Hollywood, 1950s. Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is Head of Physical Production at Capitol Studios. His life is one of non-stop action: casting issues, production issues, keeping the studio's stars in line, ensuring the studio avoids negative publicity, dealing with the press, and playing matchmaker to the studio's stars, amongst other things. His current main issue is that one of the studio's biggest stars, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), has been kidnapped by Communist screenwriters. But it's all in a day's work for Eddie Mannix.—grantss