The Million Dollar Hotel

Izzy (Tim Roth) is found dead outside the dilapidated Million Dollar Hotel in Los Angeles. He appears to have fallen from the hotel's roof. FBI Agent Skinner (Mel Gibson) suspects murder. It quickly becomes clear that the hotel is a haven for social outcasts. Izzy is actually Israel Goldkiss, the son of a wealthy media mogul who instructs Skinner to investigate as discreetly as possible – as he rules out suicide.

The film is told from the perspective of Tom-Tom (Jeremy Davies), an introverted, mildly autistic skater who was friends with Izzy and seems to know more about the events. However, he cleverly hides his psychological quirks. Skinner's unconventional methods attract the attention of Channel 6. Due to a misunderstanding, the "tar paintings" (canvases painted with black tar) of another resident, Geronimo (Jimmy Smits), are mistaken for the deceased's works, which Geronimo then inherits. The other residents see this as their chance to sell the paintings for a high price and thus improve their financial situation. They find an art dealer who senses a lucrative opportunity.

Tom-Tom is in love with Eloise (Milla Jovovich), a part-time prostitute, who initially gives him the cold shoulder. Skinner arranges a night with Eloise for Tom-Tom in exchange for information and eavesdrops on their conversation, which, however, yields no crucial information. To her surprise, Eloise discovers the endearing side of the peculiar Tom-Tom.

Following a coerced tip from Tom-Tom, Skinner has Geronimo arrested as a suspect. The other residents are outraged and see their art business threatened. They persuade the simple-minded Tom-Tom to send a video confession to Channel 6 to exonerate Geronimo, which he agrees to because he enjoys the attention. From then on, he insists on being called only "Tom." At the gala for the unveiling of the paintings, it turns out that among the tar-covered artworks are stolen, valuable paintings that the artist had covered with tar.

In another night with Eloise, during which they dream together of a normal life, Tom reveals that he is indeed responsible for Izzy's death. A flashback shows Izzy's death: he had an affair with Eloise, but only to humiliate her – because Tom's infatuation with Eloise, whom Izzy considered worthless, angered him. Izzy then tried to jump from the roof. Tom initially held him, but, overcome with pain at what Izzy had done to Eloise, let go.

After this flashback, Tom himself takes a running start—as is also seen at the very beginning of the film—and jumps into the abyss before Eloise's eyes, so that his dream of a life with her is not buried by reality. As he falls, he comes to terms with his own life: his only goal had been to restore Eloise to her true self after Izzy's humiliations.

The story was originally developed by Bono in 1987 when filming the music video for "Where the Streets Have No Name".