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Hollywood Animal: The Rise and Fall of Joe Eszterhas

Caleb Long

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Joe Eszterhas was one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s. He wrote a string of hit movies, including Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and Jagged Edge. But his career came crashing down in the early 2000s, after a series of flops and personal scandals.

Hollywood Animal

by Joe Eszterhas

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Eszterhas was born in Hungary in 1944. He immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. He began his career as a journalist, but he soon switched to screenwriting. His first major success was the 1981 film Eyewitness. The film starred William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver, and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Eszterhas followed up Eyewitness with a string of hit movies, including Jagged Edge (1985),Basic Instinct (1992),and Showgirls (1995). These films were all known for their controversial subject matter and their explicit violence and sexuality. Eszterhas was often criticized for his work, but he was also one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood.

Eszterhas's career began to decline in the early 2000s. He had a series of flops, including The 13th Floor (1999) and American Psycho 2 (2002). He also became embroiled in a number of personal scandals. In 2002, he was arrested for possession of cocaine. In 2004, he was sued by a former girlfriend for sexual harassment.

Eszterhas's career has never recovered from these setbacks. He has continued to write, but he has not had a major hit in years. He is now considered one of the most cautionary tales in Hollywood.

The Rise

Joe Eszterhas was born in Hungary in 1944. He immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. He began his career as a journalist, but he soon switched to screenwriting. His first major success was the 1981 film Eyewitness. The film starred William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver, and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Eszterhas's success was due in part to his ability to tap into the zeitgeist of the time. His films were often about taboo subjects, and they appealed to audiences who were looking for something different. Eszterhas was also a master of suspense, and his films were always kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

The Fall

Eszterhas's career has never recovered from these setbacks. He has continued to write, but he has not had a major hit in years. He is now considered one of the most cautionary tales in Hollywood.

There are a number of factors that contributed to Eszterhas's downfall. One factor was his own ego. Eszterhas was known for his arrogance and his belief that he was above the rules. He alienated many people in the industry, and he made a number of enemies.

Another factor was the changing taste of audiences. In the 1990s, audiences were more receptive to Eszterhas's brand of controversial and explicit films. But in the early 2000s, audiences began to tire of this type of film. Eszterhas's films were no longer as successful, and he began to lose his grip on Hollywood.

The Legacy

Joe Eszterhas is a complex and controversial figure. He was one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s, but his career came crashing down in the early 2000s. Eszterhas's legacy is a mixed one. He is remembered for his controversial and groundbreaking films, but he is also remembered for his arrogance and his personal scandals.

Eszterhas's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of fame and fortune. It is also a reminder that even the most successful people can fall from grace.

Hollywood Animal

by Joe Eszterhas

4.2 out of 5