As a writer named Mike struggles to shepherd his semi-autobiographical sitcom into development, his vision is slowly eroded by a domineering network executive named Lenny who favors trashy reality programming. The irony, of course, is that every crass suggestion Lenny makes improves the show's response from test audiences and brings the show a step closer to getting on the air.
Acting
Sigourney Weaver's Lenny is terrifyingly plausible—sweet, vicious, vacant.
Writing
Jake Kasdan's insider script stings with lived experience.
Editing
Brutal cuts between Mike's vision and Lenny's 'improvements.'
Director
Jake Kasdan
David Duchovny
Mike Klein
Sigourney Weaver
Lenny
Ioan Gruffudd
Richard McCallister
Judy Greer
Alice
Fran Kranz
Zach Harper
Lindsay Sloane
Laurel Simon
Justine Bateman
Natalie Klein
Lucy Davis
Chloe McCallister
Willie Garson
Brian
M.C. Gainey
Hutch
Philip Baker Hall
Vernon Maxwell
Wendle Josepher
A.D.
Phil Rosenthal
Exec. #1 (Cooper)
David Doty
Exec. #2 (Rose)
Matt Price
Exec. #3 (Berg)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jake Kasdan directed episodes of Freaks and Geeks before making this—his actual trauma is visible.
The fake sitcom within the film, 'The Wexler Chronicles,' was shot as a real pilot with a live audience.
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Reactions from the web
This is one of my favorite movies. Critics and many people misinterpreted what this film was about. They thought it was simply about the wacky world of the television industry. No. It’s about the (painful) sacrifices involved and needed to be a commercial artist. Look what he started with when it was just his words on paper, to what he was eventually left with - having to sell his words to support his family - once other “artists” got involved. It became everything he was trying to avoid.
@artdeco64 5
This movie was actually quite good, I really liked it.
@kevinalanbossa 3
I had a friend who was a big Robert de Niro fan in the 90's...Every time he would say de Niro was his favorite...I would to myself....You never saw Taxi Driver 😂😂😂
@Justin_Casee 1
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