Watch The Muse

The Muse is a 1999 American comedy film directed by Albert Brooks. The movie stars Albert Brooks himself, along with Andie MacDowell, Sharon Stone, and Jeff Bridges in supporting roles. The film is a satirical look at the contemporary Hollywood film industry and its various quirks and idiosyncrasies. It follows the story of a struggling screenwriter who turns to a "muse" for inspiration.

The movie's protagonist, Steven Phillips (played by Albert Brooks), is a fairly successful screenwriter in Hollywood, but he's been going through a long dry spell creatively. His agent, played by Jeff Bridges, tells him that he's lost his edge and needs a new approach if he wants to keep working. Steven has heard about a woman in town who goes by the name of Sarah Little (played by Sharon Stone), who is rumored to be a "muse" - a person who can inspire creativity in those around her. Steven tracks Sarah down and finds her living in a fancy hotel suite with all the trappings of a Hollywood high-roller.

Steven begs Sarah to help him find his creative spark again, and she agrees - for a price. Steven is horrified to find out just how much money Sarah wants for her services, but he decides to go ahead anyway, reasoning that a hit movie will more than pay for itself. Sarah has some strange requests for Steven, including things like having him build a miniature Taj Mahal in his backyard and donating to charity in her name, but Steven goes along, convinced that Sarah's strange ways are worth it if he can get some real inspiration.

As Steven starts working on his new screenplay, he finds that Sarah's methods are, indeed, working - but at a cost. He becomes more and more obsessed with pleasing her and catering to her peculiar whims, which leads to some comical situations, including a hilarious scene where Steven persuades an entire orchestra to follow Sarah around everywhere she goes so that she can have a personal soundtrack.

Along the way, Steven also meets and falls in love with a studio executive named Laura Phillips (played by Andie MacDowell), who helps him navigate the tricky waters of Hollywood politics. Laura is sympathetic to Steven's struggles and helps him deal with the eccentricities of Hollywood, including a bizarre meeting with a group of powerful studio executives who want him to write a ridiculous, over-the-top action movie.

Throughout the film, there are many digs at Hollywood and its sometimes out-of-touch culture, including scenes of screenwriters pitching absurd ideas to studio executives, and a hilarious sequence where Steven visits a "holistic healer" who prescribes some bizarre remedies to help him get over his writer's block.

Overall, The Muse is a funny and lighthearted movie that pokes fun at Hollywood clichés and offers a unique take on the struggle of creativity. The performances by Brooks, Stone, and MacDowell are top-notch, and the script offers plenty of laughs and memorable moments. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in the inner workings of Hollywood and the struggles of the creative process.

The Muse is a 1999 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 56.