Rating: 
Summary: A Bittersweet ¿Muse¿
Review: 'The Muse' may not be the best comedy ever, but, let's face it, this is a funny, charming and entertaining movie. Moreover, sometimes its critics to Hollywood system can be very pertinent. Albert Brooks writes, directs, produces and stars this comedy about a Hollywood writer who -- as everybody says-- has lost his Edge. Advised by a friend who is very succesfull in the business, he meets The Muse, played by Sharon Stone. But far different from the simple Greek entities, she likes expensive clothes and hotels, she has many extravagant desires and charges for her inspiration. Undoubtly her attitudes and advices will change not only the writer's life but also his wife's. Don't expect something dark or mindy; this is a very light film. But this is very most of its charm lies. And, in Sharon Stone. She hasn't been as beautiful as in this movie for many years. She is the heart and soul of the story. She was born to play this character; there would never be a muse as amusing as she. And to make things better, she has a good timing for comedies. She uses all her sex symbol status to make her character sensual without being vulgar. The other players are fine. Jeff Bridges is particularly funny as Brooks's friend. Many industry insders, as Martin Scorsese and Rob Reiner, also pop up in some scenes, playing some of the muse's protégés. Andie MacDowell is not bad but she has been better before, but her character allows her some transformation. Albert Brooks is a good comediant and he deliviries fine here. Brooks's script sounds very resenteful with the big studios and their system. But his critics to them is as not acid as they could be. Actually, they taste much like an piece of cake that went off than bile as they actually should be to make this a much better movie-- but they are critcs anyway. Some of them are too clichéd, for one, the studio executive who turns to be Satan itself. I suggest you to take a look at this muse. You may find some good ideas here and there. Brooks himself may actually have been helped by a muse during the procution of this film -- but not all the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely atrocious
Review: A movie in search of a good script, ironically enough. Well, maybe not so much a good script as a good editor. There is a lot of dead time in this movie between the not particularly funny set pieces. Albert Brooks gives himself some funny lines, Macdowell is atrocious (she's not even trying, for goodness sake), Bridges is almost unused, Stone we are meant to think as some sort of saint, and there we have it. Lumbering from one average, name-dropping set piece to the next for an hour and a half. Hmm. If that's your idea of fun, then be my guest... This is so unfortunate, as there is the glimmer of a good idea here, and at least Brooks and Bridges are such terrific actors, given the right script. If you haven't already done so, give "Out of Sight" and "The Big Lebowski" a watch instead.....
Rating:
Summary: Art Truly Imitates Life
Review: A shining example of how a movie trailer is better than the actual film itself. It's the story of a washed-up film writer on the brink of being edged out of the industry unless he can manage one decent story/script. Albert Brooks MUST have a LOT of friends in the business. I can think of no other explanation for HOW this film got made in the first place. In the best interest of your sanity, avoid spending money on this one. Wait until it shows up on Fox or something.
Rating: 
Summary: Certainly not Brooks best work
Review: Albert Brooks has directed, stars in and written the so-so screenplay for The Muse. Refreshingly, not many movies that trump the cliches and stereotypes of modern day Hollywood go at it from the perspective of the screenwriter specifically. It seems many times, we get a peek at the Hollywood fishbowl through the eyes of an actor, director or producer (Bowfinger). The screenwriter is a somewhat forgotten character in the movie-making mix. But, at least screenwriters still get to accept their Oscars during the televised portion of the ceremonies, unlike all those other poor schmucks who get relegated to the 15-second "Awards Given Earlier" segment. The Muse introduces us to Steven Phillips, a screenwriter who is riding the high of receiving a Humanitarian award. However, when his daughter asks what a humanitarian is, Steven (Albert Brooks) humbly replies, "A humanitarian is someone who's never won an Oscar." Brooks is masterful at seeing the cloud for the silver lining. Steven's life takes a turn when, during a meeting about his latest screenplay, he is not so delicately told he's lost his edge and released from his studio contract. Young studio whipper-snapper Josh condescendingly prompts Steven to start his second career in life, stating that people usually have three careers in their lifetimes. Annoyed and somewhat lost, Steven tries vainly to figure out what his next step should be. One funny sequence is his trying to get a meeting with Stephen Spielberg. The Spielberg headquarters almost mimic a David-Koresh-Branch-Davidian- compound feel, a veritable fortress that begs a level of respect. Once inside, whether you are allowed to drive in or if you are diminished to "walk-on" status, your chances of actually meeting Spielberg are virtually non-existent. Monotone actor/comic Steven Wright has a small role as cousin Stan Spielberg. Finally, desperate and wondering how he will feed his family, Steven approaches his friend Jack (Jeff Bridges), hoping for a break. Jack shares the secret of his many successes. He is using a muse, yes, a muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus, inspirational patronesses of the various arts. Steven is desperate to try anything once at this point, and gets a meeting with Sarah, the muse (Sharon Stone). Sarah agrees to take him on, after explaining many of her conditions, not the least of which is staying at the Four Seasons to the tune of $1700 a night. Not only that, but he must pay for her groceries, her transportation and be at her beck and call at all hours since she might have some inspiration in the middle of the night. She does not give any ideas or do any of the writing, she merely is present for inspiration. Stone turns in an amusing, cute performance as Sarah that might mimic many of the qualities of your favorite high-maintenance friend. She is very particular, expects gifts from Tiffany's, and wants Waldorf salads from Spago in the middle of the night. Her insistence that things be exactly right is evident in her constant reminder to Steven, "Are you writing all this down?" She eventually moves into the Phillips home, and befriends Steven's wife Laura (Andie MacDowell), inspiring her to start a venture of her own. Steven is most displeased with the mayhem that ensues, and feels slighted, wondering if Sarah's "museness" is being sucked dry by his wife as well as other Hollywood types James Cameron, Martin Scorsese and Rob Reiner who keep popping up everywhere. Martin Scorsese is the funniest part of the film, all hopped up on Starbucks coffee, and contemplating a remake of Raging Bull, except this time, with a really really thin, angry guy. Oh man, it's a knee-slapper. There's a plot twist at the end of the film, which I didn't expect, but also didn't like. I would have liked the follow-through to be more consistent. It's a cute movie and interesting premise. People generally don't mind being entertained with unrealistic possibilities. Albert Brooks is very talented and I've liked his work in the past. This is certainly not his strongest contribution, so I would recommend Defending Your Life he did with Meryl Streep, an interesting take on what might happen in the afterlife. The Muse is ho-hum at best, Sharon Stone is charming and Albert Brooks is his usual deadpan, frustrated, well-spoken self. The cameos are fun, you can watch for appearances from Cybill Shepperd, Lorenzo Lamas, Jennifer Tilly and Wolfgang Puck as well as the aforementioned slew of directors.
Rating: 
Summary: Living with Sharon Stone
Review: Albert Brooks wrote, directed, and stars with Sharon Stone in 'The Muse,' a light-hearted comedy about a Hollywood screenwriter who's lost his 'edge' and so decides to hire a muse to help inspire him. I really liked this one. And I'm convinced that this is as close as we're ever going to get to the truth about what it must be like to live with Sharon Stone.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie
Review: Albert Brooks, Andie McDowell and Sharon Stone are all great in the Muse. The story could have been a little better but its not bad, and it is original. This movie is being passed as a comedy but I didnt get a lot of laughs off of it. Bottomline, this movie lacked something. Maybe a better ending could have helped it. Definitely rent this before buying. Its good, just not great.
Rating:
Summary: Brooks Doth Protest Too Much About "Losing my edge"
Review: As a long time Brooks fan going back to his records and SNL short-films, I, like many of the reviewers here, was stunned by the sheer blandness of THE MUSE. The film is about a writer who "loses his edge" made by a writer/director who has indeed lost it (at least on this film). The central idea of somebody being the literal embodiment of inspiration set adrift in Hollywood is potentially hilarious and there is much fruit in a comedy about the inherent contradictions of the creative"~ process and the business of marketing that creativity, but THE MUSE isn't even out of the driveway on the way to that thematic ballpark."~ dicey subject for a major Hollywood comedy, but there is an audience of baby boomers out there who are dealing with just such issues and Brooks is certainly talented enough to make enlightened comedy out of the dreadful anxieties of mid-life."~ The last film takes those very same issues literally home to face their mid-life incarnations under the shadow of looming mortality.
Rating: 
Summary: A great movie - although not one of his best.
Review: Brooks makes some of my favorite movies. They are intelligent, witty, and usually have a positive message. I thoroughly enjoyed the Muse but it's not as good as "Lost in America," "Defending Your Life," or even "Mother." I wish some his other movies would become available on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Lightweight, Boring and Transparent
Review: Brooks' muse deserted him long before this film ever got underway. As it limped along, you could almost hear him thinking out loud , "What ridiculous situation can I put our hero in next?" This is one long, and boring film.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable and Unbelievably Bad!
Review: Brooks' muse deserted him long before this film ever got underway. As it limped along, you could almost hear him thinking out loud , "What ridiculous situation can I put our hero in next?" This is one long, and boring film.
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