Plot
In an attempt to sign a Hollywood starlet, struggling talent agent and former child star Howard Holloway must contend with her volatile father, a scheming long-time rival, and a producer and casting director who despise him.
Release Year: 2013
Rating: 6.4/10 (946 voted)
Critic's Score: /100
Director: Clark Gregg
Stars: Clark Gregg, Felicity Huffman, Allison Janney
Storyline
A struggling agent for child actors and former child star himself, Howard Holloway spends years losing his most talented clients to his slick, arch-nemesis Aldo Shocklee. Until the day that Howard encounters the brilliant and unsigned 13 year-old Lydia who is on the brink of securing the lead in a new Twilight-style franchise. Howard tries desperately to close the deal of a lifetime and make his precocious young client a star while managing her drunk, volatile father, Aldo's relentless poaching attempts, and the hostile machinations of the project's casting director and mega producer, who both despise him. But the closer he gets to achieving the Hollywood score he has chased all his life, the more he develops a growing suspicion that his innocent young starlet may not be at all what she seems.
Cast: Clark Gregg -
Howard
Felicity Huffman -
Agnes
Allison Janney -
Meg
William H. Macy -
Gary
Niecy Nash -
Angie
Amanda Peet -
Marcy
Sam Rockwell -
Aldo
Molly Shannon -
Janice
Saxon Sharbino -
Lydia
Paul Sparks -
Ray
Keith Ewell -
Ofc. Wiley Bruno
Stella Gregg -
Charlotte
Maxwell Smith -
Ben
Gareth Williams -
Chet
Phoebe Neidhardt -
Counter Girl
Trivia:
The crew was paid minimum wage ($8.00/hr) to work on this film. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 9/10
This started out looking like a comedy, and indeed the comedy continued
throughout the film. Then it turned into a drama, and finally revealed
itself as a classic film noir. I can't say too much without spoiling
it, but after thinking about it, all the noir elements were there from
the very beginning, and it played out beautifully.
The story is fairly simple--a former child star is now an agent in
Hollywood representing child actors. He's not doing too well; his
clients are stolen by another agent, and he's struggling to get by. His
fortune changes when he signs a young unknown actress, new in town from
Oklahoma, with a stage dad who frequently threatens to derail
everything. And then the fireworks really begin.
The script was excellent, with plenty of zingers for the outstanding
cast. Amanda Peet had some particularly great lines, and she delivered
them with relish. There were a number of other performances by great
actors, friends of Clark Gregg, but who were also obviously attracted
to the script, an actor's dream. It was clear they were all enjoying
themselves.
Although the film should be enjoyable for anyone, it's even better if
you know something about the inner workings of Hollywood, and who
doesn't these days?
Outstanding performances all around, but the real revelation is
13-year-old Saxon Sharbino as Lydia, the young actress at the center of
everything. In one scene she goes from ordinary girl to actress to star
in a matter of seconds.
I saw this film at the Dallas International Film Festival and I am not
affiliated with the film or its participants.
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