THE PLAYER (1992, Avenue Pictures, 123 min.), directed by Robert Altman; screenplay by Michael Tolkin from his novel The Player; cinematography by Jean Lepine; production design by Stephen Altman; edited by Geraldine Peroni; music by Thomas Newman; with Tim Robbins (Griffin Mill), Greta Scacchi (June Gudmundsdottir), Fred Ward (Walter Stuckel), Whoopi Goldberg (Detective Avery), Peter Gallagher (Larry Levy), Brion James (Joel Levinson), Cynthia Stevenson (Bonnie Sherow), Vincent D'Onofrio (David Kahane), Dean Stockwell (Andy Civella), Richard E. Grant (Tom Oakley), Sydney Pollack (Dick Mellen), Lyle Lovett (Detective DeLongpre), Dina Merrill (Celia), Angela Hall (Jan), and many actors playing themselves.
Jot down answers to the following questions, right on this sheet.
1. Why do you think Michael Tolkin selected this as the title of his novel? Was Altman right to keep it?
2. How would you characterize Griffin Mill? What's going on inside his head? What drives him? Does he have any inner conflicts? Does he develop over the course of the film?
3. Look at the two women in Griffin's life, Bonnie and June. What does each represent for Griffin? Does his final choice make sense to you? Why?
4. What kind of place is the Hollywood of this film? Overall, would you call it a positive or a negative portrayal?
5. In contrast to most other films about Hollywood, there are no drugs in this film, nor any excessive drinking. Why is it filmed this way?
6. Altman intended the opening of his film to be a stylistic tour-de-force. Can you see why it is? Discuss it.
7. Altman chose two rather quirky performers, Whoopi Goldberg and Lyle Lovett, to play his detectives. What does this subplot bring to the story, and what do those two actors in particular add?
8. How about the other many actors in the film? Do any of them have any depth? Do they seem real to you? Which ones in particular?
9. Some critics have complained that audiences wind up spending too much time
trying to pick out the actors playing cameo roles, which distracts them from the story. Do you find this to be the case? What is the purpose of all these cameos?
10. How does the scene of Kahane's death contrast with the version in the novel? Why do you think Altman made these changes?
11. What is the purpose of the Habeas Corpus subplot?
12. What do you think of the film's ending?
13. The Player was a comeback film of sorts for Altman, bringing him awards, critical success, and good box office. Why do you think it was successful? Do you find it odd that a film which paints an unflattering picture of Hollywood should be successful?
14. Beginning with his breakthrough film, 1970's M.A.S.H., Altman has established himself as a director with a unique style. Based on what you see in The Player, how would you characterize the style of Robert Altman?