Morgan Bell
Kynaston
REVIEW: Friends With Money
March 14th 2008 12:43
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Francis McDormand (Fargo, Wonder Boys, North Country), Joan Cusack (High Fidelity, In & Out) and Catherine Keener (Capote, Being John Malkovitch)
Brilliant film! Im glad i convinced my friend to hire this film as we were browsing the dvd store. Despite being apprehensive of Jennifer Anniston i remembered it was a stand-out at last years Sydney film festival and we ended up thoroughly enjoying it! Such a great character study of a group of four female friends, showing that no level of wealth or success (or lack of it) can buy happiness or contentment. The characters are incredibly flawed and troubled, their relationships with each other and their husbands are both amusing and heart-wrenching . . . it is very real, very easy to relate to. Aniston plays the single friend who works as a maid and is unlucky in love, she is going through a confusing time in her life and turns to her female friends for advice and companionship. Her friends are three successful intelligent women who are all married and have varying degrees of wealth (from upper-class suburban to stinking rich millionaire) and they enjoy using her as a project and someone to talk about as well as to talk with . . . she is set up with one of their personal trainers at one point with hilarious results . . . but ironically they all spend as much time talking about each other to distract from their own problems. I was particularly drawn to the character of Jane (McDormand) who is a successful fashion designer with a questionably gay husband who has become depressed and completely lost motivation to maintain her appearance, she refuses to wash her hair stating "whats the point it will just get dirty again", and becomes increasing irritable and neurotic about more and more trivial things having outbursts at sales assistants, waiters and the parents of her children's friends . . . this is one of the best portrayals of depression I have seen since Toni Collette in "About A Boy". Complex and original . . . there a few comedies about women made this open and meaty . . . this is a must see!
Brilliant film! Im glad i convinced my friend to hire this film as we were browsing the dvd store. Despite being apprehensive of Jennifer Anniston i remembered it was a stand-out at last years Sydney film festival and we ended up thoroughly enjoying it! Such a great character study of a group of four female friends, showing that no level of wealth or success (or lack of it) can buy happiness or contentment. The characters are incredibly flawed and troubled, their relationships with each other and their husbands are both amusing and heart-wrenching . . . it is very real, very easy to relate to. Aniston plays the single friend who works as a maid and is unlucky in love, she is going through a confusing time in her life and turns to her female friends for advice and companionship. Her friends are three successful intelligent women who are all married and have varying degrees of wealth (from upper-class suburban to stinking rich millionaire) and they enjoy using her as a project and someone to talk about as well as to talk with . . . she is set up with one of their personal trainers at one point with hilarious results . . . but ironically they all spend as much time talking about each other to distract from their own problems. I was particularly drawn to the character of Jane (McDormand) who is a successful fashion designer with a questionably gay husband who has become depressed and completely lost motivation to maintain her appearance, she refuses to wash her hair stating "whats the point it will just get dirty again", and becomes increasing irritable and neurotic about more and more trivial things having outbursts at sales assistants, waiters and the parents of her children's friends . . . this is one of the best portrayals of depression I have seen since Toni Collette in "About A Boy". Complex and original . . . there a few comedies about women made this open and meaty . . . this is a must see!
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I liked this one too, which also surpirsed me because subject matter like this is usually treated so poorly.
I only saw it because I'm a fan of Catherine Keener, though. Joan Cusack and Frances are consistently great too.
The story felt honest and the laughs satisfied.
Good Review.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Nice review, Morgan (but can you put in some paragraphs next time?
Michaelie
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Artist Quirk
thanks for the comments, im glad you both enjoyed the film as much as i did cheers
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I also really liked this film and its representation of females, their friendships and life.
Thanks for reminding me about it,
Tracy
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Morgan Bell
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yeah this is one of those sneaky ones that looks like a dull romantic comedy from the cover but i actually a great study of relationships and women . . . i hope you both enjoy it when you watch it, come back and let me know what you thought (or direct me to your own review) because id be very interested!
thanks for stopping by and commenting!