The movie takes Andy Warhol's theory that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes as its focal point.

Two Eastern European criminals, Emil (Karel Roden) and Oleg (Oleg Taktarov), come to New York to collect a debt from a treacherous comrade, but soon find themselves in search for their moment in the spotlight.

After a brutal murder and mysterious fire, homicide detective Eddie Flemming (De Niro) and arson investigator Jordy Warsaw (Burns) are on the case and find themselves chasing these crooks.

As media sources are pulled into the case, a sensational atmosphere develops. Television reporters and tabloid journalists devour and exploit each new detail, obscuring the truth.

This mystery-suspense thriller is designed as an 'expose' of media irresponsibility and the cult of celebrity.