What Just Happened (2008)

Directed by: Barry Levinson | 104 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Kristen Stewart, Lily Rabe, Dennis Albanese, Emily Alpren, Floanne Ankah, Ari Barak, Moon Bloodgood, Lindy Booth, Felix J. Boyle, Virginia Bryant, Scott Burn, Alessandra Daniele, Cayleen Davies, Byron de Marse, Vincent De Paul, Aubrey Dickinson, Jay Ferraro, Aura Figueiredo, Jill Flint, Leslie Dawn Forsyth, Karina Friend Buck, Julia Frisoli, Massi Furlan, Steven Galarche, JR Garcia, Phil Gardiner, Logan Grove, Frank Hansen, Stacey Hicks, Marin Hinkle, Mark Ivanir, Peter Jacobson, Lu Johnson, Kalina Justice, Brandon Keener, Catherine Keener, Ayla Kell, Stefania Koszti, Kat Kramer, Laurie Lee, Dimitri Lekkos, Paul Lieber, Ron Li- Paz, Paydin LoPachin, Jacques Maroun, Kristopher Maslardzievski, Jared Morrison, Alex Norca, Ali Olomi, Sean Penn, Tom Probst, William Ragsdale, Monica Ramon, Jean-Michel Richaud, Wendy Riordan, Brent Rose, Bess Rous, Tiffany Scott, Remy K. Selma, Scott L. Treger, Sonny Vellozzi, Michael Wincott, Robin Wright, Dey Young

We can all imagine that the world of Hollywood is bizarre and above all hectic. Director Barry Levinson wants to give movie buffs a glimpse into the life of a producer in Hollywood. He tries to tell a satirical story about life in Tinseltown.

The nice thing about ‘What Just Happened’ is the presence of two ‘big names’ in the film world. Robert De Niro is film producer Ben. Bruce Willis can be seen in a surprising role that he probably didn’t have much trouble empathizing with; he plays himself. Although we expect nothing less from De Niro, it must be said that he plays the role of Ben very well. Fortunately, because that’s the only thing that keeps the film going.

The many divorces and other problems in the private and work life of the Hollywood stars are ridiculed in this film. Ben has children with several women and every day before he goes to work, he has to stop by his ex-wives’ houses to pick up the children and take them to school before he can continue to work. Moreover, his marriage is not exactly running smoothly. His work life is also not a bed of roses, as his upcoming blockbuster film project is confronted with several problems. For example, the director does not want to adjust the ending and the protagonist does not want to change his appearance. This is an ordinary day in his daily life for Ben. The idea itself is already meant as a joke, to ridicule Hollywood. However, this kind of situation is already so normal that no one will notice at first that it is sarcasm.

The movie itself isn’t really funny or captivating for a single moment, it actually gets boring and annoying to watch Ben do his job and try to save his marriage. ‘What Just Happened’ creates a lot of expectations. Firstly by having Robert De Niro play the lead role and secondly by saying that this satirical comedy wants to hold up a mirror to Hollywood. De Niro lives up to expectations, but there is not a moment in the film that people in Hollywood will think about their bizarre lives, and there is not a moment in the film that the viewer will have reservations about Hollywood. Hollywood is what it is, and little will change that, and we shouldn’t want to. Because what could be more fun than hearing stories about marriages, divorces and other troubles from the Hollywood stars? Moreover, the real troubles in Hollywood are much funnier and more captivating than this comedy.