Watch when you are miserable

Ben (De Niro) is a producer on the wane, who is juggling too many things at once. He's still hung up on his ex-wife.

What's it about:
Ben (De Niro) is a producer on the wane, who is juggling too many things at once. He's still hung up on his ex-wife. He's trying to get a truant director to play ball. He's losing it while convincing his studio boss to back his next and actor Bruce Willis, to shave off his beard for the same film.

What's hot:
Here's telling you that filmmaking isn't an easy process. There's a lot more drama going on off-camera than on it. While Bruce Willis plays cranky superstar to great effect, it's Turturro (who plays his effeminate agent), who gives slime a different meaning. For the most part, the screenplay sparks of biting wit. The camerawork is one of the film's saving graces.

What's not:
u00a0De Niro, who's supposed to be the film's lynchpin looks tired (and not just because is character is supposed to be). He's been there and done that better in several other films. Wonder why he's doing this tripe.

What to do:
For when you've had one of 'those days'. Might do marginally better when it's out on DVD, though.

What Just Happened?
''
Dir: Barry Levinson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Robert De Niro, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Sean Penn