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Swimming with Sharks

  • 1994
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley in Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Home Video Trailer from Trimark
Play trailer2:11
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dark ComedySatireShowbiz DramaComedyCrime

A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Huang
    • Writer
      • George Huang
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey
      • Frank Whaley
      • Michelle Forbes
    • 165User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Swimming With Sharks
    Trailer 2:11
    Swimming With Sharks

    Photos107

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    Top cast11

    Edit
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • Buddy Ackerman
    Frank Whaley
    Frank Whaley
    • Guy
    Michelle Forbes
    Michelle Forbes
    • Dawn Lockard
    Benicio Del Toro
    Benicio Del Toro
    • Rex
    T.E. Russell
    T.E. Russell
    • Foster Kane
    Roy Dotrice
    Roy Dotrice
    • Cyrus Miles
    Matthew Flint
    • Manny
    Patrick Fischler
    Patrick Fischler
    • Moe
    Jerry Levine
    Jerry Levine
    • Jack
    Sabryn Genet
      Kyle Reed
      • Studio Executive
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • George Huang
      • Writer
        • George Huang
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Buddy Ackerman's character was inspired by real life movie mogul Joel Silver whom Huang used to work for.
      • Goofs
        Guy puts a CD in the player upside-down. The display then shows "no disc" but the music begins to play anyway.
      • Quotes

        Buddy: Life is not a movie. Good guys lose, everybody lies, and love... does not conquer all.

      • Connections
        Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Crimson Tide/A Little Princess/The Perez Family/The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill/Swimming with Sharks (1995)
      • Soundtracks
        The Spoken Word
        Written by J. Munns, M. Dingle, J. Lyde

        Performed by Vibes Alive

        Published by 83 Jazz, Inc. (ASCAP)

        Courtesy of Ubiquity Recordings, Inc.

      User reviews165

      Featured review
      7/10

      Caustic, cynical examination of the inner workings of the film industry

      While through the ages, many noteworthy motion pictures detailing the film industry itself have been made, the majority concentrated on a highly positive tone, portraying Hollywood as the organization which "brought dreams to life", or similar self serving platitudes. However, in the early 90s, a new trend began to emerge - films which delved below the glossy exterior of Hollywood and began to expose more negative aspects of the industry. One would be hard pressed to find as fitting an example of this Hollywood introspective neo- realism as writer/director George Huang's semi-autobiographical (but hopefully only to an extent...) Swimming With Sharks - a biting, cynical look at the interior of the film industry which challenges the preconceptions of the industry and its bleak aims.

      Like Robert Altman's The Player, Swimming with Sharks offers a harshly critical commentary on the corporate moneymaking machine that is Hollywood, but from the opposite end: the perspective of a low level assistant striving to rise in the ranks. However, similar to Altman's work, Huang's film dabbles with the notion of being a black comedy or darkly satirical take on the business end of the film industry, but ultimately lacks the acerbic wit needed to succeed on such a front. As such, while the occasional moment of darkly gleeful comedic insight may derived, for the most part, the film falters on attempted darkly ironic comedic moments which come across as too heavy handed to be truly funny. The film's main strength is in its strictly dramatic climax; its harrowing and powerful turn of events toying with notions of all consuming ambition and free will in a truly gripping fashion. Combined with a numbingly unexpected and chilling ending scene, the film's finale is easily its strongest point - enough so to carry the occasional botched comic moment from earlier in the film. However, Tom Heil's understated and affecting single piano score and the occasional moment of intriguing cinematography also add to the overall quality of the work.

      Kevin Spacey is the main pleasure to behold here as the film's main selling point, the "boss from Hell" figure Buddy Ackerman. Alternating between wryly funny, starkly powerful and disconcertingly human, Spacey, though disappointingly denied the ability to chew the scenery quite as much as one might hope for, easily walks away with the picture with his top notch work. Frank Whaley gives an adequate performance as the constantly put upon assistant who finally seeks revenge, though his character is given next to no development and Whaley lacks the engaging charisma needed to really sell the role. Michelle Forbes also comes across as disappointingly flat as an ambitious business woman caught between Spacey and Whaley, though she shines in certain scenes. Watch also for an early appearance by Benicio Del Toro in a tiny role as Whaley's predecessor.

      While it may falter as the black comedy it clearly wants to be throughout, the film excels as the harshly critical drama it becomes by the end. An undeniably maliciously enjoyable performance by Spacey keeps the film afloat, and while it may occasionally come across as lopsided or falling short of its potential, Swimming with Sharks keeps enough surprises up its proverbial sleeve to remain interesting throughout as a cynical treatise on ambition and the film industry which thrives upon it.

      -7/10
      • pyrocitor
      • Jan 31, 2008
      • Permalink

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      FAQ19

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      • What is Swimming with Sharks about?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • April 21, 1995 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • The Buddy Factor
      • Filming locations
        • Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA(Studio)
      • Production companies
        • Cineville
        • Keystone Studios
        • Mama'Z Boy Entertainment
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • $700,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $382,928
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $34,703
        • Apr 23, 1995
      • Gross worldwide
        • $382,928
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 33 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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