The Player (1992)

Plot: Hollywood Satire.  A Studio VP is receiving death threats from a writer while battling to keep his job.
Stars:  Tim Robbins, Fred Ward, Whoppi Goldberg, Greta Scacchi
Best Quotes: : It's Patricia Highsmith meets Monty Python meets Nathaniel West - The New Yorker.

Levy:  I'll be there right after my AA meeting.
Griffin:  Oh Larry, I didn't realize you had a drinking problem.
Levy:  Well I don't really, but that's where all the deals are being made these days.

Background
Often described as Altman's "Comeback film", this was his first big hit after a string of critical and box office flops. Hysterically praised in 1992 and nominated for 4 Oscars, it currently has a 7.6 IMDB rating. Today, people like the movie, but it doesn't get the critical love it once did. Of course, the movie has never been popular with the masses - satire never is.

The Good
Its one of Altman's best films, and features a clever 8 minute opening tracking shot, and a good performance by a well-cast Tim Robbins.  He's able to make us root for "Griffin" - our anti-hero - despite the fact that he's a self-entitled, egotistical, amoral creep who gets away with murder. But then he's no worse then the other Studio "Players" are.  Altman smartly juggles murder, satire, black humor, suspense. The romance is less well done.  Other pluses: The Player is more tightly plotted and the dialogue much wittier than the  typical Altman Film. Unlike MASH, the movie gets better at the end, and the appearance by Bruce Willis is a highlight.

The Bad
Every Altman film has some big flaws, and The Player has two big ones. The first is Whoopi Goldberg, who can't act, and is far too smug and way too Hollywood to be a police detective.  We also get a trite, conventional love story, which isn't particularly interesting and takes up too much screen time. Side note: Did anyone - ever - find Tim Robbins romantic or sexy?

Satire Has lost its Punch
Like Griffin Mill's football-sized "mobile phone" and his Fax machine, Altman's satire is somewhat dated.  Today, no one expects Hollywood to make "real" or "artistic" films - or cares.  Its now an entertainment money-making machine churning out comic book films and endless sequels.  All the "art" has been off-loaded to Netflix's or HBO.

But then, its not clear how sincere The Player's satire is.
For example, at the end, a character complains the Execs have "Sold Out" and given the audience a happy ending to their originally "Real" "Tragic" movie. But Altman seems to agree with Execs - since the "real" "Tragic" ending was just as phony as the  Bruce Willis coming to the rescue.  Certainly the movie that was pitched as "no stars, real people, no BS" was in fact silly melodrama.

Summary:  My 2nd Favorite Altman film after Secret Honor. Even with the horrendous Whoopi Goldberg and a dull romance, it's one of the best satires of Hollywood.