SWIMMING WITH SHARKS

US, 1994, 93 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Michelle Forbes, Benicio del Toro.
Directed by George Huang.

Swimming With Sharks was written and directed by George Huang, who based it on his own experience for many years as a Hollywood production assistant.

The film is a rather sharp satire on making films in Hollywood - with a touch of the All About Eve in the production office. Frank Waley portrays a would-be screenwriter who goes to work for a movie producer, played with absolute relish by Kevin Spacey. Spacey enjoys the humiliation on his new and young assistant. However, with the connivance of other people in the production unit, he gradually turns the tables on the producer and starts on his own steps up the rungs of fame and fortune.

The film portrays the Hollywood struggles with a great amount of relish, benefiting from sharp dialogue and excellent performances.

1. A portrait of Hollywood and film-making? A first feature - writer and director? His insights and style? Based on personal experience?

2. The tradition of Hollywood films? The experience of film-making, ruthlessness, deals, compromises? Experience and real people? Ambition, cutthroat behaviour, cruelty? Styles of talking, acting? Power and deals? The film as a realistic portrait with such savage satirical overtones?

3. The strong dialogue and its intensity, the creation of conflicts? Sardonic wit?

4. The Hollywood locations, the use of the studio, offices, homes and apartments? The musical score?

5. The title and its tone? Indication of themes and treatment?

6. The structure of the film: the night, the dinner, the phone call? Dawn - and the return to the first day, first month, first year? The return to the confrontation between Guy and Buddy? The passing of time and the end?

7. The film as a setting up of confrontations? The battles, the personalities? The passing of the year, changing in attitudes, motivation? Buddy and Guy and their ambitions? The significance of the final choice? How credible was the final choice, given the characters and their behaviour?

8. Guy, the dinner and friends, the calls and the exercise of power, the desperate phoning of Dawn? School? The first day and his predecessor? The phones, the coffee etc? His confidence or lack of confidence? His being humiliated by Buddy? Interacting with him, with the personnel in the office? His ability to receive Buddy's abuse, arguing with him, being dismissed as a wimp? The initial encounter with Dawn, the car park, their talking, her ambitions, the dates, lobbying, the sexual relationship, the writing of the movie, mutual support? The passing of the year, the effect on Guy, the humiliations - and his imitating humiliating others? The effect on his personality? The movie and the set-up, the promotion, confrontation, anger? His going to Buddy's home, his rage, the physical torture, the decision whether to kill him or not? The phone call, Dawn's arrival, the discussions and his listening?

9. The shock of Guy's opting to blame Dawn and let Buddy survive? How credible?

10. Kevin Spacey's personality as Buddy? The explanation of his background (and the writer-director's testimony that the character was based on real Hollywood personalities)? Ten years going up the ladder, paying his dues, his relationship with superiors, his behaviour to them on the phone? His office as his kingdom? His likes and dislikes? His manner of talking with people, humiliating people? Clever expressions, arguments, his philosophy of his work, ambitions, making movies? His ability to wheel and deal? The sexual relationships and his predatory style? His relationship with Dawn? The various assistants and his interference? Calling them, making demands? The final confrontation at home with Guy? His argument, his reaction to being abused and tortured? And yet his skilful ability to persuade Guy to the final decision?

11. Dawn, in the car park, the deals? Her dating Guy, the meals, lobbying? Sexual relationship? The writing of the movie? Buddy and his past relationship with her, her attitude, the change? The phone call and Guy? Going to Buddy's house? The confrontation, her arguing her case? Her becoming the victim?

12. The minor characters, especially in the office? The first assistant and his advice? Guy's pals and their wanting promotion, wanting to take his place?

13. The blend of realism and cynicism? Its effect as a film document about the underside of Hollywood and the movie industry?