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Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley, Michelle Forbes, Benicio Del Toro, Jerry Levine ... see more see more... , Roy Dotrice , T.E. Russell , Patrick Fisher

Originally screened at Telluride as The Buddy Factor, Swimming With Sharks is an uneven but engrossing picture, and a possible warning to anyone with plans to break into the motion-picture business. W... read more read more...hen Guy (Frank Whaley), a recent film-school graduate with big ideas, takes a job as assistant to major studio executive Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), he believes his ship has finally come in; little does he know it's a slave ship, for his boss is indeed worse than a slave driver. Buddy delights in abusing his boy-toy (exemplified by the scene in which he forbids Guy to go to the bathroom as he pours water back and forth from a glass to a pitcher). Meanwhile, Guy struggles to push his idea for a script and feels he's finally made it when Buddy congratulates him on a job well done. However, much to his chagrin, his conniving boss actually takes sole credit for the project, pushing the young assistant to wit's end -- he breaks into Buddy's Beverly Hills showplace and takes him hostage, then proceeds to torture him in a number of demeaning and horrifying ways. The whole film stands as a sort of parable about the value system in Hollywood and the cost of reaching the top; it doesn't play like real life, but it's not supposed to. The real reason to watch the film, however, is Spacey's performance. He manages at once to be terrifying, hateful, and hilarious, and he makes Buddy Ackerman a character the audience won't soon forget. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

10,018 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

34 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: George Huang

Release Date: March 21, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 18, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (765)

  • FrizzDrop
    May 9, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    This tawdry little drama crossed some delicate lines drawn in the sand during the nineties. It was bold, innovative, and in the indie frame of mind. The sheer ruthlessness of the script was really something we wouldn't see until psychological thrillers emerged, or unless we ventu... read morered into horror. I did find the way it was presented to be shoddy. This film is supposed to be edgy and out there, but it relied on somber, low music in every scene as a way to impart that it was one worth watching. The style was all wrong, the flashbacks felt jerky, and the reveal was pointedly sloppy. The entire ending was by far the most disappointing part of this film, as it felt hurried, as if the screenwriter was unaware of where to go after getting themselves into a corner. I want to praise the grand master of acting, Kevin Spacey, as he took on an indie role in the midst of his success with The Usual Suspects, and then nailed it. I wondered how Spacey could take the role in Horrible Bosses after rarely doing comedy, but then I saw this movie and realized he was just rehashing a previous role. Just as in that film, Spacey is darkly funny, while also portraying the inner callousness of the bossman, and showing the tiny insignificance of the working stiff. Frank Whaley, who has gone on to do great character work whilst portraying murderous sods, was the perfect choice for this. He is just pathetic enough to work, curious and yet prophetically odd. I can equally understand why anyone wouldn't like this, because it mostly consists of someone getting yelled at, but the intercutting scenes of the future really hold interests, and some of the ideas expressed were pretty original. I liked the flow, and it did make me think about the lives of assistants and my own ends, which will probably be as awful since I am an English major. That ending, of course, was the worst thing about it, but otherwise it's a good watch and a great reminder that independent gems are found in the most unlikely of places.
  • blkbomb
    March 11, 2012
    blkbomb
    Rex: This is not a business, this is show business. Punching below the belt is not only all right, it's rewarded. 

    "Life is not a movie"

    I loved everything about Swimming With the Sharks, right up until the unsatisfying ending. Even with an ending that leaves something to be de... read moresired, this is still a worthwhile and extremely good film. It's dark and it's funny. Two things I love in movies. It has Kevin Spacey doing what he does best and that is acting like a complete asshole. It has Frank Whaley acting as a cowardly assistant, and he is perfectly cast. 

    I can see some people not enjoying this movie at all. It's all dialogue and little action. Most of the runtime is spent watching an assistant get yelled at for the smallest things. But it's funny and extremely well written. Every tirade that Kevin Spacey goes on feels perfect. The changes in Frank Whaley's character feel perfect. This movie feels perfect. If only it could have come up with the perfect ending.

    The movies plot follows an assistant to a movie executive. He gets in a relationship with a producer and begins to put plans together for a movie. He has to deal with his difficult boss and every little detail of the mans life. It gets to the point where he can do almost nothing else. Every aspect of his life is ruled by his boss.

    I love movies of this type. It has a definite feeling of independent filmmaking powering it. It's a pretty harsh and dark comedy, which I love. As a fan of dark movies, I feel that this does just about everything right. It developed it's characters in a way that made us genuinely care about one and hate the other. It presented dark themes in humorous ways, and it never backed away from how depressing Guy's life is, now that he is under the command of Buddy.

    This would probably be one of my favorites of all-time if it had found a better way to wrap up the story.
  • samoriley
    February 27, 2012
    samoriley
    Sometimes knowing fairly little about a film makes it better when you finally see it. Let me tell you, Swimming With Sharks can make you laugh, be shocked or even both.

    The film slightly focuses on dark humour, along with being realistic in certain aspects of real life; such a... read mores the punk generations being lazy and wanting it all at once.

    Ultimately, I believe that the main attention should be focused on Kevin Spacey, who plays as Guy's boss. At the same time, Spacey peforms one of his best roles in his career.

    Swimming With Sharks arguably gave Kevin Spacey the milestone to his successful career of 'The Usual Suspects' and 'American Beauty'

    Positives:
    Good cast,espescially Kevin Spacey
    Good fuse of reality and dark comedy
    Interesting ending

    Negatives:
    The tone for the moment can be right or wrong
  • fb100002359227440
    November 3, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Swimming with Sharks, is a good film, that presents a intelligent and surprising script with a Hollywood satire. Kevin Spacey's acting is one of the top points of the film, his performance together with Whaley, brings a great dark humor to Huang's picture and to the climax, of c... read moreourse in someway the screenwriter/director could discover much more of the feature and his characters to presents for the audience, and enrich more the plot and script. However, Swimming with Sharks is a terrific tip for who like of suspense, black comedy and to Spacey's fans. Fresh.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    September 5, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Before you go out and change the world, you have to ask yourself, "What do you really want?"

    A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss.

    REVIEW<
    ... read more/font>
    An excellent film, and one of Kevin Spacey's truly great moments. He shines in this character of an abusive and dominating boss, and seems to be a natural at it. The story seems quite straightforward to begin with, but halfway through the film the truth is revealed and you are pulled from siding with one character and totally hating the other, to understanding both. In fact you are almost taken the full journey to hating the character you originally believed in. This turn is done wonderfully, and you can feel your realization creeping forward. The ending is just as much a turnaround as anything, and watching Spacey's character control the events is fantastic. See Spacey at one of his finest moments.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Good film but it doesn?t seem to be sure what it wants to be, serious or comedy? I can see why it was made into a theatre productions, it one of those films that could cross over very well.
  • aliceinpunderland
    April 5, 2009
    aliceinpunderland
    Pretty awesome ending, but the torture plot is like the equivalent of gratuitous boobs for pubescent fantasies. It is vicarious fun, yet unmotivated. A simpering, whimpering idiot like Guy wouldn't have the moxie to carry out this revenge. Every time he seems to be getting a h... read moreang of the ropes, he'd become a spineless, senseless mess again.
  • Gx7
    February 21, 2009
    Gx7
    Kevin Spacey: "Shut up, listen, and learn. You have no brain. No judgement calls are necessary. What you think means nothing. What you feel means nothing."

    Hehehe! Love this one! Perhaps a good video to give a new graduate, or to someone who had just started working, it w... read moreould be very pretty with a note that says: WELCOME TO THE WORLD! :P

    Sadistic! utterly sadistic! Hahaha!!
  • arashxak
    January 12, 2009
    arashxak
    "This is the only way that you can hope to survive. Because life... is not a movie. Everyone lies. Good guys lose. And love... does not conquer all"

    I really liked the plot the conclusion & the characters' interactions & lines in the climax is great but the movie could have be... read moreen better, more convincing & more realistic, Overall this was a refreshing experience for me & it has two brilliant perfs by Spacey & Whaley, Whaley is an underrated actor
  • Chiefilms
    September 21, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Man Kevin Spacey pulls of these type of roles perfectly, but man Frank Whaley is a whalin' biatch, it's Hollywood bebe.

View All Swimming with Sharks Reviews

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey
April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

This excessively talky, incoherently plotted, would-be film noir is not very good. Full Review

Peter Rainer
February 13, 2001
Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times

To outsiders, all this rage and gnashing of teeth may seem silly and self-absorbed. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[Huang's] plot may be overwritten and the ending may be less than satisfying, but his eye and ear are right. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

There doesn't seem to be enough material here to satisfy a full length feature, and the movie, which starts with such promise, begins to drag around its midpoint. Full Review

Lucy Mohl
January 1, 2000
Lucy Mohl, Film.com

A dazzling, frightening tour de force by Kevin Spacey.

Mary Brennan
January 1, 2000
Mary Brennan, Film.com

Sharks is a one-joke movie, and the joke wears thin less than halfway through.

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

The film has no subtlety, so the one-dimensional story comes across as a sophomoric, pointless tirade. Full Review

Tom Keogh
January 1, 2000
Tom Keogh, Film.com

When it comes time to take this drama to another level, addressing the darker and more pertinent issue of why Guy puts up with it and what he wants out of life, Huang is right there.

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

Kevin Spacey, who is the reason to see the picture, is hilariously ruthless as Buddy Ackerman.

Emanuel Levy
March 18, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Despite some sharp dialogue, this is a nasty, derivative film, sort of a cross between Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Altman's The Player. Full Review

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Swimming with Sharks Trivia

  • Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro and Frank Whalley. Name this movie business thriller.  Answer »
  • The quote: "You have no brain" is from what movie?  Answer »
  • Kevin "The Law" Spacey Movie? Swimming with the Sharks  Answer »
  • Which Kevin Spacey movie was also released in various places as "The Buddy Factor", "The Hollywood Factor", "The Boss" and "The Producer"?   Answer »
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