IMDb > Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Swimming with Sharks
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Swimming with Sharks (1994) More at IMDbPro »

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Swimming with Sharks (1994) -- A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.
Swimming with Sharks (1994) -- Bob Simon traveled to South Africa in 2005, to swim with great white sharks and investigate the growth in shark attacks on people

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   9,394 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
George Huang
Writer:
George Huang (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Swimming with Sharks on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 March 1995 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
Back Stabbing - Two Faced - Revenge more
Plot:
A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Horrible Bosses Get A Pair Of Writers
 (From EmpireOnline. 16 September 2009, 12:27 AM, PDT)

10 Movie Bosses Who Are Complete Assholes
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 4 September 2009, 12:46 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Why is this so enjoyable? more (129 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Boss
The Buddy Factor
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some scenes of psychological/physical torture and pervasive strong language.
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Company:
Cineville more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The oft-referenced Foster Kane is an obvious reference to Citizen Kane (1941). more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When Guy is recalling his favorite movie memories on his first date with Dawn, he recalls the summer of 1988, in which he saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Then again, Gabe Kaplan was not in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) as Guy says he was, so it's clear that his memory isn't all that he claims. He was probably thinking of Fast Break (1979) in which Kaplan played a basketball coach. more
Quotes:
Dawn: Lose the smile. It makes you look like a schmuck. more
Movie Connections:
References "The Flintstones" (1960) more
Soundtrack:
THE SPOKEN WORD more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Why is this so enjoyable?, 1 June 2006
8/10
Author: Mike Keating (yamawhore@gmail.com) from London, England

Swimming with Sharks sees Guy (Frank Whaley) attempt to "turn the tables" on his abusive boss Buddy (Kevin Spacey), and while this makes the film simple and unoriginal in terms of plot, it is a cut above the rest thanks to the performances of its small cast.

One would assume that we would root for Guy, the innocent graduate demeaned by his aggressive boss, but the way the film tells the story prevents us from empathizing with him (as does his awful haircut); knowing that he tortures Buddy physically for his mental abuse complicates our response, and puts us on Buddy's side, allowing us to enjoy the games Buddy plays with Guy. This is something that's made very easy to do by the acting. Kevin Spacey is typically excellent as Buddy Ackerman and is the most engaging character in the film, remaining funny and manipulative throughout, even while being tortured and held hostage, as well as handling the more serious emotional aspects of his character expertly. Frank Whaley is also brilliant, playing the overwhelmed lapdog who is eventually pushed over the edge by Buddy's abuse. Importantly however, despite his plans for revenge, he remains under Buddy's spell right up until the end, and is eventually broken.

The film's conclusion further complicates our responses to both characters. The hostage situation revelations pull the audience between the impassioned-now-heartless Buddy and the desperate and confused Guy, but ultimately good does not prevail, and the shooting and Buddy's manipulation of the situation remove us from both characters as the film ends.

All in all, Swimming with Sharks is an enjoyable film. The simple plot and small cast are compensated for by some fine performances; it's funny , well-acted, and definitely worth watching.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
WHO IS BUDDY ACKERMAN'S CHARACTER tempestl
Song help mn_dawg
This is not show business. It is ANY business feryhector
Q about the ending gypsy1969
How much language is in this movie? Danman9833
here is what I realized about the ending (SPOILERS) avikonen
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