Shopgirl (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Anand Tucker

Writers (WGA):

Steve Martin (novel)
Steve Martin (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Relationships don't always fit like a glove.

Plot:

A film adaptation of Steve Martin's novel about a complex love triangle between a bored salesgirl, a wealthy businessman and an aimless young man.

Plot Keywords:

Gloves | Road Trip | Artist | Vermont | Laundromat

Awards:

5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15	2:00 AM	WGNAMER
Thur. Nov. 19	6:30 AM	USA

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Ray Porter
Claire Danes	...	Mirabelle
Jason Schwartzman	...	Jeremy
Bridgette Wilson	...	Lisa Cramer (as Bridgette Wilson-Sampras)
Sam Bottoms	...	Dan Buttersfield
Frances Conroy	...	Catherine Buttersfield
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Christie Richards
Samantha Shelton	...	Loki
Gina Doctor	...	Del Rey
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Mr. Agasa
Romy Rosemont	...	Loan Officer
Joshua Snyder	...	Trey Bryan
Rachel Nichols	...	Trey's Girlfriend
Shane Edelman	...	Chet
Emily Kuroda	...	Japanese Woman

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content and brief language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Germany:o.Al. | Brazil:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-15 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #41828) | Sweden:11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

1630 Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Steve Martin had Tom Hanks in mind to play Ray Porter, but as the film's development progressed, he felt he was better suited to play the part since he was so familiar with the work.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jeremy come back from getting a condom you can see Mirabelle sitting cross-legged with her elbows at her knees in the mirror reflection, but the immediate shot afterwards shows her with her elbows resting on her upper thighs and positioned much closer to the wall. Then she leans back with her legs to the right, but on the close-up, her legs are now going to her left.

Quotes:

Mirabelle: Ray, why don't you love me? Are you just biding your time with me?
Ray Porter: I thought you understood.
Mirabelle: So, I can either hurt now or hurt later.

Movie Connections:

References You've Got Mail (1998)

Soundtrack:

Make Like Paper

AndThe Oscar Goes To...

Funny and sad, sweet and acerbic, Shopgirl is quite simply the most rewarding experience of the year. I have not read Steve Martin's novel, but from what I knew of it I kinda thought the movie would be good. What I did not expect was an experience so involving, so compelling and simply so delightful. Good, interesting characters start with the writing; great characters emerge when the actors enhance the writers vision. And we see three great examples of this here.

Everything about this film was note perfect; a terrific, slightly idiosyncratic story, wonderful scenes that sometimes have you laughing, sometimes wiping away a tear and always inviting your rapt attention. Terrific acting and direction which ensured that every scene was "just enough".

There is a word that is hardly ever used today, and if it is, it's usually in a sneering way; and that word is "sophistication". But "Shopgirl" is a truly sophisticated movie. Not in the superficial and secondary sense of being glamorous or even cultured, but in the better sense of intelligence, complexity and subtlety. And there is real intelligence at work here; and while all involved display it, it is Steve Martin's own vision that ultimately informs every aspect of the film.

The success of "Million Dollar Baby" gave me new respect for the Oscars; is it too much too hope that "Shopgirl" could achieve the same recognition?