Hurlyburly (1998)

Director:

Anthony Drazan

Writers (WGA):

David Rabe (play)
David Rabe (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Hollywood movers and shakers dissect their own personal lives when everything seems to clash together.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Baby | Suicide | Hollywood California | Brunette

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Eddie
Kevin Spacey	...	Mickey
Robin Wright Penn	...	Darlene
Chazz Palminteri	...	Phil
Garry Shandling	...	Artie
Anna Paquin	...	Donna
Meg Ryan	...	Bonnie
Gianna Ranaudo	...	Susie (as Gianna Renaudo)
David Fabrizio	...	Store Manager
Kenny Vance	...	Singer
Michaline Babich	...	Receptionist
Elaine Corral Kendall	...	TV Anchor (as Elaine Corral)
Sharon Tay	...	TV Reporter
Frank Somerville	...	TV Anchor
Bob Jimenez	...	Newscaster

Also Known As:

À Beira do Caos (Brazil) [pt]
Ano kato (Greece) [el]
Bugie, baci, bambole & bastardi (Italy) [it]
Caos mental (Mexico) (TV title) [es]
Casting Director (Japan: English title) [en]
Descontrol (Spain) [es]
Eddien maailma (Finland) [fi]
Hollywood Sunrise (France) [fr]
Senli benli (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]

MPAA:

Rated R for constant drug use, pervasive strong language and sexual material.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #36014) | Australia:MA | France:U | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

FilmColony

Trivia:

Kevin Spacey asked the director for call sheets when Garry Shandling was going to be doing his scenes so that he could be there to watch. Spacey gave Shandling acting advice between takes, and at one point was even Garry's focal point behind the camera to mimic a facial expression, which the director used in the film since it captured the moment perfectly.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eddie lies under the glass table while Mickey and Artie talk to him, the location (and amount) of cocaine changes between shots.

Quotes:

Donna: How you been?
Eddie: I'm a wreck.
Donna: You look a wreck, actually, but I didn't want to be rude and
Eddie: I don't know what I'm doing. You know what I mean?
Donna: You're in the pool.
Eddie: Yeah. I don't know when was the last time I thought of you,
Donna: I'm a surprise is all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-03)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

There Goes the Neighborhood

Review

This is a recipe for filmmaking at its finest... Get a dialog driven play, get the playwright to pen it for the screen, and toss in two of the most intense and talented actors (Kevin Spacey and Sean Penn) in the business, supported by a very talented and surprising cast. What do you get? Hurlyburly! Billed as a black comedy, this is more what I would term "black hole" comedy. It is VERY dark, very disturbing, and the humor comes from the characters' need to lighten up a moment or to justify their actions. This film is NOT for everyone... If you're looking for anything truly humorous, this isn't the film. But if you want to see amazing acting and professionals who work well together, this is your film. Read other reviews with cautions on this film--don't confuse the tone of someone who hates what the characters stand for, what they believe in, and how they behave with the quality of the work done by the entire cast.