| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
C+ |
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Great Character Study, Not a Lot of Story
by Jersey Joe (movies profile)
Nov 6, 2007
11
of
11 people found this review helpful
There are some films that get made because they are intelligent charcter studies about how people interact with each other. These films have trouble attracting large audiences because they generally lack a easy to follow storyline. "Friends With Money" is such a film.
The film is about four female friends (Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, Joan Cusack) and how they relate to each other and the men in their lives.
The first hurdle to get over is how Aniston, who is clearly years younger than her three friends, became friends with this group. The other three are all reasonably rich and successful. Aniston works as a maid for hire.
Having cleared that hurdle, you get some great dialogue delivered by some of the best actresses in America. Keener, Cusack and McDormand are all Oscar nominated actresses and Aniston is best known for her role on TV's "Friends." This difference in status helps us realize the difference in class between the characters. It should be said that Jennifer Aniston gives a terrific performance.
One element of class differential in this country is the belief that people with money have fewer problems than people without. The story examines what that gap means to people who care about each other. There is a condescension toward Aniston's character by her more well to do friends. They care about her, but they are judging her.
The film does not go for the simplistic message that rich people have problems too. Yes they do, because everyone does. The perceptions of the differences of the problems are examined. The wealthier friends keep offering solutions to their younger friend's problems, seemingly indicating they know better. In turn, Aniston's character perceives her friends as having fewer problems because of their wealth.
To paint the film as a mere class study would be misleading. It's also about friendship, marriage and the things people do to themselves and to others in reaction to what they have already done with their lives.
The performances are great. The story line is not so much a point A to point B as it is a gradual evolution in relationships. This is its strong point. This may bore some people who are looking for a more standard story, but this is not a standard story. |
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