Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

This is an (delightfully) convoluted movie within a movie (within a movie) where the actors play themselves, but their "themselves" are also scripted, and they talk about the making of the movie, then at the end credits talk about the making of the making of them movie. Though a British film, the power of Hollywood itself still has to make an appearance, itself one of the many "statements" of the film. Some radio clips of the current rise in violence in the Iraq War adds a serious backdrop to a most unserious film. (it's key is it's vanity and friviolity-- which is an implicit critique of it in it's own right.)

Of course, typical to such a movie about making movies, is the intern is the most passionate and knowledgeable about films, and those most involved in the project, and the most narcissistic are at the same time the most fraudulent and exploitive of those who actually are interesting and knowledgeable (again, another "stab" at the film industry).


"A director tries to film an undaptable novel." Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Keeley Hawes, Shirley Henderson, Dylan Moran, Jeremy Northam. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. From UK. 2005. 94 mins.

The Anniversary Party

This is a star-studded ensemble cast very much about Hollywood culture of drugs and the difficulty of relationships and loyalty in an increasingly "hollywoodization" of modern society.

Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates, Gwenyth Paltrow, Jennifer Beals, John C. Reilly and other A-list stars portray hollywood types.

They take "Dolphins" a "name-brand" of ecstasy.

Music is by Sean Penn's brother Michael Penn.  A series of photographs play a small role in the film, and these were taken by Jennifer Beals herself.  In fact, near the end of the film, a fairly overt scene with her manipulating one of the photos along a wall of them, is a kind of nod to her real-life contribution.
Oddly, Phoebe Cates, who after marrying Kevin Kline seemed to have dropped off the hollywood scene, plays in this film with her real-life husband, as the "family" couple with whom the main characters' contrast, also played with Jennifer Jason Leigh in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.  It makes you wonder whether they really did stay in touch all these years?



"Painful truths are revealed at a drug-fueled celebration."  Starring Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Steven Freedman, Calra Demedrano, John Benjamin Hickey, Parker Posey.  Written and directed by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming.  2001.  115 mins.

Movies about Making Movies (or About Hollywood)

The Player (1992)

Mistress (1992)

Hijacking Hollywood (1997)

Swimming with Sharks (1994)

Permanent Midnight (1998)

Get Shorty (1995)

update--> Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

Second Best

The Chaser

An intense murder mystery, a former, disgraced cop is now a pimp. One night when one of his girls goes missing, he starts to realize that several of his girls have gone missing. He goes on a chase to try to track her down before a deranged serial killer makes her his next victim.

The rights for this film have been bought by hollywood and will probably be remade.

"A cop who pimps girls looks for several who disappeared." Starrying Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha, Yeong-hie Seo, In-gi Jung, Hyo-ju Park. Directed Hong-jin Na. From South Korea. 2008. 125 mins.