Hurlyburly is an adaptation of David Rabe’s play, directed and produced by Tony Drazan, about the intersecting lives of several Hollywood players and wannabes, whose dysfunctional personal lives are more interesting than anything they’re peddling to the studios. Rabe wrote the screenplay for the film, condensing the action of the three-hour plus play into two hours and updated the setting from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s.
Hurly Burly is a 1998 independent film, based on the acclaimed 1984 play of the same name by David Rabe, who adapted it into a screenplay for the film. The film was directed by Anthony Drazan.
The title refers to dialogue in Act I, Scene I of Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
First Witch: “When shall we three meet again / In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
Second Witch: “When the hurlyburly’s done, / When the battle’s lost and won.”
The film was described as opening “strong” upon its limited release. Opening in 16 theaters, the film grossed $164,826 in its opening weekend; the widest release the film ever got was in 84 theaters. As of now, the film has grossed a total of $1,798,862.
Hurlyburly (1998)
Directed by: Anthony Drazan
Starring: Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright Penn, Meg Ryan, Chazz Palminteri, Garry Shandling, Anna Paqui, Gianna Palminteri, Elaine Corral Kendall, David Fabrizio
Screenplay by: David Rabe
Production Design by: Michael D. Haller
Cinematography by: Gu Changwei
Film Editing by: Dylan Tichenor
Costume Design by: Mary Claire Hannan
Art Direction by: Derek R. Hill
Music by: Steve Lindsey, David Baerwald
MPAA Rating: R for constant drug use, pervasive strong language and sexual material.
Distributed by: Fine Line Features
Release Date: December 25, 1998
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