The Academy' and millions of regular people who fork over 8 bucks on weekends to help escape their own mundane reality. Occasionally, the proletariat gets to hear them endorse a cause or a candidate, or they get a glimpse of the Hollywood elite's personality on talk shows. I wonder, then, as to why people in Hollywood can't help  making movies about themselves, since we already get a steady dose of self-serving shameless publicity from other sources.

What Just Happened is the latest harsh and somewhat satirical look at Hollywood reality. The movie centers around two weeks in the life of Ben, a successful yet troubled producer trying to fix one movie while getting another one started.

Along the way Ben (DeNiro) has personal troubles as well, including dealings with two ex-wives and children from both marriages. Ben is particularly concerned over his latest ex Kelly (Robin Wright-Penn), mother to his two youngest children and a woman to whom he was not faithful. Ben still hold a candle for Kelly, and the two seem bound to re-unite, except for Ben's work always getting in the way.

Ben's work is extremely daunting. His latest film, having been screened before a less than enthusiastic audience, appears to be doomed before it opens. The studio head Lou (Catherine Keener) insists that Ben get his eccentric director Jeremy (Micheal Wincott) to cut the end of the movie (starring the real Sean Penn, who plays himself) into something more likable. The original cut of the movie depicts a graphic scene where the bad guys win and shoot the protagonist's dog in the head.

Meanwhile, Ben is already working on another film about to start production. The trouble is, the real-life Bruce Willis (who also plays himself) refuses to shave his huge and hairy beard, as per the demands of the studio. If Ben can't get the Sean Penn movie recut and Bruce Willis to cut his beard, he will face career-altering consequences.

There are a few things to like about What Just Happened, including several sarcastic pokes at Hollywood's self-importance and lack of real-world understanding. The performances of DeNiro, Tucci, and Keener are adequate, along with Penn's and Willis' so-called self-portraits.

I just don't see why What Just Happened would appeal to anyone outside of the 90210 area code. The movie paints a picture of Hollywood players that does not allow for much sympathy. When Bruce Willis goes into a tirade over his beard, I had to wonder if Bruce wants Middle America to believe he's really a self-absorbed, foul-mouthed jerk or if he's being satirical. The same goes for other portrayals of the movers and shakers of Tinseltown; are they all amoral, wealthy, out-of-touch and ignorant narcissists we thought they were?

Barry Levinson's direction is also a little too "Fellini-esque" for my taste as well. All the jumpy edits and artsy transition scenes make the movie all the more cinema-phile self-indulgent.

Watching What Just Happened reminded me of watching slideshows or home movies at my parent's house versus watching them at somebody else's home. When I watch my own life on screen, it's interesting; when I see somebody else's...not so much.

What Just Happened is based on the book by the same name, written by Art Linson, a real-life Hollywood producer behind movies such as Melvin and Howard, The Untouchables, Fight Club and others. I'm sure all his Hollywood friends told him, "Hey, we should make that book into a movie sometime." Too bad someone in Hollywood took him up on the idea.