Genre: Drama
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Alex Conn & John Malone
Cast: Tom Cruise, Bill Murray, Martin Sheen, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Jane Levy, Michael Stuhlbarg
Plot: 1990. Howard Prince (Tom Cruise) cuts the ribbon at the Prince Royal Palace Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for opening night with the beautiful Georgia Grant (Jane Levy) at his side. As the star-studded opening night wages on, things start going wrong. The elevator breaks down and as soon as that problem is fixed, over half of the slot machines shut down for seemingly no reason. Prince orders his brother Peter (Adam Scott) to find out what's going on immediately before he is ruined. Peter assures Howard he will look into it. Prince grabs his brother by the shirt and tells him that he has $1 billion tied up in the place, so nothing more can go wrong. Peter hurries off to investigate the problems while Prince watches the casino floor from an office above, allowing a brief look of panic come across his face before he is able to collect himself.
1985. A slightly younger, slightly less on edge Howard Prince enters the office of his father, Alan Prince (Martin Sheen), found of Prince & Son real estate development company. Howard tries to convince his father for the umpteenth time to start investing more on Manhattan rather than settling for being the biggest real estate development firm in Queens. Alan tries to impart on his son that there is nothing wrong with being a big fish in a small pond. Prince begs to differ, saying that a big fish can outgrow a small pond and run out of smaller fish to eat. The argument between Alan and Howard begins to get heated and Peter enters the office. Howard Prince gets up and leaves the office. He speaks to his mother Ruth Prince (Ellen Burstyn) about how he feels the company is running out of room to grow, and she tries to explain that he simply thinks differently than his father. While Alan has managed to build a small real estate empire, it is clear to her that he has grander ambitions than that, and there's nothing wrong with either way of thinking. In the morning, Alan presents his son with an envelope. Howard opens it and finds a check for $10 million. He is shocked by the number of zeroes on the check. Alan says that should be enough for Howard to start his own empire. Howard thanks his father, but Alan tells him not to thank him. It's a loan, not a gift, and he fully expects Howard to be able to repay him the full amount, plus interest within five years.
Howard takes the loan from his father and purchases a large rundown hotel in the heart of Manhattan. He throws a party to celebrate the purchase, which he holds in the now under construction hotel. His father Alan asks Howard what his ultimate goal is, and Howard tells his father that he thinks that the greatest city in the world, New York City, should be home to the greatest, tallest building in the world. Alan asks Howard what makes him think he can accomplish such a feat. Howard tells Alan that everyone always says that the sky is the limit and he intends to reach those heights.
With the structural upgrades complete on his hotel, Howard begins interviewing potential interior designers to give the interior of the hotel the luxurious design he envisions. After several interviews, in walks Svetlana (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal). Howard looks over her resume. She has no references and her experience is completely lacking. He asks her why he should hire her. Svetlana tells Howard that she wants to make his dream for the hotel come true. She tells Howard that her dream has already come true by leaving her Communist home country and coming to America. As soon as she saw the hotel and saw Howard, she knew that their dreams were aligned. She stares at Howard in the eyes and leans in to kiss him.
Howard throws a gala event for the grand opening of the Grand Central Hotel, named for its close proximity to Grand Central Station. He has invited every news outlet in the city to cover the event. When his parents arrive, his mother Ruth commends Howard on his accomplishment, but Alan is less impressed. Howard introduces Svetlana to his parents, referring to her as his girlfriend. Ruth is excited to meet her. Svetlana tells Ruth that she helped design the interior. Ruth insists that Svetlana show her around and takes her by the arm. Alan looks around at the press taking pictures and asks Howard if he's trying to make a fortune or trying to make himself famous. Howard thinks about the question for a moment, and then asks his father why the two things have to be mutually exclusive.
Howard and Svetlana are married in a lavish ceremony held at the Grand Central Hotel. Once again, Howard has invited the New York press to cover the event. He becomes excited when he notices that a writer and photographer from the New York Times Style section has taken him up on the invitation to cover the historic wedding event.
Howard stands at the altar with his brother Peter at his side as his best man. Svetlana begins walking down the aisle. Alan walks her down the aisle since she has no family in the country. As Svetlana gets closer, Peter pats Howard on the back, congratulating him on his big day. Howard looks around at the crowd of family, friends, employees, press, and finally at the beautiful Svetlana walking toward him. Howard smiles and tells Peter that it really is a big day.
After the wedding, Howard is asked by a reporter what's next for him. Howard tells the reporter that following the success of the Grand Central, he feels it is now time to put his stamp on New York City's skyline. Howard meets with his accountants, who tell him that he lacks the collateral to secure the financing for his dream building, but that he can surely get the funds for something slightly more modest. Howard is annoyed by this answer, but accepts it.
Harry Schilling (Michael Stuhlbarg) finishes giving an urban design and architecture lecture at NYU when he notices Howard Prince sitting in the audience. Howard then approaches Schilling, and tells him that he wants him to design the next great New York City skyscraper. The two men sit at the front of the classroom discussing what Prince wants in the building. Howard tells Schilling there is a catch to the job. He wants Schilling to design two different buildings to occupy the space: the building they intend to build, and a different ugly tower that nobody would want built in the heart of Midtown. Schilling is confused by the task, but accepts the job nonetheless.
Howard, wanting to ensure that his new building will remain the tallest building on the block, sets about to purchase the air rights to the buildings next to his site. He offers what he considers to be a fair price, but is rebuked. Howard then shows them the purposely hideous design that Schilling mocked up. He threatens to build that design if they don't sell him their air rights. Not wanting their property rights to plummet for being next to an eyesore, the owners all begrudgingly sell Howard the air rights to their property for Howard's original offer.
Howard holds a press conference to announce the construction of his new building, a 60-story building he has dubbed Prince Tower. After the press conference, Howard invites his family to come over dinner at his penthouse atop the Grand Central Hotel. Ruth asks Howard and Svetlana when they're going to get a real home and settle down. Svetlana tells them that she is actually pregnant. Ruth is excited to be a grandmother. Howard then adds that he is having a special penthouse built into Prince Tower that will be their home. Alan laughs at the idea of raising a family in a skyscraper.
During the construction of Prince Tower, Schilling informs Howard that there is an issue with the design and they can only make the building 58 stories. Howard asks if there is any way around that, but Schilling says their hands are tied and it's too late to change the design. Howard insists that the top floor still be the 60th floor. Schilling asks how Howard expects that to happen, and Howard tells Schilling to simply skip two numbers on the elevator buttons.
Howard invites New York City Mayor Ed Koch (Bill Murray) to the grand opening of Prince Tower. Koch shakes Howard's hand for a photo op, and Howard tells him that he has some really good development ideas for the city that he'd like to discuss with him. As cameras flash in front of them, Koch brushes Howard aside, telling him that he'd have to present any of his ideas to the city council like everyone else.
Howard sits in his unfinished office with Peter. Howard is looking at fabric swatches for his the couch for his new office while Peter tells him that he thinks he's stumbled upon a great real estate opportunity. Howard tells Peter that he already has a new project in mind - building the world's tallest building in New York City. Peter tells Howard to hear him out and presents him with the idea of investing in a new casino in Atlantic City. Howard says his business is in New York, not New Jersey. Peter says that the newer, more entertainment focused casinos in Las Vegas are making a mint and taking over all the business from the older gambling focused establishments. He believes that they can do the same thing in Atlantic City by building a luxury casino resort on the Jersey Shore.
Howard and Peter purchase some property along the Atlantic City boardwalk. When meeting with the accountants to find the money to start construction, Howard is informed that his savings are depleted after using a good amount of his own money in the process of building Prince Tower. Howard says that they should have no problem securing outside investments once construction is started. Peter says they don't have the money to get construction started, but Howard tells him that they just have to make it look like construction has started to the potential investors.
Peter rents a bunch of construction equipment and has a fence erected around the future site of he casino. Howard brings some investors by to show them that construction has begun on the casino. Based on the success of Prince Tower and the Grand Central Hotel, the investors all get on board and sign on to cover the expenses of constructing and opening the casino.
Howard goes to his father's office in Queens and tells him that the perfect location for his dream project has finally come up for sale: a former railroad yard along the water on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Alan is surprised that Howard is still chasing this dream. Alan suggests that if Howard is going to pursue such a costly and lofty endeavor that he waits until the Grand Central Hotel and Prince Tower reach profitability. Howard says that the land is going to go quick and he has to strike while the iron is hot.
Howard is at home in his penthouse coldly watching Svetlana read a story to their young son, Howard Jr. Howard feigns a smile when Svetlana looks over at him. Howard gets up and tells and tells Svetlana that he has a business dinner to attend to. She asks him when he'll be back. He says that the potential clients are on Japanese time still, so he could be out pretty late. He kisses his wife and son on their foreheads and leaves the penthouse. He goes to the bar at the Grand Central Hotel where he notices a young woman, Georgia Grant (Jane Levy), having drinks with some friends. Howard calls over the bartender and tells him to bring a bottle of their finest bottle of champagne over to the young woman's table. Georgia comes over to thank Howard for the champagne, and asks where she knows if from since he looks familiar. He tells her that he owns the Grand Central Hotel, among other luxurious properties. Georgia is impressed and sits down next to Howard. He asks her what she does, and Georgia tells him that she's an actress on a soap opera.
Howard has managed to secure a meeting with Mayor Ed Koch after all, with his architect Harry Schilling in tow, where Howard presents plans for his dream project. Koch scoffs at the idea of another skyscraper with no real purpose mucking up the city's skyline. Howard proclaims that New York City is the greatest city in the world, so it only makes sense for it to be home to the world's tallest and greatest building. Koch tells Howard that what the city needs is more low income housing, and he intends to recommend the city zone the rail yard land for such purposes. Howard leaves the mayor's office, furious.
Howard demands another meeting with Mayor Koch to re-propose his plans for the rail yard land. Koch tells him where he's having lunch that day, and if he wants to talk to him he can be found there. Howard heads over to the restaurant where Koch is eating lunch with a few of his aides. Howard shows Koch the mock-up of his plan again and points out one of the buildings. Koch asks what's special about the building, and Howard proudly tells him that he has had his plans adjusted to include affordable low-income housing, just like Koch wanted. Koch asks Howard if that's all. Howard nods, and Koch tells him that he'd like to get back to his lunch.
Howard is meeting with Harry Schilling to work on the plans some more. Schilling tells Howard that he heard from some friends on the urban development board that Mayor Koch has been trying to get the city council to sign off on renovating a small park in the city. Howard asks what's so special about the park that the mayor himself would take an interest in it. Schilling tells him that it is the park Mayor Koch played at growing up. Howard donates the necessary money to the city to pay for the renovations.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the park, Mayor Koch publicly thanks Howard Prince for helping beautify the city. After the cameras are gone, Mayor Koch tells Howard that he deserves all the kudos in the world for ponying up the money for the park and he is truly appreciative that a piece of his childhood will be preserved for future generations, but that he is not going to approve Howard's plans for the world's tallest building.
Howard returns home to the penthouse. Svetlana asks Howard how the ribbon cutting ceremony went, and Howard yells at her that it didn't go well at all. It doesn't seem to matter what he does, Mayor Koch won't sign off on his dream project. Svetlana tells him that it's just a building. She then suggests that he just build a different building somewhere else. Howard tells her it's his dream, but Svetlana tells him that it isn't a dream - it's a building. Howard storms off into his office, slamming the door behind him.
Howard watches the opening night of the Prince Royal Palace Hotel and Casino from his office above the main floor. The night has been a complete disaster between the lack of customers and the unplanned shutdown of all the casino's slot machines. Georgia puts her hand on Howard's shoulder and tells him that everything will be alright. Howard says that he wishes he could blindly believe those words, but he's far too pragmatic for such a phrase.
Howard returns home to his penthouse the next afternoon, feeling defeated from the failure of the opening of his new casino. Svetlana throws a newspaper at him as soon as he enters through the front door. Howard is caught off guard and asks what she thinks she's doing. She points out several pictures of Howard and Georgia in the tabloids, holding hands and kissing. She says that she figured he had someone on the side, but is especially furious that Howard would flaunt his mistress in front of the press like that. Howard tells her that it is none of her business what he does and who he spends his time with. She says that it is because she's his wife. Howard begs to differ. Svetlana tells Howard that she wants a divorce. Howard tells her that she can pack up her things and direct any inquiries directly to his lawyers. Svetlana begins packing a bag of her things, tears streaming from her eyes. Svetlana gets Howard Jr. and gets him ready to leave the penthouse. Howard turns and walks out of the penthouse.
Howard holds a conference with his lawyers and accountants. They inform him that now is not a good time to be getting a divorce, even with a solid prenuptial agreement. Howard asks why not, and they tell him that after the construction of Prince Tower and the casino, that Howard is $2 billion in debt. Howard fails to grasp the dire situation of his finances until they tell him that he faces the possibility of bankruptcy if he can't find some sort of bridge loan to keep him liquid until one of his properties starts turning a profit. Howard, annoyed, admits that his father was right. Howard then tells the accountants to round up representatives from different banks and financial institutions.
In a Prince Tower board room, Howard stands before the heads of several multi-national banks and financial firms. He tells them that he doesn't believe in the word failure, despite the lack of success of the Prince Royal Palace and the stinginess of the Mayor's office. He does not ever intend to be a failure, but for once he is going to need a little help from them. He asks them for enough money to cover his debts and keep his company operational. In return, they will get a percentage of the profits of his various enterprises, current and future, until their he has paid them back in full.
Howard Prince is all alone, drinking scotch in his office. Citizen Kane plays on television in the background, but Prince is not watching it. He is busy looking out of the window at the New York City skyline, reflectively. Howard smiles and pulls out his checkbook. He writes a check to his father in the amount of $15,000,000 to repay the loan his father gave him to start his own empire - plus interest.
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