Hurlyburly (film)

Eddie, a cocaine-addicted womanizing casting director, lives in the Hollywood Hills, where his friend Mickey has come to stay with him temporarily after a fallout with his wife. Along with their buddies, Artie and out-of-work actor Phil, Eddie and Mickey live a life of decadence and immorality. Eddie is in love with Darlene, but she is also seeing the married Mickey. Eddie comes to question his lifestyle and purpose, while Mickey is content with his situation. Through a haze of drugs and booze, the four friends inch closer to rock bottom. ==Cast==

Anthony Drazan and David Rabe said some unnamed famous actors they approached to star in the film turned them down due to the depiction of drug use. The low-budget production was able to secure financing through the sale of foreign distribution rights, in addition to the actors working for minimal salaries. Filming took place in the Hollywood Hills from December 1997 to January 1998. ==Reception==

Box office Opening in 16 theaters, the film grossed $164,826 in its opening weekend; the widest release the film ever got was in 84 theaters. As the film only had a budget of $4 million, The film grossed a total of $1,798,862. Roger Ebert gave the film 3/4 stars and said Penn gives "a remarkable performance." Stephen Holden of The New York Times said, "In evoking the casual cruelty of contemporary life in a certain time and place, this screen adaptation of David Rabe's play is a misanthropic triumph." In a negative review, Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle called the film "a misbegotten mess." Guthmann argued, "Instead of keeping the rude spirit that drove the play, Drazan takes the material too seriously and tries to refashion it as an allegory for our demoralized times -- even though, 14 years later, its observations, cultural idioms and druggie characters are all dated." Another character, Bonnie, is treated as an object to be gifted to Phil. and Drazan was nominated for the Golden Lion. Penn was also nominated for Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards. ==Promotion==

Sean Penn and Garry Shandling gave the film a plug during the final episode of The Larry Sanders Show, in which Sean Penn tells Larry "off camera" that Garry Shandling was an insecure and awful actor who was always trying to get into his wife's trailer. ==References==