swimming with sharks (1994)
Guy, after a year of mental abuse, kidnaps and tortures
his Hollywood boss.
This film ranks as one of my all-time
 favorite
films. It won't win any cinematic awards - it's not Lawrence of Arabia
, but it is so wonderfully vicious and sarcastic that I never tire of
watching it.
Evidently, George Huang based this story on his own personal experience
in Hollywood and pissed off some people. That's fantastic.
Although I enjoy Robert Altman's The Player and think it's an enjoyable
Hollywood satire as well, there's something more evil lurking under
the surface of Swimming With Sharks - something a bit darker - that
makes you just a little more uncomfortable. A little more uneasy.
THINGS I LOVE
  Kevin
Spacey. This man is amazing. He manages to bring depth to an otherwise
shallow one-dimensional character. I love the yelling. I love the smirks.
I love the derrogatory remarks made with such precision they almost
cut like a knife.
The radio announcer
talking about the celebrity tractor pull. For this reason alone, you
should see this movie.
The wind-up toys.
Buddy's little
smiles after torturing Guy.
The time divisions.
Day One. Month One. Etc. It really works for this film and the passage
of time.
The ending. I
believe this is one of the best endings I've ever seen - just in terms
of expectations and not knowing for sure how things are going to turn
out. It rocks.
FAVORITE MOMENTS
The parking
lot incident between Guy and Dawn on his first day.
Rob and the explosions.
"Would you like this in a pump or a loafer?"
The Sweet N'
Low incident. This is one of the most fantastic scenes in the movie.
It gives you a feeling for what the rest of the film will be like. I
love it.
 The
car phone. Unreachable. In the elevator - Get out! Get out! Who do you
work for?
The talk about
the yelling. This is priceless because you know going in that Buddy's
response is not going to be a compassionate one. Buddy's smile when
Guy leaves is wonderful. Truly wonderful.
Time magazine.
Destroying every single issue. Because remember, this job is big on
payback.
Paper cuts. The
look on Buddy's face as he is  imagining
the horrific torture that Guy has prepared and then he comes out with
an envelope. Wonderful.
The transition,
cut away shot from Buddy laughing about Guy breaking the mirror to him
laughing in the office. It's great.
The water-torture
scene. The framing of this scene is wonderful - Buddy's feet on the
desk in front of Guy's head - the long shot of Buddy. Great.
QUOTES
Guy, if you
do this job well, wealth and opportunity are yours. - Rex
If they can't
start a meeting without you, well, that's a meeting worth going to,
isn't it? - Buddy
What is this?
- Buddy
What Equal contains
is not my concern here. I don't care if it has fucking fairy dust in
it. - Buddy
Shut up. Listen.
And learn. - Buddy
You have no brain.
No judgment calls are necessary. What you think means nothing. What
you feel means nothing. You are here for me. You are here to protect
my interests and to serve my needs. - Buddy
I'm not trying
to be cruel. I'm just trying to help. - Buddy
What good are
you? Do you have a brain? - Buddy
Fuck your disappointment.
Fuck your disillusionment and fuck you. - Buddy
I'm sorry. Did
I hurt your feelings? - Buddy
My bathmat means
more to me than you. - Buddy
I don't think
the yelling is necessary. - Buddy (mockingly)
You're happy.
I hate that. - Buddy
Do not apologize.
It's a sign of weakness. - Dawn
Fucking men.
Fucking crazy. - Dawn
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