I wouldn’t compare Tim Robbins in The Player to Kirk Douglas.
They have a lot in common, they were both manipulative players in the film industry. But Robbins’ goal was money and power and Douglas’ was legacy. Robbins I find a little bit comparable to the character in La Dolce Vita. He’s the ‘Whiskey Priest’, he knows what he does is soul numbing and amoral, but he doesn’t care enough to change anything, even if he quietly yearns to create an artistic masterpiece. Like the character in La Dolce Vita, he’s a cog in the machine, the only one conscious of it.
I would agree with WBA. It’s definitely a character study, but it’s also a commentary on the dual nature of show business and the separation of emotion from utility (Means from end).
WBA
I think Douglas’ character is a narcisst. One could say that, and Jirin’s take sounds convincing.
@Odilonvert I’d say it’s both. Character study (as everything is about Shields) and a good comment on personalities in the movie industry through the further addition of other people and their stories. I think it’s quite complex and works very well, as it adresses many things in passing that the film doesn’t have to explore further to make them resonate.
I can’t say nothing about The Player, as it’s been over 10 years since i saw it, and can’t remember a thing.