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The Player

  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,246
578
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)
Trailer
Play trailer0:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama

A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected, but which one?A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected, but which one?A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected, but which one?

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,246
578
  • Director
    • Robert Altman
  • Writer
    • Michael Tolkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tim Robbins
    • Greta Scacchi
    • Fred Ward
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Altman
  • Writer
    • Michael Tolkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tim Robbins
    • Greta Scacchi
    • Fred Ward
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 205User reviews
    • 88Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 24 wins & 33 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Player
    Trailer 0:32
    The Player
    IMDbrief: 'Outlaw King' & Most Epic Tracking Shots in Film History
    Clip 3:59
    IMDbrief: 'Outlaw King' & Most Epic Tracking Shots in Film History

    Photos174

    Cynthia Stevenson in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins and Greta Scacchi in The Player (1992)
    Susan Sarandon, Robert Altman, Peter Falk, and Louise Fletcher in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins, Peter Gallagher, and Cynthia Stevenson in The Player (1992)
    Gina Gershon and Cynthia Stevenson in The Player (1992)
    Susan Sarandon, Peter Falk, and Jack Riley in The Player (1992)
    Fred Ward in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)
    Tim Robbins, Andie MacDowell, and Dean Stockwell in The Player (1992)
    Gina Gershon, Peter Gallagher, and Cynthia Stevenson in The Player (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tim Robbins
    Tim Robbins
    • Griffin Millas Griffin Mill
    Greta Scacchi
    Greta Scacchi
    • June Gudmundsdottiras June Gudmundsdottir
    Fred Ward
    Fred Ward
    • Walter Stuckelas Walter Stuckel
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Detective Averyas Detective Avery
    Peter Gallagher
    Peter Gallagher
    • Larry Levyas Larry Levy
    Brion James
    Brion James
    • Joel Levisonas Joel Levison
    Cynthia Stevenson
    Cynthia Stevenson
    • Bonnie Sherowas Bonnie Sherow
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    • David Kahaneas David Kahane
    Dean Stockwell
    Dean Stockwell
    • Andy Civellaas Andy Civella
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Tom Oakleyas Tom Oakley
    Sydney Pollack
    Sydney Pollack
    • Dick Mellenas Dick Mellen
    Lyle Lovett
    Lyle Lovett
    • Detective DeLongpreas Detective DeLongpre
    Dina Merrill
    Dina Merrill
    • Celiaas Celia
    Angela Hall
    Angela Hall
    • Janas Jan
    Leah Ayres
    Leah Ayres
    • Sandyas Sandy
    Paul Hewitt
    Paul Hewitt
    • Jimmy Chaseas Jimmy Chase
    Randall Batinkoff
    Randall Batinkoff
    • Reg Goldmanas Reg Goldman
    Jeremy Piven
    Jeremy Piven
    • Steve Reevesas Steve Reeves
    • Director
      • Robert Altman
    • Writer
      • Michael Tolkin(screenplay) (novel "The Player")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Events in the life of a Hollywood studio executive, unfold with the same unrealistic positive coincidences, ultimately culminating to a "happy ending", much like the movie scripts, with which he works day in and out, after he accidentally murders someone. —Abhay Bhatt
    • hollywood
    • multiple cameos
    • long take
    • film industry
    • male nudity
    • 85 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Now more than ever!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language, and for some sensuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The writer pitching The Graduate: Part II to Griffin Mill is a cameo by Buck Henry (as himself). Buck Henry co-wrote the screenplay for The Graduate (1967).
    • Goofs
      When Mill reads the newspaper story about the murder, a closeup of article reveals that it is just the same few paragraphs printed over and over.
    • Quotes

      Griffin Mill: I was just thinking what an interesting concept it is to eliminate the writer from the artistic process. If we could just get rid of these actors and directors, maybe we've got something here.

    • Crazy credits
      Tim Robbins, Fred Ward and Cynthia Stevenson all enter the film when their names appear in the opening credits.
    • Alternate versions
      In the theatrical version there was a frontal nude scene of Tim Robbins at the hotel in the desert. This scene was removed for the cable version.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Straight Talk/Rock-a-Doodle/Thunderheart/Beethoven/Raise the Red Lantern (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      SNAKE
      Written & Performed by Kurt Neumann

      Copyright Lla-Mann Music

    User reviews205

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Joe Gillis calling...
    "Players only love you when they're playing." --Stevie Nicks

    Griffin Mill, whose name has a kind of ersatz Hollywood feel to it (cf., D. W. Griffith/Cecil B. De Mille), is not a player with hearts so much as a player with dreams. He is a young and powerful film exec who hears thousands of movie pitches a year, but can only buy twelve. So he must do a lot of dissembling, not to mention outright lying, along with saying "We'll get back to you," etc. This is what he especially must say to writers. And sometimes they hold a grudge. In this case one of the rejected writers begins to stalk Griffin Mill and send him threatening postcards. And so the plot begins.

    Tim Robbins, in a creative tour de force, plays Griffin Mill with such a delightful, ironic charm that we cannot help but identify with him even as he violates several layers of human trust. The script by Michael Tolkin smoothly combines the best elements of a thriller with a kind of Terry Southern satirical intent that keeps us totally engrossed throughout. The direction by Robert Altman is full of inside Hollywood jokes and remembrances, including cameos by dozens of Hollywood stars, some of whom get to say nasty things about producers. The scenes are well-planned and then infused with witty asides. The tampon scene at police headquarters with Whoopi Goldberg is an hilarious case in point, while the sequence of scenes from Greta Scacchi's character's house to the manslaughter scene outside the Pasadena Rialto, is wonderfully conceived and nicely cut. Also memorable is the all black and white dress dinner scene in which Cher is the only person in red, a kind of mean or silly joke, depending on your perspective. During the same scene Mill gives a little speech in which he avers that "movies are art," a statement that amounts to sardonic irony since, as a greedy producer, he cares nothing at all about art, but only about box office success. His words also form a kind of dramatic irony when one realizes that this movie itself really is a work of art. As Altman observes in a trailing clip, the movie "becomes itself." The Machiavellian ending illustrates this with an almost miraculous dovetailing. This is the kind of script that turns most screen writers Kermit-green with envy.

    Incidentally, Joe Gillis, the Hollywood writer played by William Holden in Sunset Boulevard--personifying all unsuccessful screen writers--actually does call during the movie, but Mill doesn't recognize the name and has to be told he is being put on, further revealing the narrow confines of his character.

    In short, this is a wonderfully clever, diabolically cynical satire of Hollywood and the movie industry. This is one of those movies that, if you care anything at all about film, you must see. Period. It is especially delicious if you hate Hollywood. It is also one of the best movies ever made about Hollywood, to be ranked up there with A Star is Born (1937) (Janet Gaynor, Fredric March); Sunset Boulevard (1950); A Star is Born (1954) (Judy Garland, James Mason); and Postcards from the Edge (1990).

    I must add that in the annals of film, this has to go down as one of the best Hollywood movies not to win a single Academy Award, although it was nominated for three: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. I suspect the Academy felt that the satire hit a little too close to home for comfort.

    (Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)
    helpful•70
    13
    • DeeNine-2
    • Aug 21, 2001

    FAQ2

    • What actors make cameo apperences as themselves ?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 8, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las reglas del juego
    • Filming locations
      • Geoffrey's Restaurant - 27400 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Avenue Pictures
      • Spelling Entertainment
      • Addis Wechsler Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,706,101
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $302,216
      • Apr 12, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,706,101
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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