What Just Happened
Edgy, hilarious and clever; What Just happened is the latest gem from Academy Award Winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Wag The Dog), The film features an amazing all star cast; including Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich, Capote) and Robin Wright Penn (Forrest Gump, State of Play).
What Just Happened is based on producer Art Linson's bestselling memoir of the same name, which describes his real life experiences producing films like Fight Club, Pushing Tin, Heat and The Edge. It depicts two nail biting backstabbing weeks in the world of a middle aged Hollywood producer trying to juggle his personal life with an outrageous series of crises in his day job.
Ben (De NIro) is already in over his head trying to balance an ex wife he still has feelings for (Wright Penn) and a teenage daughter who seems to have grown up over night (Stewart). Adding insult to injury, his latest film project the “visionary” movie Fiecely starring Sean Penn (playing himself), is shaping up to be an audience offending flop. This draws the ire of studio chief Lou (Keener), who forces him to tangle with the film's rebellious and drug addled British director (Michael Wincott).
Meanwhile, Ben finds himself infuriated with his screenwriter friend Scott (Stanley Tucci) for trying to strike a deal with him while making moves on his ex wife; frustrated with Bruce Willis (also playing himself) because he won't shave off an enormous beard; and flummioxed by Willis' neurotic agent Dick (John Turturro) for being afraid of his own clients!
Critic Reviews:
- " Precise, smart, and very funny in its specifics but rather clumsy and obvious when it comes to the big picture. " – Kelly Vance
- " It's not Bowfinger but it's well worth the ticket. " – Julie Rigg
- " Polished, coherent, rich with internal consistency… and sacrilegious for believers in The Movies " – Marty Mapes