JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Swimming With Sharks (1994)
Swimming With Sharks
DVD Cover
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Benicio Del Toro, Michelle Forbes, Jerry Levine
“You thought. Do me a fucking favor. Shut up, listen, and learn. Look, I know that this is your first day and you don't really know how things work around here, so I will tell you. You have no brain. No judgement calls are necessary. What you think means nothing. What you feel means nothing. You are here for me. You are here to protect my interests and to serve my needs. So, while it may look like a little thing to you, when I ask for a packet of Sweet-N-Low, that's what I want. And it's your responsibility to see that I get what I want.” - Buddy
After reviewing the Usual Suspects yesterday Johnny Doe decided to make a Kevin Spacey double feature of it and watch this under discussed pre mega stardom gem.
Swimming with Sharks is a scathing indictment of the Hollywood system. A pitch black comedy that observes cut throat office hierarchy and superficial power struggles.
The story revolves around the naïve but motivated Guy (Frank Whalley), newly appointed assistant to a vicious prick, La-La land producer named Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey).
“You are nothing! If you were in my toilet I wouldn't bother flushing it. My bathmat means more to me than you!” - Buddy
Ackerman is a selfish, condescending, arrogant scum bag who exploits all those around him. Directly in his line of fire from day one, Guy is treated with less respect than a Vietnamese whore during the invasion of Ho Chi Min city.
“No offense to you, but you are just an assistant. Now, granted, you're MY assistant, but still just an assistant. Dawn, on the other hand, is a producer. Her car phone bills are more than your rent. So, just how far do you think you'll get?” – Buddy
Yelled at, abused and manipulated Guy’s ideological optimism is slowly replaced by rage. Soon an insatiable lust for revenge surfaces against the man who nukes his dreams of being attached to quality cinema productions.
“Shelley Winters? Winchester 73. A Patch of Blue, Lolita. Ok The Poseidon Adventure”-Guy
Kidnapping, blackmail and excessive paper cuts ensue as Guy’s plans to regain his manhood plummet him into vicarious manic behaviour beyond anything he thought he was capable of.
"I told you, it's gotta be loud loud loud! The audience should feel their balls tremble, their ears should bleed!" - Buddy
Now I run the Old Vic, you must do what I say, understand?
John Doe says:
Hilarious and ferocious, what is on the surface a simple plot of employee seeking vengeance on his boss rises above average with its razor sharp screenplay and committed cast.
Scripted with an obvious first hand knowledge of how things work, the witty dialogue and well defined characters make you grin but still feel authentic.
Kevin Spacey (The Big Kahuna, Hurly Burly, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Ref) proves that he was always a thespian force to be reckoned with. Gifted at hurling the endless barrage of quotable insults, his verbose performance and smarmy, confident delivery drive the film.
Frank Whaley (JFK, The Doors, Hoffa, Pulp Fiction) is a recognizable face and also a quality supporting player in most anything he appears in. here is allowed to shine and does a faultless job matching Kevin Spacey’s theatrics at every turn.
Benicio Del Toro (The Pledge, Usual Suspects, Traffic) turns up as an office assistant who offers young Guy some sage advice, his part is small but he still stands out.
Michelle Forbes (Kalifornia, Battlestar Galactica) is also up to standard as the female producer who gets caught in the middle of the tug of war between Buddy and Guy.
JohnDoe obviously has an affinity for movies about the movie industry and this is a fine modern example that he ranks alongside State and Main and Living in Oblivion. Essential viewing for Spacey fans and also for those who enjoy barbed humour in an industry that castrates up and comers.
The DVD:
Transfer: 1:85:1/Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: None
JD says get the US Special Edition DVd that has some fine features including: Commentary with actor Kevin Spacey, Commentary with Director George Huang, Commentary with Director George Huang and Actor Frank Whaley, Back to the Tank: Swimming Ten Years Later, Shark Tales: Life as a Hollywood Assistant, Let's Do Lunch: A Conversation with Colleagues and Deleted Scenes
Horrorphile
I'd put this as a double feature with Living in Oblivion, one being the producing side .. the other being the directing side ...
Up there with Spacey's best work. I wanna see it again!
Film & TV on DVD
Guess this will go in your borrowing pile...it is well worth a revisit...Living In Oblivion is great too, and Buscemi's Tree Lounges also desreves a nod.
Have you seen The Big Kahuna also with Spacey?...it tackles office politics with much the same zeel and I recommend it..
Spacey rocks as an actor who isn't acting to make himself laugh but make the audience laugh at his deapan, oh-so-serious take on his own absurdity ...
Glengarry Glenn Ross came to mind the minute I saw this ...
More random thoughts ...
David ...
Film & TV on DVD
Glengarry Glen Ross could well be the best film of this type, David Mamet's script is without peer. You can read a review I did for it HERE
I think you would get a laugh out of Swimming With Sharks, if you havent seen it yet.
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
Take care,
Nick
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen the Big Kahuna and Glengarry Glenross? Both also feature Spacey in similar roles sprouting egotistically, great films too...
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Love this movie - I rented it when I was in high school, thinking that there'd be sharks in it, but was pleased to watch a really good movie.
That envelope scene? Nasty!