BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN - AN ALAN SMITHEE FILM
US, 1997, 81 minutes, Colour.
Ryan O'Neill, Eric Idle, Coolio, Chuck Dee, Richard Jeni, Leslie Stefanson, Cherie Lunghi, Sandra Bernhard, Robert Evans, Harvey Weinstein, Dominic Dunne, Joe Eszterhas, Naomi Eszterhas, Naomi Campbell, Peter Bart, Arthur Hiller, Shane Black, Billy Barty, Larry King, Billy Bob Thornton, Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Chan.
Directed by Alan Smithee (Arthur Hiller)
Burn Hollywood Burn has been reviled as one of the worst films to come out of Hollywood. It is described as a sophomoric satire. However, this seems a bit unfair to the film, which has many funny lines, has some interesting jibes at the Hollywood industry and Hollywood personalities as well as films. This may mean it is limited to those in the know. But it does have its moments, especially with the stars Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg and Jackie Chan acting themselves and sending themselves up.
However, the film suffered the same fate as many films in Hollywood where directors wanted to remove their names and the agreed substitute was "directed by Alan Smithee". This means that this is an Alan Smithee film, directed by Alan Smithee. The actual director was Arthur Hiller who, in fact, appears in the very long credits in a discussion with Joe Eszterhas asking why he wanted him to direct the film and mocking his (that is, Joe Esterhas's) reputation. There are performances by Robert Evans and Harvey Weinstein, two high-flying producers who also send themselves up.
The main star of the show is Ryan O'Neill, giving an excellent performance as a ruthless director. Eric Idle brings his Monty Python talents to the role of a director whose actual name is Alan Smithee, who directs his first film after editing for years, Trio, a New York police drama with Stallone, Goldberg and Chan. He then wants to burn the film. There are various manoeuvres with private eyes, other producers, pressure on the director's wife,)Cherie Lunghi), some sex symbols, and producers trying to recover the film. The final decision is to make a film about Alan Smithee's life and he is once again restored to fame.
1. The reputation of the film? The director taking his name off it? Yet appearing in the final credits?
2. The background of Alan Smithee films, directors wanting their names removed, this generic substitute?
3. The humour of having a real director called Alan Smithee, his experience of directing, the producers taking over, his wanting his name taken off but not having any other name to substitute? His mental collapse, his burning the film, attempts to woo him, his agreement to have his life filmed?
4. The structure of the film - and its irony in having three parts with reference to sexual intercourse and familiar phrases about ruining people's lives?
5. The performances, the three stars, their interviews, the irony of sending up their own images? The guest stars, again sending up images, especially Robert Evans and Harvey Weinstein? Joe Eszterhas himself and his being interviewed? Derogatory remarks make about his other films, especially Showgirls? The in-references to various films and their success and failure, the reputations of various stars, the sexual reputations of various actors? The jokes at the expense of Hollywood and the legends?
6. Eric Idle as Alan Smithee, his comic turns, directing, frustration, in the asylum, his wife, his change of heart, the film?
7. Ryan O'Neill as the producer, his suave manner, his relationships, his ruthlessness, the meeting with the Brother brothers? His assistant? His sexual activities, his putting over the fact that he was the producer, dominance?
8. The assistant producers, the interviews, their comments, relationships? Going with the flow, lack of moral fibre?
9. The style of the film, the range of interviews, their being intercut? Straight to camera? The mockumentary style?
10. The humour of the film, the jokes, the visual humour, the in-jokes about Hollywood and movie-making?
