Friday, June 13, 2008

The Hollywood Story

Author(s): Bryce Marrero
Location: N/A

"The Hollywood Story"




Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Written by: Stephen Gagham, and Curtis Hanson
Produced by: Graham King, Richard Solomon, and Curtis Hanson

Principal Cast:

Christopher Lee as Steven Goldberg
Richard Gere as George Bobstein
Heather Graham as Bianca Rose
Tobey Maguire as Robert Miller
Anthony Mackie as James Artie
Jackie Earle Haley as Tom Ryan
Holly Hunter as Kim Ryan
Hugh Jackman as Jim Farse
Brendan Fraser as Tony Parole
Kevin Spacy as Carl Mono
Guy Pearce as Mark Lagos
Kim Basinger as Jane Tarrin

Tagline: "The stories that Hollywood does not want to make into movies"

Drama

Synopsis: The multiple stories of people in the movie industry, on their way out, or on their way in. Steven Goldberg is the most powerful person in Hollywood. He decides who is on their way in the industry and who is on their way out of the industry.

Sex Doesn't Cost A Thing: George Bobstein is Hollywood's most famous, and charismatic director. Every celebrity wants to work with him, and he has the power to jump start anyone's career. George makes a deal with Steven to make a big movie with a new star. George decides to have open auditions for the leading role of his movie. Bianca Rose is a struggling actress. She has been struggling to get her big break her whole life. She auditions for the role in George's movie, but fails to get the role. She decides to try and seduce George. He makes a deal with her, If she has sex with him, he will give her the role. She accepts the deal and after they have sex, Steve changes his mind, and tells George to cast a celebrity. Bianca becomes enraged, and insane with anger. She follows George to his house and attempts to kill him, but she fails, and is arrested before she could kill George.

Future Vs. Past: Robert Miller, and James Artie have been friends their whole lives. Since they were little, they have been making small films for no pay. Robert would direct, and James would write the screenplay. After years of trying to get into Hollywood, they finally get their big break. Steven gives Robert the chance to make a movie for him. This is a huge break for the two, however, James has a problem. James has become addicted to drugs. The drugs have made him sick, and he needs help. Robert doesn't want to leave his best friend when he needs him the most. But at the same time, making that movie could be his big break. Robert must choose between his friend or his career.

Screenwriting in Blood: Tom Ryan is a very successful screenwriter. He has everything, a beautiful wife, Kim Ryan, and lots of money. However, the one thing he wants the most is an Oscar. He is able to convince Steve to produce his next screenplay, which he promises will get him, and the studio, an Oscar. But their is one problem. Tom can't think of what to write about. During his time at home trying to figure out what to write about, he starts to suspect that his wife is cheating on him with her assistant, Jim Farse. One day, he decides to follow them, and finds out that his speculation are correct, his wife was cheating on him. Many different emotions flourish inside Tom. He becomes envious of the idea of writing about what has been happening. He begins to write about it, but needs an ending. There's only one ending he has in mind. He kills his wife, and her assistant, and writes about it. Two years later, the movie is a hit, and Tom gets his Oscar.

A way to win: Tony Parole was Hollywood's biggest producer. But after his last picture didn't make any money, Steve decides to fire Tony. Tony won't leave without a fight. He has a plan. He will hire a hitman, Carl Mono, to kill Steve's other big producers, Jane Tarrin and Mark Lagos. After Carl is successful at killing Jane, Steve is forced to re-hire Tony, but now Tony has to worry about something else. Mark witnessed Carl killing Jane, and finds out Carl was hired by Tony. Mark blackmails Tony into quitting his job. Tony urges Carl to kill Mark, but Mark is always two steps in front of Tony. Carl attempts to kill Mark, but Mark sets him up, and Carl is gunned down by the police. Tony decides he will kill Mark himself. He follows Mark, but Mark is onto him. The two come face to face, with guns pointing at each other. However instead of shooting each other, they come up with a different plan. The two kill Steve, and both of them become the new powerful force in Hollywood.

What the press would say:

Curtis Hanson's latest picture is truly a work of art. The movie focuses on four different stories all about Hollywood. The first story, Richard Gere plays a powerful director who promises Heather Graham a role if she sleeps with him. The second story features a rising filmmaker, Tobey Maguire, who must choose to either help his friend or do something that would jump start his career. The third story is about a screenwriter, played by Jackie Earle Haley, envying the idea of making a screenplay based on his wife's unfaithfulness. And the last story is about a producer gone mad, played by Brendan Fraser, who hires a hitman, played by Kevin Spacy, to kill his competition. The stories are amazing, and full of surprises. Nothing about this movie is predictable. The acting is brilliant. All actors act their hearts out, and you can feel their emotions. Christopher Lee benefits as the lead actor, since he has ample screen time on the account of being in all the stories. Tobey Maguire is brilliant. You can feel how hard of a decision he has to make, and really feel for his character. Jackie Earle Haley does an amazing job. His performance is eerie, and puts chills down the back of viewers necks. Curtis Hanson presents the movie with thrills, and intense scenes, while showing audiences something new. The Hollywood Story is one of
the most provocative movie to come out in a long time, and a true achievement in the history of Cinema.

Best Picture
Best Director- Curtis Hanson
Best Actor- Christopher Lee
Best Supporting Actor- Tobey Maguire
Best Supporting Actor- Jackie Earle Haley
Best Supporting Actor- Brendan Fraser
Best Supporting Actor- Anthony Mackie
Best Supporting Actress- Heather Graham
Best Original Screenplay- Stephen Gagham, and Curtis Hanson
Best Editing- Stephen Mirrione
Best Cinematography- Tom Stern
Best Original Score- Howard Shore
Best Art-Direction/Set Decoration- Sarah Knowles and Leslie A. Pope

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