Swimming with Sharks is a film designed to bite the hand that fed it. It attacks the vicious system that enables, indeed encourages studio executives to behave like spoiled children in tyrannical control of their own private fiefdoms, much as Altman's The Player did in the 80s (no surprise to see Spacey's film studio VP launch into a seething attack on Altman, then!), and rewards them for using and abusing those poor wretches over who they clambered to the top. "This is not like running a business," says Rex (Benicio del Toro), the previous incumbent of assistant to the Senior Executive Vice President of Keystone Pictures, "this is showbusiness."

"I paid my dues," says the VP, Buddy Ackerman, to Guy, the unfortunate assistant turning the tables on his torturer, as if that suddenly justifies the vicious treatment meted out to all and sundry, just as senior doctors resent any change to the system to prevent junior doctors having to work 120 hour weeks on the grounds that they had to do it and it didn't do them any harm, did it?

But does Guy change the world when he has the power to do so? The best part of this film is the ending, which avoids the happy cliches and goes for a darkly pessimistic view of the world - that people are ultimately selfish and out for all they can get. Bet Hollywood felt uncomfortable with that; either that, or the current rash of Exec VPs feel so secure in their power base that it can afford some noirish irony at their expense without feeling they need to wash more of their dirty linen in public (Michael Eisner and Disney have done plenty of that!)

Perhaps it's true after all that Americans don't understand irony, but this is a powerful but watchable film that deserves your attention.

Swimming With Sharks
Review date: 2004-06-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

"It's like they say, if your not a rebel aged 20 you have no heart, if you haven't turned establishment by 30 you have no brains. Because there are no storybook romances, no fairytale endings, so before you run out and change the world, ask yourself...what do you really want?" Says it all really.

An unappreciated masterpiece
Review date: 2002-12-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

Swimming With Sharks brilliantly shuns the habitual overly complex camera work that plagues a large proportion of films made in the last ten years. There is much more reliance on the strong performences from the small but impressive cast. Leading the show is Kevin Spacey at the top of his game, the subtle nuances of his portrail of a highly complex character leads to a far more rounded and realistic character coming across. The chemistry between Spacey and Frank Whaley really makes this film what it is. thier scenes together give an insight into a world where it is impossible to notice any acting at all. The story envolves a movie executive (Spacey) and his downtrodden assistant (Whaley). whaley soon realises the level of nepotism and slight of hand at work in the industry and has to decide what his reaction to his insights is going to be. the pace and tone of the film at all times perfectly mirrors the emotions being displayed. this is a film not only for die hard spacey fans but also anyone looking for something to stand out from all the overly comersialised and emotionless films available.
The dvd has a very good profile of spacey which really shows his devotion to his art.

Truly entoxicating and inspiring
Review date: 2002-02-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Kevin Spacey is a marvel. There's no end to his supreme talent. Combined with the terrific Frank Whaley, this film provides a moving and amusing insight into one of life's truths. If there's one piece to add to any collection, this should be it. And, if you ever ask the question 'what do you really want?' the answer should be this. I can say no more.... buy it!

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