What Just Happened DVD Review

WHAT JUST HAPPENED - An Alliance Films Release

http://www.whatjusthappenedfilm.com/

On DVD: February 24th, 2009

Rated Canada 14A for violence, and coarse language.

Running time: 104 minutes

Barry Levinson (dir.)

Robert De Niro as Ben

Bruce Willis as Actor

Sean Penn as Himself

Stanley Tucci as Scott Solomon

John Turturro as Dick Bell

© 2009 2929 Productions. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.

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What Just Happened Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

What Just Happened is Barry Levinson’s latest film. Is it his best? No. Did anyone expect it would be? I don’t think so. Is it a bad movie? I don’t really think so, but a lot of people would. It is far from a great movie, but it is still a pretty good one. Following two weeks in the life of Ben, (Robert De Niro), a fading Hollywood producer who is trying to get a crazy director to edit his film, so that it doesn’t show a dog getting shot, (sensitive viewers will probably want to close their eyes during these scenes). Trying to get Bruce Willis to shave his beard proves to be tough, and trying to rekindle his marriage which has long since fallen apart. Robert De Niro is really good, and I enjoyed watching him as his character tries to juggle his life. Some of the scenes are shot really fast and just speed before our eyes. The film is slightly scattered and confusing, but I think that's the point. One problem with the film is that it spends time showing us a bad movie, and I think that was the point. Would a movie that keeps showing a bad movie be degraded as a bad movie? And they got their answer because a lot of people hated it. I can see the film being to “inside Hollywood” for a lot of people, but if you work in, or know the industry, then the film is interesting and at times very funny.

The DVD includes Audio Commentary with director/producer Barry Levinson and writer/producer Art Linson, deleted scenes, behind the scenes, casting sessions, making of What Just Happened: from book to script to screen and a featurette entitled “No Animals were Harmed in the Making of this Movie”.

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What Just Happened Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

This is a movie that after watching it, you are not quite sure what to think. It is a good movie, but it is quite scattered, and the repetitive showing of a bad violent movie can become tiresome to say the least. Sensitive viewers will probably be looking away throughout this repeated scene...

Robert De Niro plays his role well, and he very much carries this movie. The cast is good, and a lot of people inside Hollywood will probably ‘get’ this movie more than the average moviegoer. Essentially, this movie is about a struggling Hollywood producer, played by Robert De Niro, who has just produced yet another bad movie, which unless edited, will be dropped by the studio. The dealings with the completely crazy director of the violent film, Bruce Willis as the actor in his next film, his two ex-wives, and the fact that different audiences like different things depending on where you screen your film, will probably just be got more by Hollywood. And all this is happening with his cell phone ringing all the while.

This movie would probably be worth renting, or borrowing from the library if you are interested in checking it out. Then, if you really like it, you can buy it afterward. For a lot of people this will be worth having in their collection, and for others, not so much. It’s just that kind of film.

The disc also has a fair amount of special features on it, including commentary, deleted scenes, behind the scenes, casting sessions, a ‘making of’, and a featurette called ‘No Animals were Harmed in the Making of this Movie’.

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What Just Happened Review By Nicole

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What Just Happened Review By Maureen

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What Just Happened Review By Tony

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Consensus: What Just Happened mostly works due to the acting by lead Robert De Niro. It’s worth checking out if you have the time, but is not the best work from the people involved in making the film. *** (Out of 4)