"The Robert Downey, Jr.: E! True Hollywood Story" I just saw this movie again after over a decade. I remembered the movie as being very stylized and the story being rather simple, but forgot about the acting except that I had wondered why Jami Gertz was cast as "Blair." She never seemed to be right for the part, but her career was hot at the time.
As I watched the movie, I remembered reading the book. I noticed that not only was Jami Gertz poorly cast, but also Andrew McCarthy as "Clay." Both of their performances are really out-of-step with the story and their characters' types from the book.
I remembered how much I disliked the character of Rip, played by James Spader. Watching it again, I have realized that his was the only worthy performance of the entire film. Even some of the extras were nervous or awkward when the camera pointed in their direction.
The screenplay is mostly in-line with the book except for the level of Julian's involvement in male prostitution. The screenplay, as well as the book, is very simplistic and the characters are poorly developed. Although the story only spans four days, we get to know very little about the characters and aren't really given much information about the falling out between Clay and Blair except that it has something to do with Julian.
The movie's style is the only residual value of the film. It is a testament to the sloth & greed of the 80s, but also the high style and the beginnings of the retro movement.
The moral of the story is all too common, but it is amazing that it was lost on Robert Downey, Jr. I used to think so much of him as an actor and only hope that he can overcome his addictions to contribute once again.