Synopsis

A successful Hollywood screenwriter loses his studio contract after being told that his work has lost its edge. Desperate to revive his career, he accepts help from Sarah, a demanding modern-day muse whose unusual methods inspire a new script. As her influence spreads into his home life and his wife's business, he begins questioning whether Sarah is truly supernatural or simply very persuasive.

Factoids & Trivia

• The screenplay was co-written by Albert Brooks and Monica McGowan Johnson, who was credited as Monica Johnson.

• The film satirizes Hollywood's dependence on trends, studio politics, celebrity culture, and the belief that creative inspiration can be purchased.

• Several prominent filmmakers appear as themselves, including Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Rob Reiner, and Steven Spielberg. Scorsese's appearance leads to a reference to Taxi Driver, in which Brooks had acted.

• Elton John composed the film's music and released a soundtrack album titled The Muse in 1999.

• The film was released in the United States on August 27, 1999, through USA Films and October Films.

• The Muse received mixed reviews and earned approximately $11.6 million in the United States and Canada against an estimated $15 million budget.

• Sharon Stone received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for her performance as Sarah Little.