The Business of Strangers (2001)

Director:

Patrick Stettner

Writer:

Patrick Stettner (writer)

Release Date:

3 May 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Two businesswomen bond and reveal their inner natures while getting carried away on a revenge attack against an accused rapist.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Businesswoman | Airport | Hotel | Face Slap

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Stockard Channing	...	Julie Styron
Julia Stiles	...	Paula Murphy
Fred Weller	...	Nick Harris (as Frederick Weller)
Mary Testa	...	Receptionist
Jack Hallett	...	Mr. Fostwick
Marcus Giamatti	...	Robert
Buddy Fitzpatrick	...	Waiter
Salem Ludwig	...	Man at Pool
Shelagh Ratner	...	Airport Announcer

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 | Italy:T | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | New Zealand:R16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

JFK International Airport, Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Headquarters

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the three are in the hotel room together, it is obviously dark outside and the time is even stated at being "midnight". However, when the television is turned on, the news channel is running live stock quotes (something that would only happen during the day) and the time on the television reads "1:30PM"

Quotes:

Julie: Nobody ends up being what they really want - it's part of life. It's called growing up.

Movie Connections:

Features "The Weather Channel Evening Edition" (2001)

So women can act as stupid as men, cinematically? YAY!

If this is supposed to be a turn on the usual men-exploiting-women movie, then congrats to all concerned, its great to know that the playing field is now equal.

It started off great, it really did. The cinematography is remarkable and I am assuming there was not a gigantic budget, but you'd never know it by what is onscreen - the 'look' of the movie is also terrific. It has a certain feel to it - I give it that much credit gladly.

But then you get to the characters and the screenplay and the actual words that are said and it all goes into the garbage can very fast. I didn't buy either womans' motivation for anything. Is the woman Julia Stiles plays a psychopath, a liar, a spoiled brat or just bored? Is the woman Stockard Channing plays an idiot, a moron or just bored? For Stiles to accuse Frederick Weller of rape/sexual abuse just for the fun of it is an insult to women and men worldwide who have actually suffered such abuse.

I like Weller and watched this originally to see him. I watched it again to make sure I hated it as much as I did the first time, and I did. 3/10 and that's generous on my part.