Swimming with Sharks (1994)

A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.

Director:

George Huang

Writer:

George Huang

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Michelle Forbes

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kevin Spacey	...	Buddy Ackerman
Frank Whaley	...	Guy
Michelle Forbes	...	Dawn Lockard
Benicio Del Toro	...	Rex
T.E. Russell	...	Foster Kane
Roy Dotrice	...	Cyrus Miles
Matthew Flint	...	Manny
Patrick Fischler	...	Moe
Jerry Levine	...	Jack

Storyline

A young Hollywood executive becomes the assistant to a big time movie producer who is the worst boss imaginable: abusive, abrasive and cruel. But soon things turn around when the young executive kidnaps his boss and visits all the cruelties back on him.

---

Plot Keywords:

black comedy | assistant | boss | movie producer | torture | 

---

Taglines:

Life is not a movie

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some scenes of psychological/physical torture and pervasive strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Boss

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$700,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$376,928

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineville,Keystone Studios,Mama'Z Boy Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one scene, Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey) tells an employee that he will become a shoe salesmen. Kevin Spacey worked as shoe salesmen before becoming a successful actor

---

Goofs

After Buddy calls Guy at his apartment and tells him to go to the office for a phone number, the back of Guy's jacket collar alternates between being straight and twisted between shots.

---

Quotes

[Buddy has just chewed Guy out for giving him a packet of Equal when he asked for Sweet 'N' Low]
Guy: Fuck! Fuck! That's it, I'm screwed. It's over.
Rex: Ah, relax. He always does that. That's his thing. Tomorrow, he'll ask you for an Equal. You can't win. It's a lose-lose situation. The trick is to have everything ready.

---

Connections

Features Casualties of War (1989)

---

Soundtracks

LAST TRAIN TO SATANSVILLE
Written by Adam Franklin, Jimmy Hartridge, Jeremy Hindmarsh
Performed by Swervedriver
Published by EMI-Blackwook Music, Inc. (BMI) / Copyright
Control (PRS)
Courtesy of A&M Records

User Reviews

He who must be obeyed

This film just sums up what it is to be a flunky in Hollywood. Buddy Ackerman is your normal high flying film producer, from the sharp suits down to the aggressive approach to anyone below him. Guy is flunky who has the job of dealing with Buddy's every whim, and then there's Dawn Lockard who is stuck in the middle. With an explosive relationship between all of them, the film is set at the home of Buddy. Guy has taken him hostage, and is annoyed that Buddy has fired him. Set with a series of flashbacks starting with an appearance with Benicio Del Toro, it tells the tale of what Guy has had to put up with in working for Buddy and all the hell he was put through to get to the place that he was before being fired over nothing. Very under-rated film and Spacey is amazing. Also applause to go to Frank Whaley for his great conflicting work with Spacey. A+