Movie Summary"Mistress" is a 1992 comedy-drama film directed by Barry Primus and includes a star-studded cast that consists of Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Martin Landau.
The plot centers around Marvin Landisman (Robert Wuhl), a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who was once on the verge of Hollywood success but now discovers himself dealing with little recognition. He resides in an attic above a noisy and intrusive gym and still clings to an old script he has composed, intending to revive his profession. Marvin has actually withdrawn from the cutthroat Hollywood scene, working on a script about his relationship with his mom.
Unexpected OpportunityMarvin's life takes a turn when his old good friend, Jack Roth (Martin Landau), a once-successful producer, presents an opportunity to him. Jack provides Marvin the possibility to direct a film from his script with financial backing from billionaire business owner, Evan M. Wright (Robert De Niro). However, the opportunity features its complications- the major one being that Evan insists Marvin reword the script to include roles for his three mistresses.
Manipulation and CreativityAs Marvin becomes more knotted in this new job, he discovers himself operating in overdrive to transform the script to include the significantly various and requiring starlets (each mistress) who are a nation singer, an 'art movie' British actress and an action movie star. Marvin is controlled by these powerful women and their demanding lover, who each try to assert control over the film's story.
Characters and ComedyMuch of the film's funny originates from the clash of the characters' egos and the lengths that Marvin should go to keep all parties pleased. Jack Roth continuously reminds Marvin about the harsh realities of the market and the requirement to compromise for success. Evan's main concern is to keep his mistresses happy and not about the success or quality of the movie.
Stuart Stratland (Eli Wallach), an eccentric billionaire and another investor for the job, demands that the film consists of a function for his young sweetheart who wishes to be a star. This addition even more heightens Marvin's predicament, making the film's narrative significantly convoluted and ridiculous. On the other hand, Marvin's ex-wife, Peggy (Tuesday Knight), reappears, including another layer of complexity to the plot.
The Ultimate OutcomeIn a strange twist of irony, Marvin's battle to accommodate these multiple masters ends up being the script itself. The last act of "Mistress" features the production of a meta-film-- a film within the movie that is the struggle of a young writer called Marvin Landisman attempting to browse the absurdities of Hollywood filmmaking.
Conclusion"Mistress" is a satire on Hollywood moviemaking, checking out the restrictions artists often must work under, and the compromises they need to make. In spite of the comical tone, the movie puts forth severe questions about creative integrity, industrial imperatives, and the omnipresence of rich and powerful patrons in Hollywood who typically blur the line between individual desires and expert demands.
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