Hollywood Ending (2002)
-
47% of critics liked it
(131 reviews) -
49% of users liked it
(10,152 ratings)
A down-on-his luck auteur gets one more chance at the big time -- provided his neuroses don't swallow him whole -- in Woody Allen's 33rd feature release, Hollywood Ending. Allen plays Val Waxman, a one-time cinematic genius who's resorted to taking advertisement work to pay the bills for… More A down-on-his luck auteur gets one more chance at the big time -- provided his neuroses don't swallow him whole -- in Woody Allen's 33rd feature release, Hollywood Ending. Allen plays Val Waxman, a one-time cinematic genius who's resorted to taking advertisement work to pay the bills for himself and his airhead live-in girlfriend, Lori (Debra Messing). Val finds his luck is about to change, however, when he receives the script for The City Never Sleeps, a period noir set against the backdrop of 1940s New York City. It seems his ex-wife, Ellie (Tea Leoni), now an executive at Galaxy Pictures, has been pulling for him to direct the picture, claiming he's the only man who can do justice to the script. She even manages to convince her boyfriend, Hal (Treat Williams), Galaxy's high-powered studio head, to take a chance on Val's "unique vision." Just when the cameras are ready to roll, however, Val finds that unique vision in jeopardy -- literally -- as he's struck with a psychosomatic case of blindness. When physicians and psychiatrists fail to cure him, Val contrives a scheme to forge ahead with the picture, for fear of blowing his one last chance at greatness. Hollywood Ending co-stars George Hamilton and Mark Rydell. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- Woody Allen
- Written By
- Woody Allen
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- May 3, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- DreamWorks SKG
Critic Reviews
-
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
The premise may be outrageous, but the film is full of witty lines, delightful scenes and sharp performances.
-
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
It lacks critical mass and droops in the middle like a worn-out saddle horse.
-
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Hollywood Ending just isn't very funny.
-
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Funny but perilously slight.
-
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Woody Allen can write and deliver a one liner as well as anybody. But I had a lot of problems with this movie.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Woody Allen
as Val Waxman
-
Téa Leoni
as Ellie
-
Debra Messing
as Lori
-
Mark Rydell
as Al Hack
-
Treat Williams
as Hal
-
George Hamilton
as Ed
-
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
as Sharon Bates
-
Lu Yue
as Cameraman
-
Barney Cheng
as Translator
-
Isaac Mizrahi
as Elio Sebastian
-
Marian Seldes
as Alexandra
-
Jodie Markell
as Andrea Ford
-
Peter Gerety
as Psychiatrist
-
Mark Webber
as Tony Waxman
-
Gregg Edelman
as Galaxie Executive
-
Kenneth Edelson
as Eye Doctor
-
Fred Melamed
as Pappas
-
Ted Neustadt
as MRI Doctor
-
Rochelle Oliver
as Script Supervisor
-
Stephanie Roth
as Barbeque Guest
-
Joel Eidelsberg
as Seder Guest
-
Steven Hurwitz
as Seder Guest
-
Jeff Mazzola
as Prop Man
-
Ramsey Faragallah
as Audition Reader
-
Neal Huff
as Commercial A.D.
-
Douglas McGrath
as Barbeque Guest
-
Greg Mottola
as Assistant Director
-
Howard Erskine
as Carlyle Patron
-
Bill Gerber
as Barbeque Guest
-
Erica Leerhsen
as Actress
-
Bob Dorian
as Galaxie Executive
-
Ray Garvey
as Grip
-
Maurice Sonnenberg
as Banquet Emcee
-
Aaron Stanford
as Actor
-
Ivan Martin
as Galaxie Executive
-
Roxanne Perry
as Barbeque Guest
-
Barbara Carroll
as Carlyle Pianist
-
Anthony Arkin
as Audition Reader
-
Olivia Hayman
as Balthazar Hostess
-
Peter Van Wagner
as Balthazar Couple
-
Judy Toma
as Balthazar Couple
-
Sarah Polen
as Seder Guest
-
Amanda Jacobi
as Seder Guest
-
Ruth Last
as Seder Guest
-
Robert Lloyd Wolchok
as Seder Guest
-
Reiko Takahashi
as Movie Extra
-
Joe Rigano
as Projectionist
-
Mary Schmidtberger
as Galaxie Executive
