The Muse (1999)
53%RT Audience Score: 34%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations
Despite quirky and original writing, the subject matter feels too removed to produce laughs
The Muse” is a movie that pokes fun at Hollywood and all its quirks. It’s got some great zingers and a fresh premise that keeps you entertained. Sharon Stone’s performance is droll and sexy, but the comedy itself is a bit too familiar and not quite funny enough. Still, it’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a gentle satire that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Plus, it’s always fun to see Albert Brooks on screen, even if he’s playing a terrible filmmaker.
Production Company(ies)
Therapy Content Roswell Films,
Distributor
USA Films, October Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
American Museum of Natural History – Central Park West at 79th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, Hebrew
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2010
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Andie MacDowell, Jeff Bridges, Mark Feuerstein, Steven Wright, directed by Albert Brooks, written by Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Hillel Italie, Nell Minow, Marc Savlov, John Hartl, Janet Maslin, David L Beck, Betty Jo Tucker, Emanuel Levy, Rob Gonsalves, Joe Lozito, Chuck Rudolph, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, produced by Herb Nanas, PG-13, Hollywood, writer, muse, Academy Award, artistic dry patch, inspiration, suspicious, services, price, inside-Hollywood, zingers, familiar, not funny enough, gentle satire, Tinseltown, neurotic, Woody Allen, L.A., driving, banal dialogue, celebrity cameos, Cameron, Scorsese, movie within a movie, tepid Hollywood idea
Worldwide gross: $574,481,229
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $847,162,807
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 135
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 92,384,166
US/Canada gross: $250,863,268
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $369,937,292
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 133
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,433,781
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $44,879,390
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 267
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $110,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $162,212,278
Production budget ranking: 193
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $87,351,312
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $597,599,217
ROI to date (est.): 239%
ROI ranking: 550
Sharon Stone – Sarah Little
Andie MacDowell – Laura Phillips
Jeff Bridges – Jack Warrick
Mark Feuerstein – Josh Martin
Steven Wright – Stan Spielberg
Director(s)
Albert Brooks
Writer(s)
Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson
Producer(s)
Herb Nanas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (37)
“The Muse” is an intelligent, undemanding comedy.
June 12, 2018
Hillel Italie
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
Satire, Hollywood in-jokes won’t appeal to kids.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
March 21, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The casting is so right, the inside-Hollywood zingers so wicked, the whimsical premise so fresh, that the occasional slack moments rarely get in the way.
January 1, 2000
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
One of Brooks’ most broadly entertaining films.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A dark and often unattractive movie.
January 1, 2000
David L. Beck
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Like the character he plays here, Albert Brooks needed someone or something to re-inspire him while working on this plodding comedy.
October 30, 2009
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Albert Brooks’ mildly amusing satire about the inner workings of Hollywood benefits from Sharon Stone’s droll and sexy performance, but as a comedy it’s too familiar and not funny enough.
August 20, 2009 | Rating: C+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Brooks’ gentle satire of Hollywood.
August 25, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
In its story of a terrible filmmaker, it almost manages to explain the madness behind why Brooks still gets to crank out excrement like this.
March 7, 2002 | Rating: short
Chuck Rudolph
Matinee Magazine
Squeezes out plenty of laughs at the expense of the Hollywood film community.
February 28, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice…
Plot
In New York, unemployed and divorced Larry Daley is a complete loser. His son Nick is very disappointed with his father who is going to be evicted. Larry accepts the job of night watchman in the Museum of Natural History and takes the place of three old security guards that have just retired in order to raise some money and pay his bills. On his first shift, Larry soon realizes that everything at the museum is not as it seems as the statues begin to come to life after the sun sets. The Museum transforms into complete chaos with the inexperienced Larry in charge as he learns that an old Egyptian stone that came to the Museum in 1950 brings these statues to life until dawn. When Larry brings his son to spend a night with him, the three old guards break into the Museum to try to steal the magical stone. Larry organizes all the historic characters to help him stop the criminals and save the museum.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sharon Stone plays the titular character, Sarah Little, who is said to be a “veritable muse” for struggling screenwriter Steven Phillips.
Albert-Brooks.jpg
