Hurlyburly (1998)

Hollywood movers and shakers dissect their own personal lives when everything seems to clash together.

Director:

Anthony Drazan

Writers:

David Rabe (play), David Rabe (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Penn	...	Eddie
Kevin Spacey	...	Mickey
Robin Wright	...	Darlene (as Robin Wright Penn)
Chazz Palminteri	...	Phil
Garry Shandling	...	Artie
Anna Paquin	...	Donna
Meg Ryan	...	Bonnie
Gianna Ranaudo	...	Susie (as Gianna Renaudo)
David Fabrizio	...	Store Manager
Kenny Vance	...	Singer
Michaline Babich	...	Receptionist
Elaine Corral Kendall	...	TV Anchor (as Elaine Corral)
Sharon Tay	...	TV Reporter
Frank Somerville	...	TV Anchor
Bob Jimenez	...	Newscaster

Storyline

Hurly-burly is an adaptation of David Rabe's well known play about the intersecting lives of several Hollywood players and wannabes who's personal lives threaten to veer into a catastrophe more interesting than anything they're peddling to the studios.

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Plot Keywords:

lolita | hollywood sign | quarrel | drugs | single | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for constant drug use, pervasive strong language and sexual material

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line Features

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ano kato

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$164,826 (USA) (25 December 1998)

Gross:

$1,796,328 (USA) (2 April 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmColony, Storm Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Hurlyburly" by David Rabe opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York on August 7, 1984, ran for 343 performances and was nominated for the 1985 Tony Award for the Best Play.

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Goofs

When Eddie lies under the glass table while Mickey and Artie talk to him, the location (and amount) of cocaine changes between shots.

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Quotes

Mickey: You're right. Good taste has undoubtedly deprived me of any number of friendships.

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Connections

Referenced in Game K N B: Episode dated 3 March 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"There Goes the Neighborhood"
Written by Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott
Performed by Sheryl Crow, with Sheryl Crow (clarinet/percussion), Gregg Williams (drums/programming/percussion),
Jeff Trott (guitars), Tim Smith (bass), Bobby Keys (baritone/tenor/alto sax), Michael Davis (trombone),
, Kent Smith (trumpet)

User Reviews

Great movie, more theatrical than cinematic

A touching movie about friendship and dependency viewed through the distorting lens of rampant nihilism.

There's a theatrical eloquence to the dialogue that lends it mesmerizing power. It has a literary quality that some people will find unbearably pretentious, but which I found deeply moving.

The movie starts out with a fast paced barrage of hilarious absurdities. As it gets slower and more ponderous it sometimes veers off course, but in a sense this just deepens the sense of human frailty. Similarly the somewhat grasping conclusion does not significantly detract from the film's main thrust.

Acting by Kevin Spacey, Sean Penn and Garry Shandling is absolutely top notch. Chazz Palminteri isn't always as convincing. Excellent showing by Meg Ryan.