The Player (1992)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Michael Tolkin (screenplay)
Michael Tolkin (novel)

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The Best Movie Ever Made!" - Griffin Mill

Plot:

A studio executive is being blackmailed by a writer whose script he rejected but which one? Loaded with Hollywood insider jokes.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Blackmail | Screenwriter | Investigation | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Griffin Mill
Greta Scacchi	...	June Gudmundsdottir
Fred Ward	...	Walter Stuckel
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Detective Avery
Peter Gallagher	...	Larry Levy
Brion James	...	Joel Levison
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Bonnie Sherow
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	David Kahane
Dean Stockwell	...	Andy Civella
Richard E. Grant	...	Tom Oakley
Sydney Pollack	...	Dick Mellon
Lyle Lovett	...	Detective DeLongpre
Dina Merrill	...	Celia
Angela Hall	...	Jan
Leah Ayres	...	Sandy
Paul Hewitt	...	Jimmy Chase
Randall Batinkoff	...	Reg Goldman
Jeremy Piven	...	Steve Reeves
Gina Gershon	...	Whitney Gersh
Frank Barhydt	...	Frank Murphy
Mike Kaplan	...	Marty Grossman (as Mike E. Kaplan)
Kevin Scannell	...	Gar Girard
Margery Bond	...	Witness
Susan Emshwiller	...	Detective Broom
Brian Brophy	...	Phil (voice)
Michael Tolkin	...	Eric Schecter
Stephen Tolkin	...	Carl Schecter
Natalie Strong	...	Natalie
Peter Koch	...	Walter (as Pete Koch)
Pamela Bowen	...	Trixie
Jeff Celentano	...	Rocco (as Jeff Weston)
Steve Allen	...	Himself
Richard Anderson	...	Himself
Rene Auberjonois	...	Himself
Harry Belafonte	...	Himself
Shari Belafonte	...	Herself
Karen Black	...	Herself
Michael Bowen	...	Himself
Gary Busey	...	Himself
Robert Carradine	...	Himself
Charles Champlin	...	Himself
Cher	...	Herself
James Coburn	...	Himself
Cathy Lee Crosby	...	Herself
John Cusack	...	Himself
Brad Davis	...	Himself
Paul Dooley	...	Himself
Thereza Ellis	...	Herself
Peter Falk	...	Himself
Felicia Farr	...	Herself
Katarzyna Figura	...	Herself (as Kasia Figura)
Louise Fletcher	...	Herself
Dennis Franz	...	Himself
Teri Garr	...	Herself
Leeza Gibbons	...	Herself
Scott Glenn	...	Himself
Jeff Goldblum	...	Himself
Elliott Gould	...	Himself
Joel Grey	...	Himself
David Alan Grier	...	Himself
Buck Henry	...	Himself
Anjelica Huston	...	Herself (as Angelica Huston)
Kathy Ireland	...	Herself
Steve James	...	Himself
Maxine John-James	...	Herself
Sally Kellerman	...	Herself
Sally Kirkland	...	Herself
Jack Lemmon	...	Himself
Marlee Matlin	...	Herself
Andie MacDowell	...	Herself
Malcolm McDowell	...	Himself
Jayne Meadows	...	Herself
Martin Mull	...	Himself
Jennifer Nash	...	Herself
Nick Nolte	...	Himself
Alexandra Powers	...	Herself
Bert Remsen	...	Himself
Guy Remsen	...	Himself
Patricia Resnick	...	Herself
Burt Reynolds	...	Himself
Jack Riley	...	Himself
Julia Roberts	...	Herself
Mimi Rogers	...	Herself
Annie Ross	...	Herself
Alan Rudolph	...	Himself
Jill St. John	...	Herself
Susan Sarandon	...	Herself
Adam Simon	...	Himself
Rod Steiger	...	Himself
Joan Tewkesbury	...	Herself
Brian Tochi	...	Himself
Lily Tomlin	...	Herself
Robert Wagner	...	Himself
Ray Walston	...	Himself
Bruce Willis	...	Himself
Marvin Young	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Althea Gibson	...	Herself (uncredited)
Ted Hartley	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Jason	...	Himself (uncredited)
James McLindon	...	Jim the Writer (uncredited)
Derek Raser	...	Studio Mail Driver (uncredited)
Scott Shaw	...	Himself (uncredited)
Patrick Swayze	...	Himself (uncredited)
Dan Twyman	...	Funeral Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Tolkin		(screenplay)
Michael Tolkin		(novel "The Player")

Produced by
Cary Brokaw	....	executive producer
David Brown	....	producer
Scott Bushnell	....	co-producer
William S. Gilmore	....	co-executive producer
David Levy	....	associate producer
Michael Tolkin	....	producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman		(music by)

Cinematography by
Jean Lépine		(director of photography) (as Jean Lepine)

Film Editing by
Maysie Hoy
Geraldine Peroni

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Jerry Fleming

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller

Costume Design by
Alexander Julian		(wardrobe designer)

Makeup Department
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup artist (as Deborah Larsen)
Scott Williams	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Jim Chesney	....	production supervisor
Tom Udell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
C.C. Barnes	....	second assistant director (as CC Barnes)
Allan F. Nicholls	....	first assistant director (as Allan Nicholls)

Art Department
Matthew R. Altman	....	set dresser (as Matthew Altman)
John Beauvais	....	scenic painter
Peter Borck	....	leadman
Charles Bragg	....	title painting
John Bucklin	....	set dresser
Thomas Calloway	....	carpenter
Sydney Cooper	....	artwork
Loren Corney	....	construction coordinator
John Evans	....	carpenter
Kenny Funk	....	carpenter (as Kenneth Funk)
Michelle Guastello	....	art department coordinator (as Michele Guastello)
Julie Heuer	....	assistant property master
Justin Kritzer	....	carpenter
Darryl Lee	....	carpenter
Chris Marneus	....	carpenter
Patrick Maurer	....	construction foreman (as Pat Maurer)
James Monroe	....	property master
Mario Pérez	....	swing gang (as Mario Perez)
Ricky Riggs	....	painter
David Ronan	....	set dresser
Daniel C. Rothenberg	....	swing gang (as Daniel Rothenberg)
Jim Samson	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound effects editor (as Ken Burton)
Robert Deschaine	....	foley mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
Rich Gooch	....	recordist
Joseph Holsen	....	dialogue editor
Paul Holzborn	....	foley artist (as Paul Holtzborn)
Matthew Iadarola	....	re-recording mixer
David Jobe	....	foley recordist
Stanley Kastner	....	re-recording mixer
Edmund J. Lachmann	....	dialogue editor (as Ed Lachmann)
John Post	....	foley artist
John Pritchett	....	production sound mixer
Michael P. Redbourn	....	supervising sound editor (as Michael Redbourn)
Joel Shryack	....	boom operator
Emily Smith-Baker	....	cable puller
Bill Ward	....	assistant sound editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4 (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects (as John Hartigan)

Stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	first assistant camera
Robert Bruce	....	electrician
Andy Day	....	best boy electric (as Andrew Day)
Val DeSalvo	....	electrician (as Val De Salvo)
Kevin Fahey	....	grip
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip (as Michael J. Fahey)
Craig Finetti	....	third assistant camera
Scott Hollander	....	grip (as Scott 'El Gato' Hollander)
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Daniel Cary McCrystal	....	second assistant camera (as Cary McKrystal)
Tom McGrath	....	electrician
Don Muchow	....	gaffer
Tim Nash	....	grip
Chris Reddish	....	electrician
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Wayne Stroud	....	dolly grip
Scott Hamilton	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Al Luis	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Billows	....	wardrobe assistant
Vickie Brinkford	....	wardrobe assistant (as Vicki Brinkkord)
Lydia Tanji	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alisa Hale	....	second assistant editor
Bob Hart	....	negative cutter
A. Michelle Page	....	assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer (as Michael Stanwick)
Dylan Tichenor	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	music editor
Thomas Pasatieri	....	orchestrator
John Vigran	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Chris Armstrong	....	driver (as Christopher Armstrong)
Ron Chesney	....	driver
Steve Earle	....	driver
Don Feeney	....	driver
D.J. Gardiner	....	driver
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain (as 'J.T.' Thayer)
Gregg Willis	....	driver (as Greg Willis)

Other crew
Alison Balian	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Andrea Berty	....	craft service
Angie Bonner	....	production assistant
Paul D. Boydston	....	assistant location manager (as Paul Boydston)
Jim Brockett	....	animal trainer
John O. Brown III	....	production assistant (as John Brown III)
Betsy Chasse	....	assistant coordinator
Stacy Cohen	....	production secretary
Celia Converse	....	representative: Sandcastle 5
Signe Corriere	....	production assistant
Steve Day	....	production assistant
Kimberly Edwards	....	production accountant (as Kimberly Edwards Shapiro)
Judy Geletko	....	additional accounting services
Robin Hage	....	assistant: Cary Brokaw
Sheri Halfon	....	financial representative: Avenue
Pamela Hedley	....	production executive
Cynthia Hill	....	production coordinator
Kelly Householder	....	production assistant
Lawrence Karman	....	karaoke videos (as Larry 'Doc' Karman)
Jack Kney	....	location manager
Danielle Knight	....	assistant: Cary Brokaw
Cheryl Kurk	....	assistant accountant
Claudia Lewis	....	production executive
Stuart McCauley	....	craft service
James McLindon	....	assistant: Robert Altman (as Jim McLindon)
Tom Moore	....	set medic
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Carole Starkes	....	script supervisor
Andrew Varela	....	promotions arranger
Catherine Webb	....	post-production accountant
Michael Hubert	....	assistant coordinator (uncredited)
Julie Kuehndorf	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Chris Paine	....	assistant to writer and producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Janis Dinwiddie	....	special thanks
Mark Eisen	....	special thanks
Morgan Entrekin	....	special thanks
Luis Estevez	....	special thanks
Bob Flick	....	special thanks: Entertainment Tonight
Suzanne Goldman	....	special thanks
Gerald Greenbach	....	special thanks: Two Bunch Palms
Ron Haver	....	special thanks
Randy Honaker	....	special thanks
Julie Johnston	....	special thanks
Patrick Murray	....	special thanks
Toyoko Nezu	....	special thanks
Mimi Rabinowitz	....	special thanks
Steve Trombatore	....	special thanks: All Payments

Production Companies

• Avenue Pictures Productions (as Avenue Pictures) (presents)
• Spelling Entertainment (in association with)
• Addis Wechsler Pictures (as David Brown/Addis-Wechsler)
• Guild (uncredited)

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Voyager Company, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• New Line Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Cipa (????) (France) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• All Payments Services  special thanks (as All Payments)
• Artis Security  location security
• Bally  special thanks
• Baseline Type & Graphics  special thanks (as Baselne)
• Clein & White  publicity
• Clein + White  publicity (as Clein + White, Inc.)
• Design America  special thanks
• Entertainment Tonight  special thanks
• Film Finance  completion bond (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• GeoWorks  special thanks
• Land Rover of North America  special thanks (as Range Rover of North America)
• Les Hooper Orchestra, The  special thanks
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art  special thanks (as The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art )
• Los Angeles Marathon  special thanks (as L.A. Marathon)
• Magic Casting  extras casting
• Marchon  special thanks
• Marcolin Eye Wear  special thanks
• Mercer Titles & Optical Effects Ltd.  titles and opticals (as Mercer Titles & Optical)
• Reebok  special thanks
• Richard Feiner & Co. Inc.  special thanks: The Bicycle Thief
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering (as Rick Brainin Catering)
• Sinclair, Tenenbaum, Emanuel & Fleer  legal services (as Sinclair Tennenbaum & Co.)
• Skywalker Sound  re-recording facilities (A Division of LucasArts Entertainment Company)
• Spinneybeck  special thanks
• The Daiwa Bank Ltd.  financing provided by
• Two Bunch Palms  special thanks
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Wyman & Isaacs  legal services

Also Known As:

O Jogador (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
A játékos (Hungary) [hu]
El juego de Hollywood (Spain) [es]
Gracz (Poland) [pl]
I protagonisti (Italy) [it]
Igrac (Serbia) [sr]
Igralec (Slovenia) [sl]
Joc de culise (Romania) [ro]
Las reglas del juego (Argentina) [es]
Le meneur (Canada: French title) [fr]
O paiktis (Greece) [el]
Oyuncular (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Spelaren (Sweden) [sv]
The Player (Germany) [de]
The Player (Denmark) [da]
The Player (France) [fr]
The player - pelimies (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some sensuality.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #31599) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Argyle Hotel - 8358 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

The opening tracking shot (8 minutes) includes people talking about famous long tracking shots in other movies. The scene was rehearsed for a day, shot for half a day. Fifteen takes were done, five were printed, and the third one was used in the film. The entire sequence was unscripted, and all the dialogue is improvised.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Mud facial dries much too quickly for the few seconds we see it especially on Griffin's face.

Quotes:

Malcolm McDowell: If you've got something to say about me; say it to my face, not behind my back.

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Soundtrack:

SNAKE

the reality of the making of the un-reality of Hollywood

Once The Player's end credits rolled, I was shaken, but in the kind of way that you are when you hear a really sly, long joke by someone who knows what they're telling is not hysterical but still has a wicked knack that will stay with you or gnaw at your side. Robert Altman's the Player, one of his very best films (maybe his best) made since the 1970's, is as much about the detached, perfunctory nature of these characters as it is a story of a murdering writing executive. It's not a satire in the sense of Dr. Strangelove; there's nothing that's over the top for the audience. But it does get in some notes, practically without any pretense of going about it otherwise, about the sterility of modern Hollywood. As a film buff, while watching this movie I'm not even bowled over by the numerous cameo appearances by Hollywood's main stars and wonderful character actors. That's because Altman, while being un-obtrusive of what the actors are doing on screen, has his focus set very carefully, and it's in this precise kind of mode that it works best.

It's not to say Altman's style doesn't have its own voice, and some of the shots in the film- self conscious no doubt- bring out the anti-Hollywood while Hollywood ideas. And working in the framework, not the dependence, of the story lets some interesting things of reality go on. When you see this 8-minute long take at the start of the film, it's getting the music of the film going right away, of the 'money-talks, BS-continues' attitude of a Hollywood studio, not just of the main character Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins). It may be 'just a movie', but it's also one with this constant feel of life going on, as Altman, through Tokin's screenplay, is a fly on the wall as it were. We see Mill, a writing executive, go through a rough patch with a certain writer (Vincent D'Onofrio) who hasn't heard back from him in a while. When a harsh accident occurs, Mill has to keep moving, not just with his job or his details of the night the two had, but with the writer's girlfriend (Greta Scacchi) who start an affair.

Altman once said, quite famously, once casting is complete 80% of his work is done. The Player is one of those major examples in Altman's career, and despite the fact that most, if not all, of the supporting actors (who may or may not also be in their cameo roles) are sublime in their roles (Goldberg, Scacchi, Lyle Lovett, and especially Cynthia Stevnenson), it's a key Robbins turn. His career has often had roles where he can lay in a naturalness that other actors might not have gone for. He also fits the role of Griffin Mill much as he did for Andy Dufresne and Dave in Mystic River. Here he has a perfect quality in this character to, as Ebert pointed out, not be un-likable even as he is not a good person. I loved the little facial gestures, the seemingly controlled stares, and the small moments where his upper class facade starts to wear down beneath the bloodless business of making movie deals. His could be for some the only reason to see the film, and rightfully so, as I really don't think Altman would've been able to pull it off with another.

It does almost add to what could be frustration for some by the end of the film to see what happens to him, but it actually is after thinking about it more even more satisfying an ending. A question the film ponders for this character is- if he can survive the reality when all he wants is a happy ending in the stories he hears? And through this simplicity some compositions and scenes are quite remarkable; that one single shot of a certain close-up of a sex scene not only plays brilliantly off of a script description earlier, but is one of the best scene-shots I've seen in recent movies. Very well done, if not for everyone.