If you don't like insider Hollywood movies, this film will be a complete bore. You should avoid it like the plague. If you do like those kinds of movie, you should add it to your Saved queue on Netflix because the movie is solid, has some great moments, but never really rises above the status of rental.

If you're Barry Levinson or a suit at Showtime or HBO, you need to try to get a series or mini-series of this film into production. There are a lot of interesting pieces in this film but Levinson and writer Art Linson only give them a cursory glance. The film would make for an Entourage meets Sopranos type show in which the producer tries to maintain his tenuous grasp on his questionable power. He's a man who people respect... only until they disagree at which point they lambast him as just a producer. He's struggling with an ex-wife he hasn't gotten completely over and a 17 year old daughter from a previous previous marriage. And instead of the "other" family being the Mafia, it's the world of Hollywood: childish actors and directors, power-crazed studio execs, back stabbing assistant focused on climbing the ladder instead of helping out/doing their jobs. There's also the issue of a Jewish producer working with rabid Arab financiers (and worrying where exactly the money is coming from). It could be an amazing show.

As a movie, everything is rushed. You get a couple of scenes with the 17 year old (played by Kristin Stewart) but there isn't much there. The relationship with his latest ex, Robin Wright-Penn, is solid but not that deep. There's some great work put in by John Turturro, Bruce Willis, and a dog (and Moon Bloodgood is her usual ravishing self in a small role) but the film never really comes together to amount to anything. Rather than being involved with Robert DeNiro's main character, you are just kind of disconnectedly sitting back and watching the mayhem.

In the end, it's a so-so movie with some great moments and a superb premise that could make for some terrific TV. Again, I'd recommend it as a rental.