Shopgirl (2005)

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:

Salesgirl | Artist | Gloves | Laundromat | Art

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Ray Porter
Claire Danes	...	Mirabelle
Jason Schwartzman	...	Jeremy
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras	...	Lisa Cramer
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
Jayzel Samonte	...	Houseboy
Mark Kozelek	...	Luther
John Fedevich	...	Hot Tears Band Member (as Johnny Fedevich)
Zak Sally	...	Hot Tears Band Member
Ray Buktenica	...	Shrink
Alexondra Lee	...	Karen
Shannon Hile	...	SAKS Customer
Joe Bays	...	Businessman
Randy Oglesby	...	Tom
Richard Fancy	...	Eli
Anne Marie Howard	...	Mandy
Kevin Kilner	...	Charley
Mathew Smith	...	The Volebeats
Troy Gregory	...	The Volebeats
Scott Michalski	...	The Volebeats
Russell Ledford	...	The Volebeats
Jeff Oakes	...	The Volebeats
Kris Deskins	...	Armani Seamstress
Laura Grady	...	Cosmetic Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Markus Baldwin	...	Man at Cafe (uncredited)
Jesse Burch	...	Man at Gallery (uncredited)
Yorgo Constantine	...	Manager (uncredited)
Barbara Ann Crumm	...	Silverlake Hipster (uncredited)
Kimberly Demarse	...	Accounting Clerk (uncredited)
Jeanette Driver	...	Saks Customer (uncredited)
Zoey Goetsch	...	Cafe Girl (uncredited)
Tara Hunnewell	...	Art Patron (uncredited)
Alonzo F. Jones	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Tom Jourden	...	Gallery Owner (uncredited)
Laura Mayes	...	Art Patron (uncredited)
Nora Paradiso	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Osman Soykut	...	New York Ballroom Guest #1 (uncredited)
Henry T. Yamada	...	Sushi Chef (uncredited)

Directed by
Anand Tucker

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Martin		(novel "Shopgirl")
Steve Martin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ashok Amritraj	....	producer
Simon Conder	....	associate producer
Nick Hamson	....	associate producer
Jon Jashni	....	producer
Steve Martin	....	producer
Andrew Sugerman	....	executive producer
Marcus Viscidi	....	co-producer (as Marcus A. Viscidi)
Meredith Zamsky	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Barrington Pheloung

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Gamble

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Tricia Wood

Production Design by
William Arnold

Art Direction by
Sue Chan

Set Decoration by
David Smith

Costume Design by
Nancy Steiner

Makeup Department
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist: Mr. Martin
Lydia Milars	....	department head makeup
Ned Neidhardt	....	key makeup artist
Colette Slattery	....	assistant hair stylist
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair designer
Nacoma Whobrey	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Joy Zapata	....	second assistant hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jan Kikumoto	....	post-production supervisor
Shari LaFranchi Blakney	....	production supervisor (as Shari Lafranchi Blakney)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director
Leslie Garvin	....	second assistant director
Heather Grierson	....	second assistant director
Keith Jones	....	second second assistant director (as Keith C.A. Jones)
Dana Wagner	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Armando Abarca	....	swing gang
Michael Berard Anderson	....	set designer (as Michael Bernard Anderson)
John Barbera	....	labor foreman
James R. Barrows	....	swing gang (as James Barrows)
Adriana Dardas	....	art department intern
Mark Davidson	....	swing gang
Andy Flores	....	stand-by painter
Glenn Forbes	....	second assistant property master
Douglas Fox	....	property master
Gerald Gates Jr.	....	lead scenic (as Gerald Gates)
Thomas Gibson	....	painter
Joseph Gilmore	....	propmaker
Canada Johanna Gordon	....	art department coordinator (as Canada Gordon)
Will Grant	....	swing gang
Jerry Gummeson	....	swing gang
Jill Haber	....	painter
James Henry	....	propmaker
Allyson Hollingsworth	....	drawings
Thomas Krueger	....	construction medic
Sasha Madzar	....	propmaker
Cynthia Martinez	....	greensman
Amie McCarthy	....	props buyer (as Amie F. McCarthy-Winn)
Mark McGraudy	....	toolman (as Mark Magruady)
Douglas McKay	....	swing gang (as Doug McKay)
Sebastian Milito	....	construction coordinator
Steven M. Miller	....	greensman foreman (as Steve Miller)
Martin Milligan	....	on-set dresser
Scott Mizgaites	....	propmaker gangboss
Scott Morgan	....	art department production assistant
Keith Sale	....	swing gang
Tommy Samona	....	swing gang
Dixwell Stillman	....	propmaker foreman (as Dixwell H. Stillman)
Michael P. Sweeney	....	first assistant property master
Michaela T. Tupta	....	set dressing buyer (as Michaela Tupta)
Art Vasenius	....	lead person
Paul Zelenka	....	labor gangboss
Ken Donham	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Will Grant	....	set dressing gang boss (uncredited)
Bob Renna	....	day player set dresser (uncredited)
Keith Sale	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Matthew T. Duncan	....	mixing recordist
David Esparza	....	sound effects editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Jackson	....	co-supervising sound editor (as Robert C. Jackson)
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Laura Macias	....	foley artist
Andrea M. Metty	....	mix facility coordinator
Michael A. Morongell	....	mixing engineer (as Michael Morongell)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Paul Rodriguez	....	mix facility coordinator
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Leslie Shatz	....	supervising sound editor
Ben Sparks	....	assistant sound editor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Edward Tise	....	production sound
Lisa Varetakis	....	foley supervisor
Ace Williams	....	cable person
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer: New York (as Paul Zydel)
Matt Dubin	....	mixing recordist (uncredited)
Marc Meyer	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Scott M. Austin	....	special effects assistant (as Scott Austin)
Doyle Smiley	....	special effects assistant
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jeff Barnes	....	executive producer: CafeFX
Bobby Bell	....	executive producer: Howard Anderson Company
Jeremy Cho	....	roto/matte artist: CafeFX
David Ebner	....	facility effects supervisor: CafeFX
Steven Fagerquist	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
David Feinner	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
Mike Fischer	....	digital effects compositor: CaféFX
Kathi Galloway	....	production assistant: CafeFX
Vicki Galloway-Weimer	....	visual effects producer: CafeFX (as Vicki Galloway Weimer)
Christopher Grandel	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
Erik Henry	....	visual effects supervisor
Joseph Hoback	....	roto/matte artist: CafeFX (as Joe Hoback)
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Derek Ledbetter	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
Bob Micheletti	....	supervisor of technology: Howard Anderson Company
Phillip Moses	....	visual effects coordinator: CafeFX
Toby Newell	....	roto/matte artist: CafeFX
Shannon Noble	....	lead digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Akira Orikasa	....	digital effects compositor: CaféFX
Desi Ortiz	....	visual effects editor: CafeFX
Larry Thomas	....	data I/O: CaféFX
Rhonda Thompson	....	production assistant: CafeFX
Charmaine Tuason	....	production assistant: CafeFX
Jack Wells	....	data I/O: CaféFX
Rob Menapace	....	motion control operator (uncredited)
Brian Smallwood	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Danny Torres	....	systems administrator (uncredited)
O.D. Welch	....	production executive: CafeFX (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Alatorre	....	rigging grip
Justin Babin	....	rigging grip
Clyde E. Bryan	....	first assistant camera
Richard Brooks Burton	....	aerial camera assistant (as Richard Burton)
Glenn Cannon	....	video assist
Kenny Carceller	....	grip
Joe Colangelo	....	rigging gaffer (as Joe Coleangelo)
Thomas Crawford	....	second company grip
Jimmy Ellis	....	electrician
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer (as Sam Young Emerson)
Greg Fausak	....	grip
David Garden	....	camera loader
Kirk R. Gardner	....	Steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner)
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Adam Harrison	....	best boy rigging electric
Greg Jensen	....	electrician
Jonathan Leary	....	best boy rigging grip
Chris Leidholdt	....	rigging key grip
Richard Mall	....	key grip
Terence McNally	....	electrician
John Joseph Minardi	....	grip (as John Minardi)
Craig Molsberry	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Katie Nilson	....	electrician
David B. Nowell	....	aerial director of photography (as David Nowell)
David Pearlberg	....	dolly grip
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	camera operator (as Scott Ressler)
Alec Shepherd	....	grip
Rob Sweeney	....	director of photography: second unit
Richard Tibbetts	....	rigging electrician
Suzanne Trucks	....	second assistant camera (as Suzanne M. Trucks)
Anthony Van Dyk	....	electrician (as Anthony Bandyk)
John Vecchio	....	chief lighting technician
John Zirbel	....	rigging electrician
Bruce Del Castillo	....	grip (uncredited)
Bob Gorelick	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jason Kay	....	hothead operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Ricchiazzi	....	casting assistant
Jennifer L. Smith	....	casting associate (as Jennifer Smith)
Kelly Hunt	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Rich King	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anita Louise Brown	....	key costumer (as Anita 'Snoops' Brown)
Heidi Higginbotham	....	costume supervisor
Lina Yoko Hitomi	....	production assistant: costume department (as Yoko Hitomi)
Anton Schneider	....	additional costumer
Alison Stein	....	additional costumer
Don Vargas	....	costumer: Mr. Martin
Christie Wittenborn	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Robert J. Lemos	....	assistant editor
Sheila MacDowell	....	first assistant editor
Pablo Prietto	....	assistant editor
Anna Solorio-Catalano	....	assistant editor
Neil Williams	....	first assistant editor
Lee Wimer	....	color timer
Anna Catalano	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
David Dresher	....	post-production executive (uncredited)
Lalit Goyal	....	assistant editor: lightworks (uncredited)

Music Department
Niall Acott	....	music engineer
Niall Acott	....	music mixer
Niall Acott	....	music recordist
John Anderson	....	key musician
Alexander Balanescu	....	orchestra leader (as Alex Balanescu)
Mat Bartram	....	assistant music engineer
Mat Bartram	....	assistant music mixer
Mat Bartram	....	assistant music recordist
Andy Brown	....	orchestral contractor
Nicholas Bucknall	....	key musician (as Nick Bucknall)
Darren Campan	....	music engineer: additional material
Darren Campan	....	music recordist: additional material
Nick Cooper	....	key musician
John Finklea	....	music editor
David Heath	....	key musician (as Dave Heath)
Sally Heath	....	soloist
Gary Kettel	....	soloist
Greg Knowles	....	key musician
Christopher Laurence	....	key musician (as Chris Laurence)
David Lee	....	key musician (as Dave Lee)
The London Metropolitan Orchestra	....	music performed by
Steve Morris	....	key musician
Barrington Pheloung	....	conductor: original music
Barrington Pheloung	....	music producer
Heather Pheloung	....	music assistant
Frank Ricotti	....	soloist
Amanda Street	....	music supervisor: London, DNA Music Ltd.
Gill Tingay	....	key musician
Ivo van der Worff	....	key musician (as Ivo-Jan Van Der Werff)
Paul Di Franco	....	music clearance (uncredited)
Jean-Paul DiFranco	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
David Esparza	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Greg Bauer	....	production driver
Michael Catanzano	....	production driver
Jeff Couch	....	transportation captain
Dave Haldeman	....	production driver (as David 'Super Dave' Haldeman)
Wesley Hazelton	....	production driver
Margo Hunt	....	production driver
Jerry Jackson	....	production driver
Alan Kaminsky	....	transportation co-captain (as Al Kaminsky)
Brian Kay	....	production driver
'Wild Bill' Laczko	....	production driver (as William 'Wild Bill' Laczko)
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator (as Welch Lambeth)
Scott Loveless	....	driver: Mr. Tucker
Manuel Martinez	....	production driver
Anthony T. Mazzola	....	production driver (as Anthony Mazzola)
John McLaughlin	....	production driver
Tony 'Bear' Mihalopoulos	....	production driver
Marco A. Orozco	....	driver: Mr. Martin (as Marco Orozco)
Wayne Parviainen	....	production driver
Lawrence J. Romanoff	....	production driver (as Larry Romanoff)
Paul Smith	....	production driver
Jim Stevens	....	production driver
Pat Stubbs	....	production driver
Matthew Talamantes	....	production driver
David Teasley	....	production driver
Scott Tyler	....	production driver
Harold L. Woods	....	production driver (as Harold Woods)
Paulie DiCocco III	....	driver: Claire Danes (uncredited)

Other crew
Newell Alexander	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Rosemary Alexander	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Chas. Allan	....	assistant location manager (as Chas Allan)
Tom Amundson	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
John Benzing	....	team: SAKS
Ted Campbell	....	set production assistant
Mitch Carter	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Jeff Castelluccio	....	set production assistant
Adrian Castillo	....	team: SAKS
Valeria Migliassi Collins	....	script supervisor
Eric Cross	....	team: SAKS
Robert de Miro	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs (as Robert Miro)
Jonathan Deiner	....	office production assistant
Ben Dietz	....	assistant: Mr. Amritraj
Ken Donham	....	team: SAKS
Michael Donner	....	post-production accountant
Joshua Dupre	....	assistant chef: Hanna Brothers Catering
Adam Ellison	....	assistant: Mr. Tucker
Leann Emmert	....	assistant location manager
Stuart Fink	....	publicist
Donald Fullilove	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Nindia Gabichvadze	....	team: SAKS
Elisa Gabrielli	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Colleen Gibbons	....	location manager (as Colleen Hilary Gibbons)
Phil Giovanelli	....	team: SAKS
Joe Hanna	....	chef: Hanna Brothers Catering
Esther Harvey	....	assistant: Ms. Danes
Judy Heinzen	....	assistant location manager
Allyson Hollingsworth	....	photographs provider
Kathy Inscore	....	team: SAKS
Nicholas Irwin	....	first assistant accountant
Carrie Mae Jones	....	assistant accountant (as Carrie M. Jones)
Christian Laffey	....	office production assistant
Ronald Lepine	....	assistant chef: Hanna Brothers Catering
Marsha R. Levine	....	placement: Dassault Falcon Jet
Hope Levy	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Tory Littman	....	assistant craft service
James E. Maddux	....	first aid
Charissa McLain	....	production coordinator
Meredith Meade	....	second assistant accountant (as Meredith G Meade)
Matt Melis	....	office production assistant
Edie Mirman	....	adr voice: L.A. MadDogs
Cate Nelson	....	set production assistant
Elion Olson	....	set production assistant (as Elion S. Olsen)
Robert L. Oppenheim	....	production legal (as Robert Oppenheim)
Jordan Otis	....	set production assistant
Amy Perlman	....	team: SAKS
Roger Poirier	....	assistant chef: Hanna Brothers Catering
Lori Rhodes	....	public relations: SAKS Fifth Avenue
Danielle Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Sugerman
Jacqueline Saygan	....	accounting clerk
Katie Shapiro	....	location production assistant (as Katie Sadock)
Jonathan Smart	....	clearance coordinator (as John Smart)
Emre Sonmez	....	assistant location manager
Bryan Stamp	....	assistant: Mr. Jashni
Barbara-Ann Stein	....	production accountant
Jessica Strauss	....	assistant: Mr. Martin
Chance P. Tassone	....	craft service (as Chance Tassone)
Steve Trombatore	....	assistant accountant
Kenny Vasquez	....	set production assistant
Ilene Waterstone	....	executive assistant: Mr. Martin
Allan Bragg	....	stand-in: Steve Martin (uncredited)
Patrick Gregston	....	consultant (uncredited)
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Heithaus	....	stand-in: J. Schwartzman (uncredited)
Steve Hertler	....	technician: Wescam XR (uncredited)

Thanks
Peter Alexander	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Casey Hanrahan	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Vicky Hanrahan	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Luc Leestemaker	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Jennifer Long	....	acknowledgment: artwork supplied by
Sofia Nuccio	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Mike Puccio	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Marta Rogoyska	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Sharon Ryan	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Ilona Suschitzky	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork
Dauna Whitehead	....	acknowledgment: artist of supplied artwork

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Hyde Park Entertainment (presents)
• Brass Hat Films Slate 1 Shopgirl (as Brass Hat Films Limited)
• Epsilon Motion Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2005) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Film1 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• CafeFX (visual effects) (as CaféFX)
• Howard Anderson Company, The (additional visual effects) (as Howard Anderson Company)

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Adrienne Landau  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitored by: AHA-00600
• Angel Recording Studios  music recorded at (as Angel Studios, London)
• Angel Sanchez Couture  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Angel Sanchez)
• Araks Modern Amusement  the producers would like to thank (as Araks)
• Armani Casa  the producers would like to thank
• Art Tribe  artwork provided by
• Artists Rights Society  artwork provided by
• Badgley Mishka Gowns  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Badgley Mischka)
• Bob Mackie Gowns  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Bob Mackie)
• Bradley Bayou Couture  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Bradley Bayou)
• CD Greene  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as C.D. Greene)
• Capresso  the producers would like to thank
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Collette Dinnigan  the producers would like to thank
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  color
• Cosabella  the producers would like to thank
• DNA Music  music supervision: London
• DNA Music  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Delfino Studios  sound stage (as Delfino Studios, Sylmar, CA)
• Donald Deal Gowns  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Donald Deal)
• Eric Gaskins Design  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Eric Gaskins)
• Film Art  artwork provided by (as Film Art LA)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Finale Gloves  gloves provided by (as Finale)
• Giorgio Armani  the producers would like to thank: Beverly Hills
• Hanna Brothers Catering  caterer
• Helen Morley Designs  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Helen Morley)
• Hermès  the producers would like to thank (as Hermes)
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting package (as Hollywood Rentals)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals (as Howard Anderson Company)
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies and jib arms by
• Kodak  motion picture film
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr casting (as L.A. MadDogs)
• Lightworks  edited on
• Lizzy Schenk  the producers would like to thank
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing equipment (uncredited)
• Magic Film Works  negative cutter
• Mardine Davis Art Consulting  artwork provided by (as Mardine Davis)
• Me&Ro Jewelry  the producers would like to thank (as Me & Ro)
• Movie Movers  star trailers (uncredited)
• Nike  special thanks
• Norton Simon Museum  artwork provided by
• Orrefors Kosta / Boda  the producers would like to thank (as Kosta Boda)
• Orrefros  the producers would like to thank
• Oscar de la Renta  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS
• Panavision  filmed in
• Peacock Alley  the producers would like to thank
• Prada  the producers would like to thank
• Rich King Casting  extras casting
• Saks Fifth Avenue  the producers would like to thank (as Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills)
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services (uncredited)
• Studio Animal Services  animal handlers
• Teenage Millionaire  the producers would like to thank
• Wilshire Stages, The  sound re-recording at (as The Wilshire Stages, Los Angeles, CA)
• Zang Toi  acknowledgement: gowns at SAKS (as Zhang Toi)

Also Known As:

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:

UK:15 | 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 | Netherlands:AL

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 Mirabelle turns and walks towards Jeremy after her final meeting with Ray, an aerial shot shows Jeremy to be raising his arms to embrace her. In the next shot, his arms are at his sides.

Quotes:

Mirabelle:Are you the kind of person that takes time to get to know, and then once you get to know them... they're fabulous?
Jeremy Kraft:Yes, absolutely... What?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Ypalliloi en drasei!" (2009)

Soundtrack:

I Only Want to Be With You

A tender story about a young woman's coming of age

Shopgirl is about a young 20-something woman, Mirabelle (Claire Danes) who works selling gloves at Saks Fifth Avenue in L.A. She spends most of her day behind the counter with not much to do and at night she goes home alone to her apartment in Silverlake, with only her cat to keep her company. She dreams of being an artist and of a man who will one day sweep her off her feet and awaken her drab and lifeless existence.

Later on she meets two completely different men. The first one she meets is Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman), who works as a font designer for a company that sells amplifiers to rock bands. Jeremy is hopelessly clueless about the nuances of romance, naive, bumbling, and goofy. However, Mirabelle does plant the seeds of ambition in his mind to go out and do something significant in his life, which he does in going out on the road with a rock band. Toward the end of the movie, we see that Jeremy has changed for the better, and he evolves as a person as well. He was very funny and the surprising comic relief in the film. The scene where the gold-digging rival shopgirl Lisa (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras) mistakes Jeremy for Ray Porter was especially funny.

The second one is Ray Porter (Steve Martin), a handsome, rich, sophisticated older man who meets Mirabelle at Saks and buys a pair of gloves from her. He then sends her the gloves as a present and asks her out to dinner. Mirabelle is intrigued by Ray and decides to go out to dinner with him. She thinks it is flattering that he has noticed her. Once she gets to know him, she falls in love. Ray thinks he makes it clear to her that he isn't looking for a serious commitment. Mirabelle, however, is serious about Ray and loves him completely. This is where the complications ensue in their relationship.

Martin's performance was smooth, polished, and charming, but also emotionally detached, as his Ray Porter character struggles not to become emotionally involved with Mirabelle, but it was evident in the things that he does for her that he cared her for almost in a paternal way. I never thought of Martin as a dashing leading man, but he excelled in his role. No one else could have played Ray Porter, as it was his story and he understood the characters better than anyone. Martin and Danes exhibited a kind of wonderful chemistry together, a special kind of sexual tension that crackled on the screen, especially in the scene where she is waiting on his bed for him nude and they make love for the first time or when Mirabelle puts on the gloves that Ray has bought for her and she is wearing nothing else.

The character of Mirabelle is a girl one would consider a "plain jane", not the most physically beautiful, but Danes's performance conveyed a kind of inner beauty that radiated from within, very much a spiritual beauty. Especially in the scenes with Martin, she had a sensuality of a woman who really experiences passion and love for the first time in her life, and pain.

Throughout the movie we can see the kind of evolution that takes place from a woman who is shy, timid, and almost emotionless to someone who is more confident, more grown-up and self-assured. Why Danes was not nominated for a Golden Globe or an Oscar is beyond me. She was completely convincing and believable as Mirabelle and brought the character of the lonely, troubled, beautiful young woman to life.

However, this movie is not without flaws. One of the biggest is the score. I believe the score was meant to be like an homage to the old Hollywood movies of 30s & 40s, but it was intrusive, over-the-top, and very melodramatic. I believe less would have been more in the case of a movie like Shopgirl. Another flaw was the narration. Martin's narration of the scenes in the movie were self-explanatory and completely unnecessary.

Overall, the movie was excellent, wonderful, funny, sad and very faithful to Martin's novella. I would recommend reading the novella first before seeing the movie, as the novella is also very good. It is a good romantic date movie. Good performances by all, especially Ms. Danes. It took an interesting perspective on the May/December romance, through the eyes of a female protagonist, even though the story was written by a man. It also said a lot about what men and women expect from relationships, and how love can be heartbreaking and painful, yet wonderful and beautiful at the same time. It is also about a woman discovering more about life, love, and most of all, herself. Highly recommended.