Co-written by David Mamet, whose own relation to Hollywood is somewhat ambivalent, this film is based on Larry Beinhart's novel American Hero . It's less than two weeks until the election. The public's attention must be distracted from this potential scandal. The only way to solve the problem is to put a spin on it, for which you need a spin doctor. We remember the slogans, we forget the war.
War is show business.
Enter Dustin Hoffman as Stanley Motss, the quintessential Hollywood Producer, elegantly dressed, pompadoured, oozing wealth and success and the power that comes with them. He has an endearing eagerness and pleasure in his work. We watch it go from sound studio to CNN without a pause. Planting documents in the Library of Congress is child's play. Contemplating winning the Nobel Peace Prize, he is reminded that there was no war.