Business of Strangers (The)

 

Genre: psychological drama

With: Stockard Channing (Julie Styron), Julia Stiles (Paula Murphy), Fred Weller (Nick Harris), Mary Testa (the receptionist), Jack Hallet (Mr. Fostwick), Marcus Giamatti (Robert)

Director: Patrick Stettner

Screenplay: Patrick Stettner

Release: 2001

Studio: Headquarters Post, i5 Films

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 7.5/10

 

Come Up for Your Comeuppance

 

QuickView

Story-line: Julie Styron, a mid-level employee for a tech firm, is trapped in a nightmare. Having just arrived in some city for a meeting with prospective clients, she learns that her boss is flying over to join her. Assuming she’ll be sacked, she contacts a recruiter right away to find a new job. Then, at the meeting itself, she realizes that Paula Murphy, who was due to assist her with her presentation, hasn’t shown up yet.    

Pluses: fine performances, notably by the very talented Stockard Channing (boy, can she deliver a good slap!), an original screenplay dealing with modern work, ambition, stress and sexual politics, capable direction and adequate production values.

Minuses: none I can think of. Some reviewers have criticized this film as less daring than IN THE COMPANY OF MEN but I won’t go any further since I haven’t seen both movies.   

Comments: it’s a bit difficult to explain what THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS really is without revealing too much of the plot. Story-wise, it’s a small-scale but tricky film à la David Mamet; it follows one tangent and, once you’ve found your groove, it veers off on another tangent and traps you with unexpected twists. I will admit it’s no masterpiece… but it doesn’t pretend to be one either. Kudos to Patrick Stettner and crew for this fresh, interesting and competent picture about real people with real problems.

 

MBiS

© 2020 – All rights reserved