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The Player Reviews

1992

70
from 5790 members

Robert Altman's adaptation of Michael Tolkin's novel gives the notorious director a chance to address perhaps his greatest nemesis: the Hollywood studio system. Disguised as a thriller, the film assembles virtually every famous actor in Hollywood to create an exhilarating blend of real life and fiction. Tim Robbins plays .. Read more

Starring	Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Whoopi Goldberg, Fred Ward
Director	Robert Altman
Genres	Comedy, Drama

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Critic's review of The Player
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...So entertaining, so flip and so genially irreverent that it seems to announce the return of the great gregarous film maker....The members of the huge cast seem to be having a great night out on the town..."
- 8818
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of The Player
View all members' reviews (35)
- - 11
  - 1
  Excellent movie
  
  A 'black comedy' that exposes the hollywood system. Good for star spotting as there are many cameo performances.
  
  Terrific performance by Tim ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 11924
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Nobbylamp
  - 22 reviews
  - Bromley, England
  - 23 Jul 2004 at 14:22
Most recent members' reviews of The Player
View all members' reviews (35)
- - 0
  - 0
  mr altman at his best
  
  the player is a darkly humourous, high- intellect reflection on the ugly abuses of the film industry. it is a scathing and ruthless (fortunately never sermon-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1090312
- - lukasz84
  - 58 reviews
  - 08 Feb 2012 at 22:59
- - 0
  - 0
  Didn't play the whole movie.
  
  I was really looking forward to this film, expected so much from it, but was quite disappointed; to the point where we made the decision to stop play half way ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1089649
- - gingerspike
  - 261 reviews
  - Grimsby
  - 06 Feb 2012 at 23:48
- - 2
  - 1
  Just ok
  
  Poorly paced, never really got into the story. Movie is funny though and has some good moments. Has an interesting ending, directed very well in places but the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 899600
- - a customer
  - London
  - 17 Jun 2010 at 23:59
- - 0
  - 0
  Great film studio satire
  
  There aren't enough films like this available. By that mean I mean films that are willing to create characters about the executives who decide what films ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 883444
- - brokenking
  - 214 reviews
  - Bristol
  - 14 Apr 2010 at 21:39
- - 1
  - 0
  Simply Brilliant
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  From the opening shot - an intricate, 8 minute, shot which follows the conversations of numerous members of a hollywood production studio - I could tell that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 877416
- - rpg23
  - 2 reviews
  - London
  - 27 Mar 2010 at 21:52
- - 0
  - 0
  The Player
  
  So memorable that by the time I came to review it I had forgotten I had even watched it! So, not the best.
  
  Report this review
- 840225
- - a customer
  - Eastleigh
  - 16 Dec 2009 at 09:53
- - 0
  - 0
  Work of art
  
  I was sceptical when I put this on my list because it only got there as one of the 50 films to see before you die. it was a comedy, a spoof, saterical and a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 828878
- - Randomfilmbuff
  - 327 reviews
  - London
  - 07 Nov 2009 at 19:58
- - 0
  - 0
  Dated
  
  I had already watched this movie without knowing which movie it was. Anyway, it's a bit dated now, and I didn't enjoy it very much. There is some great ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 766728
- - Coquelicot
  - 18 reviews
  - Sturminster Newton
  - 05 Jun 2009 at 15:10
- - 0
  - 0
  ok
  
  this film was ok a bit boring but fine
  
  Report this review
- 740019
- - LoveCollege
  - 21 reviews
  - Cheltenham
  - 08 Apr 2009 at 12:39
- - 0
  - 0
  Disappointing for Altman
  
  I usually love Altman's movies and the characters he comes up with. The very 'normal' conversational dialogue is usually part of the fun for me but... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 738144
- - elsieb66
  - 8 reviews
  - Hackney, London
  - 05 Apr 2009 at 13:33
View all members' reviews (35)

- - 11
  - 1
  Excellent movie
  
  A 'black comedy' that exposes the hollywood system. Good for star spotting as there are many cameo performances.
  
  Terrific performance by Tim ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 11924
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Nobbylamp
  - 22 reviews
  - Bromley, England
  - 23 Jul 2004 at 14:22
- - 3
  - 0
  This ia a Hollywood ...
  
  This ia a Hollywood masterpiece. Tim Robbins leads an all-star cast -with thrice as many stars doing cameos- in Robert Altman's darkly comic tale of getting... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 33340
- - stella#2
  - LONDON
  - 17 Apr 2004 at 14:30
- - 3
  - 0
  An Entertaining Original
  
  This is a highly entertaining study of the workings of a Hollywood studio with the added mystery of the death threats received by one of its executives.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 55960
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 27 Nov 2004 at 09:49
- - 3
  - 0
  To Live and Die in Hollywood
  
  'The Player' is Robert Altman's razor-sharp send up of the Hollywood system. With an excellent cast and busloads of celebrity cameos, Altman's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299395
- - LoganV
  - Fife
  - 10 Feb 2004 at 14:17
- - 2
  - 0
  Snooze
  
  I thought this was going to be a light hearted satire taking the mick out of Hollywood. It wasn't light hearted; Fine. But it wasn't really all that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 441701
- - a customer
  - Guilford
  - 19 May 2007 at 23:49
- - 2
  - 0
  Tiresome
  
  A tedious & cynical self examination of the Hollywood system. As pleasing as she is to the eye I found Greta Scacchi's performance unconvincing & ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 602917
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - stalingrad
  - 32 reviews
  - East Bergholt
  - 24 Jul 2008 at 14:26
- - 2
  - 1
  A big disappointment
  
  The best part indeed was the star spotting, as the story itself was pretty flimsy. It may well have had the longest tracking shot in history at the start, but ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 151981
- - a customer
  - Liverpool
  - 18 Sep 2005 at 22:31
- - 2
  - 1
  Just ok
  
  Poorly paced, never really got into the story. Movie is funny though and has some good moments. Has an interesting ending, directed very well in places but the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 899600
- - a customer
  - London
  - 17 Jun 2010 at 23:59
- - 1
  - 0
  Dull, boring
  
  This is a showcase for 'stars' proving that 'all that glistens is not gold'- one of the worst films I have ever had the misfortune to watch with... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 621805
- - kwaikootsu
  - 15 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 31 Aug 2008 at 12:40
- - 1
  - 0
  Simply Brilliant
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  From the opening shot - an intricate, 8 minute, shot which follows the conversations of numerous members of a hollywood production studio - I could tell that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 877416
- - rpg23
  - 2 reviews
  - London
  - 27 Mar 2010 at 21:52

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Critics' reviews
- "...So entertaining, so flip and so genially irreverent that it seems to announce the return of the great gregarous film maker....The members of the huge cast seem to be having a great night out on the town..."
- 8818
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...THE PLAYER is a true comeback film for Altman -- a return, after more than 15 years, to the infinitely sly and supple virtuosity that marked his great film of the '70s..."
- 8816
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...What makes THE PLAYER the best and boldest American comedy in years is Altman's wizardry at leavening anger with cathartic wit..."
- 8819
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...An artful stiletto aimed at the bashful heart of Hollywood....An extremely pointed and knowing show-biz dissection..."
- 8817
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- Shrewd Hollywood exec Griffin Mill (Robbins) is already paranoid that a rival may join the studio; but what of the... read more on Time Out
- 43998
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:14
- A deft and dazzling satire on the film industry Ð witty, surprising and intelligent.
- 30812
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Player
  
  Robert Altman's adaptation of Michael Tolkin's novel gives the notorious director a chance to address perhaps his greatest nemesis: the Hollywood studio system. Disguised as a thriller, the film assembles virtually every famous actor in Hollywood to create an exhilarating blend of real life and ...