Hacks (1997 film)
Hacks (a.k.a. Sink or Swim and The Big Twist) is a 1997 American comedy film written and directed by Gary Rosen.[1] The film premiered at the AFI Los Angeles Film Festival.[2]
| Hacks | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Gary Rosen |
| Written by | Gary Rosen |
| Produced by | Matt Salinger |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ralf D. Bode |
| Edited by | Mark Fitzgerald |
| Music by | Anthony Marinelli |
Production company | Shoreline Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Brian is a television writer-producer who is working on creating a 22-episode show, but has writer's block and needs inspiration. He teams up with a group of writer friends to write about a sexual encounter he watches on a balcony.
He witnesses a strange romantic encounter between two figures on the balcony of a hotel near his flat and decides to write scripts with his writer friends based on what he saw.
Cast
- Stephen Rea as Brian
- Illeana Douglas as Georgia Feckler
- John Ritter as Hank
- Dave Foley as Neil
- Richard Kind as Benny
- Dusty Kay as Ira Gold
- Tom Arnold as Danny
- Robert Patrick as Goatee
- Ryan O'Neal as Dr. Applefield
- Jason Priestley as The Dude
- Olivia d'Abo as Lynn
- Lisa Kudrow as Reading
- Bob Odenkirk as Cell
Reception
Leonard Klady of Variety magazine called it "a flip, intermittently amusing satire" and praised the cast but wrote: "the picture has little to offer in the way of insight or reflection and therefore won't translate outside of a small, insider crowd."[3]
References
- "Ritter: A hack writer in his new film". Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Newspapers.com). November 6, 1997.
- Stewart, Bhob. "Sink or Swim > Overview". AllMovie. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- Klady, Leonard (9 November 1997). "Hacks". Variety.