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Product Information

Robert Altman's adaptation of Michael Tolkin's novel gives the notorious director a chance to address perhaps his greatest nemesis: the Hollywood studio system. Disguised as a thriller, the film assembles virtually every famous actor in Hollywood to create an exhilarating blend of real life and fiction. Tim Robbins plays Griffin Mill, a studio executive who begins to fear for his job when upstart Larry Levy's (Peter Gallagher) name becomes a hot topic on the lot. After receiving threatening postcards from an unidentified writer, Griffin tracks down David Kahane (Vincent D'Onofrio), who he thinks is the guilty party. The two argue, with disastrous results. Later, as Griffin struggles to keep his job while trying to distance himself from the law, he finds himself falling in love with Kahane's mysterious girlfriend (Greta Scacchi). THE PLAYER is a vicious satire that exposes the Hollywood industry as fraudulent, weak, and shallow. Altman's film also sends up both the noir genre and filmmaking technique, the latter notably in an extended opening shot which is a sprawling one-take that covers the studio's entire lot and features a series of hysterical pitches by actual screenwriters, including Buck Henry offering forth on his concept for THE GRADUATE 2. Bitter and electric, THE PLAYER ends on an ironic upbeat note that perfectly concludes a stellar picture.

Product Identifiers

ProducerDavid Brown, Nick Wechsler, Michael Tolkin, David Levy

EAN5060002830321

eBay Product ID (ePID)3960872

Product Key Features

ActorRod Steiger, Jill St. John, Brian Tochi, Martin Mull, Randall Batinkoff, Peter Gallagher, Bruce Willis, Vincent D'onofrio, Margery Bond, Lyle Lovett, Sally Kirkland, Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Nash, Alan Rudolph, Dina Merrill, Steve James, Annie Ross, Nick Nolte, Lily Tomlin, Richard E. Grant, Mimi Rogers, Gary Busey, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandra Powers, Althea Gibson, Scott Shaw, Robert Wagner, Brion James, Guy Remsen, Adam Simon, Marlee Matlin, Jeff Weston, Dean Stockwell, Burt Reynolds, Pamela Bowen, Jack Riley, Angela Hall, Cher, Ray Walston, Bert Remsen, Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Gina Gershon, Cynthia Stevenson, Andie Macdowell, Marvin Young, Tim Robbins, Elliott Gould, Jeremy Piven, Jayne Meadows, Fred Ward, Susan Emshwiller, Rene Auberjonois, Patricia Resnick, Michael Tolkin, Joan Tewkesbury, Greta Scacchi, Sally Kellerman, Malcolm McDowell

Film/TV TitleThe Player

DirectorRobert Altman

LanguageEnglish

Run Time119 Mins

Release Year2001

FormatDVD

FeaturesAudio Commentary - 1. Robert Altman - Director\Deleted Scenes\Featurette\Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer

GenreDrama, Comedy

Additional Product Features

Number of Discs1

Certificate15

Country/Region of ManufactureUnited States of America

Production DesignerStephen Altman

ReviewsRolling Stone - What makes THE PLAYER the best and boldest American comedy in years is Altman's wizardry at leavening anger with cathartic wit, Los Angeles Times - ...An artful stiletto aimed at the bashful heart of Hollywood....An extremely pointed and knowing show-biz dissection..., Entertainment Weekly - THE PLAYER is a true comeback film for Altman... a return, after more than 15 years, to the infinitely sly and supple virtuosity that marked his great film of the '70s, New York Times - So entertaining, so flip and so genially irreverent that it seems to announce the return of the great gregarous film maker... The members of the huge cast seem to be having a great night out on the town

ScreenwriterMichael Tolkin

Costume DesignerLydia Tanji

AuthorMichael Tolkin

Sound sourceDolby Digital 5.1

EditorGeraldine Peroni

Movie/TV TitleThe Player

Director of PhotographyJean Lepine