(another abbreviated review to catch up)

 Kevin Costner’s turn as a lazy scruffy drunk single father and the outlandish premise of this movie makes it all a little difficult to accept. 

If you want to rent a cute little family movie for the kids to learn something about voting, then maybe… but the concept of the presidential election coming down to one person (without a recall) is sooo unrealistic that the movie and the characters kind of become a joke.  There’s a heavy haning message about making sure you vote, that one person could change the course of the election, but the way that its done (without spoiling it if you decie to rent it)… is not very good.

The best part about this movie is Madeline Carroll, who plays Costner’s plucky little civic-minded daughter, and she does it quite well.

THE BOTTOM LINE: From the guy who either has a hit or a miss, I give it 5.0 out of 10 another miss for Mr. Costner.

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What Just Happened is an awkward look at making movies through the life of a producer losing his foothold in the industry.

This was a different way to tell to tell a story… as a credit to the moviemakers, it felt more like a reality show or documentary than a movie… but I’m still not sure whether I like it or not.

 “What Just Happened”

(2008) (rated: R for language, some violent images, sexual content and some drug material) (1 hr, 44 min)

Starring: Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Kristen Stewart, Catherine Keener, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Michael Wincott, Moon Bloodgood

Director: Barry Levinson – “Man of the Year” (2006), “Sphere” (1998), “Wag the Dog” (1997), “Rain Man” (1988), “Good Morning, Vietnam” (1987), “The Natural” (1984)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

The Plot: Two weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer who’s having a rough time trying to get his new picture made.

MY TAKE:

Robert DeNiro’s character has serious problems.  So does this movie.

In some ways, the movie was very good… the pacing, the acting, the awkward tension and living the life of a man who’s career is spiraling out of control.

But the movie focuses so much on the inner workings of Hollywood, that it doesn’t have mainstream appeal… there are a lot of inside references as the movie pokes fun at Hollywood that is lost on wider audiences.

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