On its poster, you can read this opinion: "Outright Hilarious", being written by someone from the "Washington Post". Well, that lie is Outright Hilarious, rather the only funny thing about that film! Honestly, with other hands, the same story could have been good comedy, even if black one. Imagine (Billy Crystal) as the lead; WAW, that would have been more interesting than what we watched!
So it's not a comedy while it has some potential for it. OK, what is it then? I can answer that, it's a movie about "change is good". The crazy director doesn't want to change his end, the self-obsessed movie star doesn't want to change his face or body's features, while the fading producer does change his love, he doesn't want her to change him and love others.. and so on. However, what was the movie's point of view towards its issue? Forget that. How the movie could be beautiful while doing anything? Now that's what I can't forget, since I had hard time watching it!
In fact, it is poor and sullen film, without much to deliver. It sure fails at leaving an effect. I don't recall very good, or just good moment. It's like a boring reality show about boring life. (De Niro) did nothing but walking and driving all the time with bland face. That script has so little to present else couple of problems a Hollywood prouder might face. Then director (Barry Levinson), one of my favorites once, was so cold (the word is spiritless) in dealing with everything too. So what's left to catch or watch?? Sadly none!
Big part of this film's condition got a lot to do with the horrible fact that (Art Linson) wrote it. By the way, (Linson), old Hollywood producer, is the writer of the book which this movie is based on. So obviously he was retelling his story, yet by a way that makes him the only person to understand, or see, what just happens. As you see, that script needed another, more talented in cinematic writing, eye to make a complete, or at least anyway effective, script. Sorry that (Levinson), who wrote once (And Justice for All. - 1979), and the screenplay for (Sleepers - 1996), wasn't that eye. I feel even more sorry when he, as a director and producer, makes a movie such as this.
Fairly, I loved the last scene; with the embarrassing photo session, and maybe the surprise of the unseen doctor's identity, who the lead and his ex go to. Save that, it's a few dull shots of someone's life that ultimately formed unexpressive and unimpressive picture. In brief, if this film says something, then it's that (Barry Levinson) made bad film!
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