Paparazzi (2004)

A rising Hollywood actor decides to take personal revenge against a group of four persistent photographers to make them pay for almost causing a personal tragedy involving his wife and son.

Director:

Paul Abascal

Writer:

Forry Smith (as Forrest Smith)

Stars:

Cole Hauser, Robin Tunney, Dennis Farina

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cole Hauser	...	Bo Laramie
Robin Tunney	...	Abby Laramie
Dennis Farina	...	Detective Burton
Daniel Baldwin	...	Wendell Stokes
Tom Hollander	...	Leonard Clark
Kevin Gage	...	Kevin Rosner
Blake Michael Bryan	...	Zach Laramie (as Blake Bryan)
Tom Sizemore	...	Rex Harper
Andrea Baker	...	Emily
Jordan Baker	...	Dr. Kelley
Joe Basile	...	Police Lab Tech
Lauren Birkell	...	Allison
Wendy Braun	...	Bo's Publicist
Kelly Carlson	...	Kristin
Greg Castro	...	Policeman

Storyline

Bo Laramie is a movie star who has finally achieved success. But success comes at a price, in the form of four persistent photographers known as the paparazzi. Using their dishonest methods of getting the money shot regardless of what it takes, they'll stop at nothing in exploiting Bo for every last penny. But when one of their ventures nearly costs Bo's life and that of his family when they cause a car accident and do nothing afterwords except take photos, Bo has finally reached his breaking point. In doing so, Bo decides to exact a crafty and complex revenge on those four who have enjoyed making his life a living hell with his focus on the paparazzi's ring leader, Rex Harper.

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Plot Keywords:

frame up | revenge | paparazzi | actor | movie star | 

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Taglines:

It's time to settle the score.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences, sexual content and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 September 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paparaciai

Filming Locations:

Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,146,262, 5 September 2004

Gross USA:

$15,714,234

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,796,512

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chris Rock: As a pizza guy.

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Goofs

On the cover of the Paparazzi magazine, the word "accident" is spelled "accicdent".

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Quotes

[deleted scene]
Cellmate: [in jail] You a fine-lookin' man.
Rex Harper: [weakly] Thanks. You too.
[starts sobbing]

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Connections

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

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Soundtracks

Going in the Right Direction
Performed by Robert Randolph and The Family Band
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing
Written by Robert Randolph
Published by Happy Fingers Too Publishing (BMI)

User Reviews

It's Fun -- C'mon!

I saw it last night. I think this movie is misunderstood.

I want to believe that the reasons behind this movie's dismal reviews in the main have to do with the fact that certain people with certain political leanings WANT to hate it and hate Gibson for the sheer and utter sole reason that he made THE PASSION OF THE Christ, that it has a so-called (and totally off-the-wall -- and wrong!) message of anti-Semitism... and that he made the movie anyway, despite protests from the political Left of Hollywood. Have you noticed that Mel Gibson actually placed his name in the credits of this movie as its producer? I can't think of any other Icon Productions film in which his name is placed at all. Granted, Mel doesn't need the money. As far as money goes, he's set for the rest of his life and the rest of his kids' lives. But he has a passion (no pun intended) for making movies, and he's proving that you can't keep him out of Hollywood, by placing his name in the forefront of the credits of this particular Icon Productions project.

It's a fun movie. First and foremost. That's the point of having so many uncredited cameos, most prominently Mel Gibson as an Anger Management patient sitting in the doctor's office scribbling away in the 5 workbooks piled up in his lap.

Secondly, this is a western set in modern society. Whatever you might think of westerns as a genre, PAPARAZZI is for the most part Gregory Peck's THE BRAVADOS with a Hollywood film-making setting. Westerns have long been a staple of the family for Hollywood film-makers since its beginnings. Also, Gibson has himself stated that in prepping BRAVEHEART for filming, he watched -- among other movies -- Gregory Peck's THE BIG COUNTRY. I think Gibson is a fan of Peck's as well as a huge movie buff in his own right; and PAPARAZZI is a tip of the hat to westerns in general. Also, add to the fact that the main character of PAPARAZZI hails from Montana.

Lastly, believe it or not, I think this movie is oriented to the family. Not only does this movie have Mel Gibson in a cameo, but also Vince Vaughan and Matthew McConaughey. It also features Chris Rock who appeared with Gibson in LETHAL WEAPON 4, as well as Fay Masterson who was in Gibson's directorial debut THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE.

This movie isn't on the scale of BEN-HUR or THE BIG COUNTRY. This movie is what it is... fun. I applaud Mel Gibson and crew for delivering the goods.