William H. Macy as Charlie and Meg Ryan as Deidre star in this quirky drama about depression and the mainstream industry filmmaking process. It’s more about filmmaking than depression, but it’s a depressing picture of the industry. Not to worry, though, there are artists who defy the system and things seem to improve for them further into the story.
The director has a proven track record for working with Macy and he also co-wrote the script with him, based on the Peter Lefcourt novel. Lefcourt has a wealth of experience as a writer, working on novels, plays, television and films.
The film begins like a romantic comedy – with Deirdre despising, and infuriated by Charlie, but it’s a bit more than that. It works as a drama, as a movie about the creative process it has substance, while your average chick flick is fairly deficient in depth.
Charlie is a lovable loser, in a system which creates losers from those passionate people with integrity and winners from those who are void as people and hacks in occupation – with scant talent.
Deirdre is resigned to a meaningless and powerless job, but she is committed – hoping for the upside just around the corner.
Charlie has a knack for seeing through people and he maintains this transparency in himself, which often throws people when they first meet him.
Charlie’s nephew, Lionel (Jason Ritter), has spent a year writing a really good script, he has enlisted his uncle to help him get it made. But Charlie knows the business too well to do this the way which Lionel is expecting/hoping. And our inciting incident appears to be that Charlie has an idea or a fabrication of inspirations. He knows how to get a movie made and rebuild his own broken career, with his nephew’s script. And because he lacks integrity – possibly by his own design, or compassion, he doesn’t care so much that this is not what Lionel wants.
There is an interesting double standard, when the despicable character is manipulated because he’s done something bad (cheated on his wife) and yet an ally and therefore cooperative with our protagonist, Dierdre also commits infidelity. Ryan’s character is likable despite her sins, possibly moreso because we can see how flawed she is (also her husband is a bit of a tool.)
I liked it. The Deal is one of those movies you can watch again if you’re feeling like a light drama about movies. Not as special as some of Macy’s other films, but it’s a neat little movie.
3 stars
the joy of eating and the folly of thinking 