"Swimming with Sharks" (1994) - Movie Review

It is cruelly brutal to grasp the ending of “Swimming with Sharks”. Never have I felt so let down with respect to conscience in any movie. Or maybe I do not want to accept the reality. Or may be I am expecting a fairy tale ending. Whatever it might be, there seems paper thin layer of explanation for an action unspeakable in this movie. Not being in the industry and also reading that the rumours about the character of Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey) based on some real life bosses in Hollywood, may be the ending is very much possible.

The film is the story of an assistant fighting finger to the bones in satisfying his boss’s needs. The assistant is Guy (Frank Whaley), who has high ambition and one having some promise of doing the right thing. Buddy is the worst nightmare any one working under might see. He is mean, cruel, sadistic and cunning. Guy on the other hand believes that a proper communication in between the employer and boss flourishes the work. He says this and gets literally thrown stuffs at him. This is not calm environment with nice people. Ethics do not play out here. This is a jungle. A jungle wherein there is only one king and it is Buddy.

It is unbelievable and “dismay” to say the least about the environment George Huang shows. The movie is told in bits and pieces of old happenings when Guy is at Buddy’s house for pay back. The movie never sleeps around and is always in business. The screenplay is so tight and dark. This never lets any one to turn their head away from the screen. There is no doubt that the film is gripping and interesting.

But there is something outright wrong out here. There are lots of character gaps and most of all doubts. The film gives a heavy feeling due to the fact that it seems very much possible and who knows would have happened already. May be this appears a more shocking, since I wrongly expected some clean cut way out of the mess, Guy has put himself. One can imagine the competition and manipulating people in this business, but is it really about getting what you want with blood in your hands? Is it really that much worth in getting something and doubting the entire concept of conscience and good will? Frankly, the movie made it so believable; it seems people in the business are obsessed with something which is momentary and with ghostly characters. When I think about the characters in the film, is it showing the bad seeds in Hollywood? But Guy comes filled in with conscience and good ness. He in fact shows all the signs of it, even in the end. Then what is missing out in this puzzle? And also why Buddy buries his sad story of his ex-wife which is the only empathy left in him for himself? Is this his way of dealing his sorrow? But why does he pass this curse on to his assistant? The curse and the selfish lesson of minding their own interests and no one else. I am left with these open ended questions with no answers. I do not empathize for any of the characters except the one who lose their lives. There cannot be any justification for a soul ripped off which may have been for a sin or a pure misunderstanding.

A movie can be dark and have disturbing ending. “Requiem for a Dream” is the darkest of all movies I have ever seen and the ending could not have been any more disturbing. Yet out of that there is a strong message and conscience coming out of it. “Swimming with Sharks” does not give those. I do also accept that the characters do exist, but why does some one want to make a film about those? Is it necessary that a character of good will turn the complete opposite to make the best over dead bodies?

The talent in this movie is great. I have no doubts about it. Music by Tom Heil, editing by Ed Marx, screenplay and direction every thing strikes the right chords for a wicked tune. May be Huang wanted to deliver that there are people like this too who are ready to do anything for an opportunity. Doesn’t every one know about that?

It is too bad that an interesting movie like this causes uneasiness in the most unimaginable manner. Huang definitely shows that there need not be much blood or carnage to make you uncomfortable, but leaving a soul without conviction, that is crueler than that. I need to give him that for sure. I don’t know what Huang is trying to tell through this movie, but I do definitely appreciate his talent in this film. With all guilt, I do need to say that the movie kept me interesting, of course apart from the end.