"Swimming with Sharks," a low budget 1994 film starring Kevin Spacey, is billed as a comedy, an aspect in which it fails. I only found myself chuckling once or twice through the whole picture. As a character study however, the film succeeds to a certain extent. It manages to give us an inside look at the hardships of the overwhelming job of Hollywood producer.

The basis of the plot is that Guy (Frank Whaley - "Field of Dreams," "I.Q.") wins a coveted job working as an assistant for Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey - "American Beauty," "The Usual Suspects"), a womanizing, foul-mouthed Hollywood producer who turns out to be the boss from Hell. Guy forms a relationship with Dawn Lockard (Michelle Forbes - "Kalifornia"), a producer who tells Guy right to his face that she's only interested in him so that she can have an easy connection to Ackerman. The film begins about a year later than most of the action takes place, and we quickly learn that Guy has worked for Ackerman for a while, has had enough of him, and is out to get his revenge. In a series of flashbacks that goes on through the entire film, we see the events that caused Guy to completely lose it and resort to such drastic measures as torturing his boss. "Swimming with Sharks" does not dig to any deeper levels than this, and we are left with a one dimensional picture that only succeeds in examining the characters of Buddy Ackerman and Guy.

The small cast's performances in the film help hold it together. All the actors are believable in their respective roles, but none of them give their characters multi-dimensions and thus aren't that interesting beyond their basic traits. Kevin Spacey is especially good as the short-tempered boss in a role that preceded his "breakout" performance in "The Usual Suspects." He at least keeps your interest throughout the hour and a half picture. Whaley holds his ground in a co-lead role of which he is generally unaccustomed. Forbes likewise is convincing, though completely one dimensional, in her part.

For the average movie-goer, I do not recommend that you waste your time or your rental money on this film. However, if you are a big fan of either Kevin Spacey, or any of the other actors in the film, "Swimming with Sharks" is worth checking out on a rainy day.

Rated R for language and some violence



Recommended: No