Movies about the movie business usually are self absorbed and inapproachable bores. Its like listening to rich people complain about their servants. We all know the entertainment industry is filled to the brim with confused low lives and cruel maniacs with far too much power. Another film pointing this out is like making another film that exposes that most politicians are opportunistic pigs - we got the memo, thanks.

Regarding this film, including Bruce Willis as himself is a nice touch, although derivative of the ending of Robert Altman's The Player where Willis and Julia Roberts make cameos to give one of the most cynical inside jokes ever put to film. Robert De Niro in the lead gives me pause. He's great playing the heavy. If you need an actor who can give the impression he will break your legs and shoot you in the face, De Niro is your guy. Need someone who needs to look emotionally crippled and relatively normal? You need to go elsewhere. Part of it is perception based on his body of work but it is also just what he's good at selling.

Barry Levison is good with sarcasm and has a great resume (Diner, Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam). I'm hoping he is able to make this more than just an interesting character piece more than a series of shop jokes.