Ambition (1991)

Mitchell Osgood dreams of being a famous writer, but the book he has written constantly is rejected by the editors. When the psychopathic killer Albert Merrik is released from prison after ... See full summary »

Director:

Scott D. Goldstein

Writer:

Lou Diamond Phillips

Stars:

Lou Diamond Phillips, Clancy Brown, Cecilia Peck

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Mitchell Osgood
Clancy Brown	...	Albert Merrick
Cecilia Peck	...	Julie
Richard Bradford	...	Jordan
Willard E. Pugh	...	Freddie
Grace Zabriskie	...	Mrs. Merrick
Katherine Armstrong	...	Roseanne
JD Cullum	...	Jack
Haing S. Ngor	...	Tatay
Mik Scriba	...	Prison Guard #1
Randy Hall	...	Male Dancer
Maria Rangel	...	Female Dancer
Robert Harvey	...	Merrick's Attorney
Teresa Bowman	...	Media Reporter #1
Rick Scarry	...	Media Reporter #2

Storyline

Mitchell Osgood dreams of being a famous writer, but the book he has written constantly is rejected by the editors. When the psychopathic killer Albert Merrik is released from prison after 15 years, Osgood believes that writing down the history of his crimes could be his breakthrough. Although he refuses to talk to him at first, Osgood follows him around and offers him a job in his book shop. To get the right impressions for his book, he feels that he has to experience Merrik psychopathic again...

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Plot Keywords:

writing | prison | cynicism | serial killer | psycho thriller | 

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Taglines:

To write the perfect thriller, I had to get into the mind of a murderer. Now I can't get out.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lou Diamond Phillips wrote the script in 1986, after finishing production on La Bamba (1987).

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Connections

References The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)

User Reviews

Taking Truman Capote A Step Or Two Farther

In this rather quirky script and story written by the star of Ambition, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lou is playing aspiring writer Mitchell Osgood who is supporting himself by running a second hand bookshop. He has to have that job because as a writer he's not making it.

Ambition was the first film in which Lou Diamond Phillips plays an Asian American. In his mixed bag of ethnicity, part of Lou's heritage is Filipino and he plays one here. He is also besides failed writer and bookshop manager, closest relative to Haing S. Ngor playing his father and whose health care demands are cutting into his time.

Lou is taking as an inspiration no doubt, Truman Capote and what he did with In Cold Blood, in the way he was able to capture the souls and personalities of a pair of killers. He's got one in mind now who is coming up for parole played by Clancy Brown. Lou goes to some considerable lengths to befriend him and even fires someone at the bookstore just to get him a job.

If you think you've figured out which way Ambition is headed for a conclusion from what I've written you are wrong. The screenplay that Lou Diamond Phillips fashioned here is quite original and will startle you with its conclusion.

What a project like Ambition needed was a director like Alfred Hitchcock. Sad to say it didn't get that. Also it didn't have the biggest of budgets to work with.

Still it's an interesting work and a treat for fans of Lou Diamond Phillips.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ambición sin escrúpulos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spirit

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1