MOVIE REVIEW : ‘The Shot’ Fires Off a Tale of Hollywood Desperation

“The Shot” is yet another largely inept and rarely funny no-budget tale of a couple of wannabe actors (Dan Bell, Michael Rivkin) so desperate to make it in Hollywood and on the verge of homelessness that they steal the work print of a movie about to open with the idea of holding it ransom. (This gimmick is not made especially convincing.)

Bell and Rivkin are not without ability, but the whole L.A. grunge scene has been depicted so often--and much better--that there’s really no point in seeing the film unless you’re a friend or relative of those involved in its making.

It’s one of those pictures in which the actors look to be having more fun in making the movie than we are in watching it. Bell also wrote and directed the film, which he adapted from his 1989 play; apparently “The Shot” was more effective--and apparently substantially different--onstage. Dana Carvey makes a cameo appearance.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: There’s much crude language in the film.

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‘The Shot’

Dan Bell: Dern Reel

Michael Rivkin: Patrick St. Patrick

Mo Gaffney: Sheila Ricks

Michael DeLuise: Bob Mann

Writer-director Dan Bell. Producer Jude Horowitz. Cinematographer Alan Caudillo. Editor Kevin Greutert. Costumes Mari-An Ceo. Music Dan Sonis. Production designer Diamond Jim Braverman. Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes.

* Exclusively at the Mann Westwood, 1050 Gayley Ave., Westwood Village, (310) 289-MANN.