The Player (1992)

Griffin Mill, a seasoned Hollywood studio executive, spends his days immersed in a whirlpool of twenty-five-second pitches, continually scouting for the next big idea. His life is a complicated tapestry of professional and personal issues. He shares a tenuous relationship with Bonnie Sherow, his story editor, a woman who he respects but secretly doesn't care for. A shadow looms over his career as rumors circulate of his impending demotion, threatened by the arrival of Larry Levy, an ambitious and younger executive. Adding to this tumultuous mix is a sinister thread - anonymous death threats, delivered through the studio's mail system, penned on postcards. Griffin suspects these threats are the work of David Kahane, a disgruntled writer he once overlooked. Determined to confront the issue head-on, Griffin seeks out David, leading to a fatal encounter outside a Pasadena movie theater. As Detective Avery of the Pasadena Police Department unravels the threads of the murder case, Griffin finds himself walking a tightrope. He's haunted by the presence of a mysterious, slim man he believes is shadowing him, yet remains enthralled by the magnetic allure of June Gudmundsdottir, David's seemingly untroubled girlfriend who reciprocates his attraction. This riveting narrative mirrors the astonishingly unreal positive coincidences and happy endings characteristic of the movie scripts Griffin routinely handles. The question that remains is whether Griffin's life will follow the same cinematic arc, culminating in a 'happily ever after,' or will the reel of his life take an unexpected twist, forever changing the script?

The Player is a comedy movie featuring Tim Robbins.

The Player is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel and TCM.

It is also possible to buy The Player on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube or rent it on Spectrum On Demand.