THE MUSE RATING: 7.5 / 10 --> Very good movie
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Actor/writer/director Albert Brooks teams up with several other well-known directors, Scorsese, Cameron, Reiner, as actors, to create a magical film about gorgeous actress Sharon Stone, and cute-as-a-patootie actress Andie MacDowell, spending a night together naked in bed! Well...okay...not exactly, but the point is, it almost happens! Anyway, on to my review...
PLOT: A veteran Hollywood screenwriter gets his writing contract terminated when everyone in the industry deems him to have "lost his edge". After querying his successful producer friend for help, he suddenly finds himself hooked up with a modern-day "muse", who is ready to stir up his creativity...but at a price! You see, the "muse" likes to inspire at her own pace, loves extravagance and has a "thing" for expensive gifts.
CRITIQUE: A very original fantasy tale strung along with plenty of funny lines, a nice pace, a couple of twists and turns, a surprising ending, cameos galore, Hollywood in-jokes, and a spectacular performance from Sharon Stone as "the muse". I've given Sharon a hard time over the past few years, with her trying to get all serious and shit, but she is perfect in this role, funny as heck, cute as ever, and man-o-man...what a great ass! :) Albert Brooks is someone whose humor is either appreciated by one or not, much like Woody Allen, and if you haven't liked any of his previous films, you probably won't like this one either. Fortunately for myself, I love Woody Allen, and respect Brooks' unique brand of humor, despite his tepid acting range leaving much to be desired. This film had me laughing out loud for the first thirty minutes or so, but did take a little dip in the second half, with little spurts of humor buoying me afloat.
Having said that, the plot itself always kept me interested, while Sharon Stone and her engaging performance, locked me in for good! Don't get me wrong, I also liked Albert Brooks' character, and he certainly hogged all the best one-liners to himself, but Stone stole the show for me. MacDowell, on the other hand, does little but float around in this one, adding very little to the mix, and Jeff Bridges, well, he acts with his tan, and does a mighty fine job at it, if I say so myself! Scorsese's walk-on and a couple of other big scenes have giant laughs, but on the whole, the film is cute, and fluffy, and fun, and well, entertaining. Surely my own bias as a screenwriter might be shining through a little here (Just so you know where I'm coming from :), but Mrs. JoBlo has no interest in the Woods of Holly, and she was also spurting out laughter throughout. Take it as you will, but do appreciate the fact that there are plenty of Hollywood jabs in here, humor which treks heavily through the sardonic, and Sharon Stone is goddamn delicious! Any questions...? And no...I haven't sold any of my scripts either. Anyone know of any cheap muses running around?? Anyone? Bueller?
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars: Albert Brooks was born and raised in Los Angeles, Brooks is the son of radio comedian Harry Einstein, known as "Parkyakarkus". Brooks' real name is Albert Einstein. His brother is the infamous daredevil "Super Dave" Osbourne, whose real name is Bob Einstein. Albert turned down the lead in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (10/10) because he thought it was too much like a Woody Allen script. Albert himself has been described as a West Coast Woody Allen. Sharon Stone's first (albeit fleeting) film appearance was as the blond goddess glimpsed by Woody Allen on a passing train in Allen's STARDUST MEMORIES. Stone's first major film role was as the conniving young actress girlfriend of Ryan O'Neal in the comedy IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES. She is a member of MENSA, with an IQ of 154. She once auditioned for the Cathy Moriarty role in Martin Scorsese's classic 1980 film RAGING BULL, the Glenn Close role in FATAL ATTRACTION (8/10), the Kim Basinger role in BATMAN (8/10), and the Madonna role in DICK TRACY. She also speaks Italian. Andie MacDowell's full name is Rosalie Anderson MacDowell. In 1988, she became a member of the New York City Church of Christ, a local affiliate with a cult known as the International Churches of Christ. She left the group shortly thereafter, when she was forbidden to take part in the film SEX, LIES & VIDEOTAPE by the leadership. Jeff Bridges met his wife, Susan in 1975 while filming RANCHO DELUXE. She was working as a maid on a dude ranch, and as of 1999, they're still married. Cameos in this film include directors James Cameron, Martin Scorsese and Rob Reiner, actors Lorenzo Lamas, Cybill Shepherd and Jennifer Tilly, and famous restauranteur Wolfgang Puck. THE MUSE marks the sixth collaboration between screenwriter Monica Johnson and Albert Brooks. Their previous films together were MOTHER, LOST IN AMERICA, MODERN ROMANCE, and REAL LIFE (all of which starred and were directed by Brooks) and THE SCOUT (which only starred Brooks).
Review Date: August 23, 1999
Director: Albert Brooks
Writers: Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson
Producer: Herb Nanas
Actors: Albert Brooks as Steven Phillips
Sharon Stone as Sarah
Andie MacDowell as Laura Phillips
Jeff Bridges as Jack Warrick
Genre: Comedy
Year of Release: 1999
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(c) 1999 Berge Garabedian
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