The Deal (I) (2008)

A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew's film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli, but can only get financing if he casts a well-known action star. ... See full summary »

Director:

Steven Schachter

Writers:

William H. Macy (screenplay), Steven Schachter (screenplay),

Stars:

William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, LL Cool J

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William H. Macy	...	Charlie Berns
Meg Ryan	...	Deidre Hearn
LL Cool J	...	Bobby Mason
Elliott Gould	...	Rabbi Seth Gutterman
Jason Ritter	...	Lionel Travitz
Fiona Glascott	...	Fiona Hicks
Sharon Raginiano	...	Levi Rosenwald (as Sharon Reginiano)
John Carson	...	Nigel Bland
David Hunt	...	Grier Clark
Jeremy Crutchley	...	Ian Chadwick
Natasha Rees-Davies	...	Maya
Aiden Lithgow	...	Skip Miller (as Aidan Lithgow)
Kate Blumberg	...	Linda
Tere Morris	...	Catherine Oxenmoor
Sean Higgs	...	Hans Bleimer (as Sean Aidan Higgs)

Storyline

A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew's film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli, but can only get financing if he casts a well-known action star. Production is halted however, when the lead actor is kidnapped, so the producer hatches a scheme with a struggling creative executive to save the star and the movie.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | private jet | joke | nudity | garter | 

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Taglines:

Cut To The Scam.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Country:

Canada USA South Africa

Language:

English Hebrew Czech

Release Date:

20 November 2008 (Russia)

Also Known As:

Start Shooting

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Dog Pond Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Meg Ryan's character is looking up the information on what William H. Macy's character had done recently, she uses IMDb.

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Goofs

When Deidre and Charlie start arguing in the Czech studio, Lionel and the girl get up and leave - twice.

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Soundtracks

"Menuetto from String Quartet in D major"
Written by Joseph Haydn
Administered by Sonoton Music GmbH & Co

User Reviews

satire people! NOT FOR Americans

I saw half this film by accident on cable TV, and then went out and bought a copy the next day for 3$ (Sorry Bill). And was very happy to watch it twice. Although i had never heard of it. Look, it's a good movie. 99% of all films being made these are rubbish or you could say 99.9%! The Deal was a few cameos short of brilliant and a bit light on the darker sides. Macy was great as usual, when is not. I feel Macy's character had to be more depressed and a little more crazy and the film needed more of The Player and less Bowfinger. Satire is not laugh out loud comedy it is often just relief that you are finally watching something good. This film would have been a very hard sell, with a smaller budget than Bill and Ben and I'm sure Ryan was working for free or being blackmailed into making the film. This being said they had very good chemistry, although anyone could with Macy, he is probably the best actor working in America-period!!!!! This film type is now a genre with Entourage and Tropic Thunder etc... It is a great shame this film suffers from what is exactly this film is about-the B.S in Hollywood- the out-door luney bin!!! Bill Macy needs to have his own T.V show where he is a producer!!!