Watch Swimming with Sharks

Swimming with Sharks is a black comedy film released in 1994 that centers around the cutthroat world of Hollywood. The movie follows Guy (Frank Whaley), a recent film school graduate who dreams of becoming a successful filmmaker. He lands his first job as an assistant to Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), a ruthless and abusive movie executive who quickly stomps on Guy's dreams and aspirations.

From the start, Buddy is cruel, condescending, and demeaning towards Guy. He belittles him in front of his colleagues, forces him to fetch his coffee, and humiliates him at every chance he gets. Despite this, Guy continues to work hard and impress Buddy, thinking that Buddy will eventually recognize his talent and offer him a shot at directing.

However, things take a dark turn when Guy discovers that Buddy has been stealing his ideas and passing them off as his own. Guy confronts Buddy and decides to take matters into his own hands. He kidnaps Buddy and locks him up in his own home, forcing him to undergo the same kind of verbal and emotional abuse that Guy had endured under Buddy's employ.

What follows is a psychological battle between the two men as Guy seeks to exact revenge on Buddy for the years of torment he suffered. The film expertly explores the dynamics of power and control, as Buddy initially held all the power over Guy, but now with Buddy at his mercy, Guy finds himself in control.

The performances by Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley are fantastic, with Spacey delivering a chilling, Oscar-worthy performance as the sadistic Buddy. Watching Spacey's character systematically destroy Guy's psyche and sense of self-worth is both unsettling and captivating.

The film also features an impressive supporting cast, including the talented Michelle Forbes as Dawn Lockard, Buddy's loyal but conflicted assistant. Her performance adds depth and nuance to the film's exploration of the dark side of the entertainment industry.

Throughout the movie, the audience is drawn into the morally ambiguous world of Hollywood, where people will do anything to climb the ladder of success. The film is a biting satire of the entertainment industry, portraying it as a place where ambition, greed, and cutthroat competition are the norm.

The movie's dark visual style and frenetic pacing add to the overall sense of tension and unease that permeates every scene. The soundtrack, composed by Tom Hiel, perfectly complements the film's themes and showcases the emotions of the characters.

Overall, Swimming with Sharks is a gripping and disturbing film that is not for everyone. It is a movie that will leave viewers questioning their own moral compasses and examining the lengths they would go to achieve their dreams. The film delves deep into the darkest corners of human nature and shows that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is an intense portrayal of the high stakes and cutthroat nature of the entertainment industry, making it a must-see for anyone interested in a dark and twisted look at Hollywood.

Swimming with Sharks is a 1995 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 66.