|
| . |
|
The Business of Strangers 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Patrick Stettner
R, 84 min. (strong language, sexuality) |
 |
Starring: Stockard Channing, Julia Stiles, Frederick Weller
Producers: Robert H. Nathan, Susan A. Stover
Screenplay: Patrick Stettner
Cinematography: Teodoro Maniaci
Distributor: IFC Films
Released: 12.07.01 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
The Business of Strangers combines a smart script, intense dialogue, and two terrific performances from Stockard
Channing and Julia Stiles to compensate for an unnecessary final plot twist at the film's conclusion. The story is confined
to a hotel and three main characters - Julia (Channing), a business executive tying to succeed in a man's world,
Paula (Stiles), a young aspiring writer that is on hand to help with Julia's business presentation, and Nick (Frederick Weller),
a headhunter that has arrived to assist Julia's expected job search (she believes she's about to be fired). Later we learn that Nick supposedly raped one of
Paula's friends in college, and, after their inhibitions are lessened by the help of alcohol, Julia agrees to help Paula
get revenge.
The first part of the film is intriguing and involving, as we see the lives of business people on the road - how they cope with
work pressures, delays, hotels, and others in a frantically-paced world. It's this setting that provides the atmosphere
conducive to the story. Julia is a driven woman, with hardly a minute to absorb the finer things in life. She longs for the
freedom and youth of Paula, who, in turn, longs for the steady job and consistency apparent in Julia. They are opposites,
and they attract. The ice is broken eventually, since Paula has Julia fired for being late to their business presentation, and
they begin to open up about their lives. Sometimes its easier to confide in complete strangers than it is your closest friends.
This leads to a night of drunken folly that brings to the surface hidden feelings and beliefs that needed to get out into the
open. Unfortunately, it almost ends in tragedy.
Channing and Stiles are perfectly matched to their roles. There's never a time when we consider them to be anything other
than the characters they are playing. Both are intelligent, confident, yet vulnerable when pushed. The chemistry between
them is evident, and it elevates the film to a higher level. Stiles, a fast-rising star in Hollywood after solid efforts in
Save the Last Dance and O, has no problem portraying a thoughtful but reckless youth who needs direction. Only the script's
slight of hand at the end makes her performance more unbalanced than necessary.
The Business of Strangers raises many poignant questions about women in the business world, and their feelings of
inadequacy at times when rendered vulnerable by a male-dominated industry. There's plenty to discuss after the film,
including the subject of date rape, which is still a big problem in our society today. Thoroughly inquisitive and intelligent,
this film deserves to be praised for its taught interplay between its main characters and a thought-provoking middle section
that asks how these issues can be resolved.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
|
|
 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
© 2000 - present ReelCriticReviews
All movie pictures are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders
Their use on this site is for informational purposes only and does not imply ownership
|
