The Stunt Man (1980)

I enjoy watching films within films movies as much as anyone, but there’s so much about this story of an accused murderer on the run from the police who gets hired as a stunt man that makes not a lick of sense. I’m not an expert, but none of the actual filming seems to follow how anything would ever be done to maintain any type of safety or continuity in a film. The performances are all over the top, none more than Peter O’Toole as the deranged director. Steve Railsback looks so much like Charles Manson in this (not surprising that he was cast in that role for Helter Skelter). Within the plot of the film, him showing up wouldn’t have been all that odd.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role; Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium