Swimming with Sharks (1994)

I wonder if this film was made to release frustration or to help other young filmmakers survive the business. It might have been made by someone who got dicked around quite a bit when he got started and has a score to settle with the film industry.

Spacey’s got great dialogue. He’s a good actor, but he’s probably got the most unexpressive eyes ever. The blatant product placement at the end was distracting (Mossimo). The film probably would have been better with a better-looking, more well-known actor playing the kid.

Neat twist at the end, but why does Spacey call him into the next room? Why does he go through the doors? What happens behind those doors? I question the film’s validity (would a kid who held a gun to a powerful producer’s head really be promoted in that producer’s company?). Tarantino-esque time-jumping makes the story more interesting than it would have been if it were told normally.