Writer/director George Huang's vitriolic 1994 debut is perhaps most notable for the blistering, caustic turn by Kevin Spacey as remorseless studio executive Buddy Ackerman. Spacey's Buddy is a different kind of Hollywood monster: physically compact and unusually soft-spoken, he's like a seething volcano that erupts only sporadically, when people least expect it. Spacey has the good sense to underplay the role, rendering Buddy's actions and demands all the more horrific. The conclusion -- in which Buddy's meek underling Guy (Frank Whaley) exacts revenge -- is a bit of a letdown, since Guy can't dream up anything more sinister than blatant physical abuse. For Spacey, the role would be one of a handful of standout performances in independent features, including his Oscar-winning role in The Usual Suspects the next year.