Wonderful character development!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Possible Spoilers?Not sure what this movie was about, and neither were the writers. It could have been an absurdist romp, ala The Producers - and it almost was. It could have been a commentary on the desperation of those trying to make it in Hollywood, and the estrangements and grief - but it only skirted along the edges of that. It could have been a romantic comedy. But it wasn't. Wm Macy is a truly excellent actor, to be sure - and Meg Ryan shows her acting chops here in a way that is surprising; the rest of the cast is good, too. No faults in that department.It is just ... boring. Nothing unexpected or particularly amusing happens. There is no suspense - we're all pretty sure we know how it's all going to turn out. And we're right. The "complication" of the relationship between the two principals is minor and will clearly be resolved. The plot is predictable from beginning to end, including the conclusion.Although the running time is reported to be 100 minutes it seemed MUCH longer. Disappointing.

It simply went on my nerves! What it proved is that people who go into the film-production whirlpool of Hollywood actually lose everything when it comes to their own dignity, self-respect and personality. Perhaps it is what the director meant to do….if so, he did well. William M. Macy took part in writing the screenplay as well as acts the main role, and did a good job of it. However, there are some scenes that feel like repetitions and could have been edited out of the film. There was no point in harping on something so many times. Meg Ryan acts well,yet in this film she really does not have that wonderful, fetching screen presence she usually delivers. I did not enjoy this film despite the fact that it is obvious that the producers tried to do something authentic, original and honest.

The Hollywood satire as a genre has never really satisfied me before and I nearly didn't watch this based on the synopsis I read. I'm really glad I did, William H Macy plays a cynical loser better than anyone else, the machiavellian side to this character is an interesting addition which he brings off well. Meg Ryan plays opposite him really well too. Cameo roles for actors as varied as Elliott Gould and LL Cool J add to the film. The plot has got twists enough to keep you hooked and amusing bits to keep you chuckling. Watching some of the dross that comes out of Hollywood you can well believe that some of them get made the way this film depicts the process.Along with The Cooler and Fargo this is one of Macy's best films, it is a quirky comedy that (in my opinion) deserves to be rated much higher.

So, I enjoyed this film. I thought it was well done, well acted and funny. But notice no 'very's and not hilarious. I am pretty sure I got the humor as intended, although not being Israeli, or Jewish, and as I can't speak/understand yiddish, I am also sure I missed a bit.I would recommend this movie, and in fact, have just done so to a coworker, to anyone who likes the chick-flickish genre of Who's Got Mail, etc.My only comment about the choices of actors for the film is that I would have liked to see Tea Leoni as the lead female. I think she is a very under-appreciated comic actor.