The Player

now more than ever

robert altman's the player still holds plenty of truth 17 years after it was made. the critical examination of hollywood dirtbag executives and the system that keeps art out of mainstream film is excellent. tim robbins stars as griffin mill, a declining producer who begins receiving threatening postcards from a disgruntled writer who he never "got back to". meanwhile he sees a young hotshot exec. rising in the studio and threatens to put mill out of a job. things go horribly wrong for griffin when he tries to confront the writer in person. the film has an excellent ensemble cast, as do all of altman's movies, and lots of great performances. probably the best scene in the movie is the first 8 single take featuring many of the characters on the lot. the ending is very good and makes the film.