Der Preis des Erfolges

I once lived in LA in 1987 and a friend of mine was working on the film The Boost. He asked if I would be interested in being in it, and I took him up on the offer. I was an extra and can be seen in the background of the "pool party" scene (my other up close scene was edited out of the final product). I only worked two nights at a mansion leased for the film from a professional golfer, and was witness to the behind-the-scenes antics of Hollywood. The strangest behavior was actually after the film wrap, when a doll was found hanging on the doorstep of James Woods' home, along with threats which were linked to a specific someone working on the film. Just for the record, James Woods was extremely friendly to all of us on the set. A true gentleman.

One of the Finest Actors of Cinema History, James Woods delivers A Yet Another Fabulous Performance in 'The Boost'. A dark & depressing flick, that works mostly because of Woods.

'The Boost' Synopsis: A real-estate hustler & his wife see success, only to fall deep later-on.

'The Boost' is more about the side-effects of failure, rather than a story of drug-addicts. The struggle & the depression its pivotal characters go through, are very off-putting, as they depict reality.

Ben Stein & Darryl Ponicsan's Screenplay, though fairly engaging, gets a bit too serious & disturbing towards the second-hour. Harold Becker's Direction is proficient.

Woods is the biggest merit of 'The Boost'. He's so good as a suffering man, that my heart literally went out for him, even after he gives in to drug-addiction. Woods tops himself in here!

On the whole, 'The Boost' caters to a niche audience, but if Fine Acting is what you're looking for, then watching Woods's Masterful Performance in here, should top your list.

I appreciated this movie more after the second viewing. Although dark, it leaves a powerful statement. James Woods is a silver-tongued real estate salesman that for the first time in his life he is successful and rolling in money. So much money and so quick, he turns to cocaine to stay in high gear. His wife (Sean Young)wishes things could stay plain and simple; but after slipping into the high life, she too needs drugs to remain functional. Steven Hill is the mentor that suddenly is disgusted with Woods character. The profitable real estate business dries up leaving Woods ass deep in debt and no way to support his drug habit. Woods finally clean and sober still can't repair the damage done to his life and marriage.

John Kapelos and Kelle Kerr are noteworthy in support. Woods is dynamic and very convincing. Young on the other hand seems quite bland and exhibits little acting skills. Young however is not afraid to get naked! THE BOOST is dark, moody and all too realistic.

This B grader, I wouldn't be so good to put down. As an anti drug movie, The Boost is very good. So is Woods again in his role as Lenny Brown, involved in tax sheltering, whatever, when there's a big fall and Lenny's out of pocket, his escape from his pressures and woes, his boost is through drugs, encouraged by a friend, where we quickly see Lenny, sink into a solace and bigger dependency of drugs, becoming moody, aggressive, very much the way Jim Carroll went, in The Basketball Diaries, where here, there may be no turning back, after becoming abusive to his girlfriend, Sean Young, who turns in a good performance. The disheartening monologue that Woods delivers at the end is the strongest moment of the movie, although I liked it when his decked his friend, on the account of girlfriend Young, ending up in hospital, with drug related injuries. Woods's anger was frightening, he's such a powerfully convincing actor, he has the ambiguous intensity. I wouldn't say The Boost is anything special, but to kill 90 minutes, this flick is a pretty good one to watch in that time frame.

Another great performance by Woods, first playing his typical schemer who this time gets a lucky break to go to LA and be respectable and even rich. He's now a fast-talking real estate salesman who still has no self esteem, but for the first time has the money to buy the look that can kind of hide it. Unfortunately, the paper reports the tax laws might be changed, so the incredibly profitable business of selling real estate so people can get a tax exemption dries up overnight. Woods is left with no money because he's p****d it away on planes and other luxuries. Woods and then his wife Sean Young become druggies and their life continually spirals down until it reaches rock bottom with disillusion, no future, and no life beyond the drugs. They are left with nothing, but each other, except Woods always knew she was too good for him, so she is the final domino in his now sad life that's left to fall. Woods is the best at making you think he could crack at any moment. He's always trying to get ahead, but at the same time you know he's always on the verge of snapping and totally screwing his life up. The portrayal of Woods & Young's drug addiction is dark and unsettling, but that makes it so much more convincing.