From a business perspective, in some ways I can understand why this movie is going direct from the film festivals straight to DVD. It's smart, funny, engaging, and even takes time to poke fun at itself. And with a marquee cast of Meg Ryan and William Macy a theatrical run would have probably sucked up a lot of speculative investment dollars the studio didn't have or wasn't willing to risk.
In the last month or so I've seen "Body of Lies," "Eagle Eye," "The Chageling," "Ghost Town," "Happy-Go-Lucky" and "Burn After Reading," and to my amazement, "The Deal" is probably the most overall satisfying watch of them all. My expectations were limited, so not expecting much is a good way to be pleasantly surprised. And I was. Very! William H. Macy and Steven Schacter have written a lot of television movies together but this was their first theatrical stab. And they hit a bulls eye. Admittedly, it's a movie about a movie, and it's not going to appeal to Joe the Plumber or Joe Six-pack. But you don't have to be a Hollywood insider to feel the chemistry, get the humor, or root for the romance. The characters were plausible. The relationships were genuine. And the humor was biting. Meg Ryan and William Macy are near the top of their comedic game and they deliver in an unexpectedly satisfying way.
BTW, Macy and Ryan are listed way down the cast totem pole in the credits, but they are the main star vehicles that drive this film and keep it moving. Macy has a commanding comedic touch he nurtured in "Fargo," and adds a sprinkle of tragedy he borrows from "The Cooler." And Ryan, rekindled her spark from "You've Got Mail" and delivers probably her most satisfying performance since.
Really, for movie lovers, a pleasant, satisfying and completely unexpected delight.
P.S. I checked 'spoiler' alert as a precautionary measure. I don't believe I gave anything away.
In the last month or so I've seen "Body of Lies," "Eagle Eye," "The Chageling," "Ghost Town," "Happy-Go-Lucky" and "Burn After Reading," and to my amazement, "The Deal" is probably the most overall satisfying watch of them all. My expectations were limited, so not expecting much is a good way to be pleasantly surprised. And I was. Very! William H. Macy and Steven Schacter have written a lot of television movies together but this was their first theatrical stab. And they hit a bulls eye. Admittedly, it's a movie about a movie, and it's not going to appeal to Joe the Plumber or Joe Six-pack. But you don't have to be a Hollywood insider to feel the chemistry, get the humor, or root for the romance. The characters were plausible. The relationships were genuine. And the humor was biting. Meg Ryan and William Macy are near the top of their comedic game and they deliver in an unexpectedly satisfying way.
BTW, Macy and Ryan are listed way down the cast totem pole in the credits, but they are the main star vehicles that drive this film and keep it moving. Macy has a commanding comedic touch he nurtured in "Fargo," and adds a sprinkle of tragedy he borrows from "The Cooler." And Ryan, rekindled her spark from "You've Got Mail" and delivers probably her most satisfying performance since.
Really, for movie lovers, a pleasant, satisfying and completely unexpected delight.
P.S. I checked 'spoiler' alert as a precautionary measure. I don't believe I gave anything away.