Taglines: In Goddess we trust.
The Muse movie storyline. What happens when a screenwriter (Brooks) loses his edge, he turns to anyone he can for help… even if it’s the mythical “Zeus’s Daughter” (Stone). And he’s willing to pay, albeit reluctantly, whatever price it takes to satisfy this goddess, especially when her advice gets him going again on a sure-fire script. However, this is not the limit of her help, she also gets the writer’s wife (MacDowell) going on her own bakery enterprise, much to the chagrin of Brooks, who has already had to make many personal sacrifices for his own help.
The Muse is a 1999 comedy film starring Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Andie MacDowell, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Monica Mikala, Jamie Alexis, Jennifer Tilly and Bradley Whitford. The film is directed by Brooks.
About the Story
After winning a lifetime achievement award, esteemed successful screenwriter Steven Phillips (Brooks) has a rude awakening. Steven believes the award has no real meaning, but it does—it means his career is over. His studio has reneged that means they won’t renew his contract and told him he’s gone cold, saying he’s “lost his edge.” A junior exec (Mark Feuerstein) tells Steven his new script is dull and to be off the lot by 5 p.m.
Taken by surprise, the Oscar-nominated writer is desperate to revive his career. He seeks the advice of a very successful screenwriter buddy, Jack (Bridges), who arranges an introduction to Sarah (Stone), a modern-day muse who can inspire anyone. Sarah, however, has conditions and unnecessarily lavish needs, such as expensive hotel rooms and gifts from Tiffany & Co. Steven is forced to make good on those conditions, much to the chagrin of his wife Laura (MacDowell).
Steven isn’t sure if the muse could be the real thing or just somebody sucking him dry of his money and patience. She takes him to Long Beach, where they encounter writer-director Rob Reiner, someone Sarah clearly knows. Steven gets an idea for a movie set in an aquarium and thinks of Jim Carrey as the lead.
As Sarah’s demands increase, Steven’s apprehensive wife begins to be won over. Through the muse’s encouragement Laura decides to pursue her dream of baking and selling cookies, to much fanfare and success. To save money, Sarah is invited by the Phillipses to move into their house. Steven, however, is frustrated because Sarah spends more time helping others—notably Hollywood writers and directors like James Cameron and Martin Scorsese, who come to Steven’s house to see her. Steven even surrenders his own bedroom to Sarah and sleeps in the guest house.
When he pleads for a way to end his aquarium screenplay, Sarah does point Steven in the right direction and inspires him with a great idea. Steven’s agent Hal is thrilled and urges him to finish the script as quickly as possible. Steven did finish the script, when he heard Sara’s advice.
The Muse (1999)
Directed by: Albert Brooks
Starring: Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Andie MacDowell, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Monica Mikala, Jamie Alexis, Jennifer Tilly, Bradley Whitford
Screenplay by: Albert Brooks, Monica Johnson
Production Design by: Dina Lipton
Cinematography by: Thomas Ackerman
Film Editing by: Peter Teschner
Costume Design by: Betsy Cox
Set Decoration by: Anne D. McCulley
Art Direction by: Marc Dabe
Music by: Elton John
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief nudity.
Distributed by: October Films
Release Date: August 27, 1999
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