Perfect Stranger (2007)

A journalist goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her childhood friend's killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game of online cat-and-mouse.

Director:

James Foley

Writers:

Todd Komarnicki (screenplay), Jon Bokenkamp (story)

Stars:

Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Halle Berry	...	Rowena Price
Bruce Willis	...	Harrison Hill
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Miles Haley
Richard Portnow	...	Narron
Gary Dourdan	...	Cameron
Florencia Lozano	...	Lieutenant Tejada
Nicki Aycox	...	Grace
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Elizabeth Clayton
Gordon MacDonald	...	Senator Sachs
Daniella Van Graas	...	Josie
Paula Miranda	...	Mia Hill
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Esmeralda
Clea Lewis	...	Gina
Tamara Feldman	...	Bethany
Gerry Becker	...	Jon Kirshenbaum

Storyline

Rowena Price is a muckraking reporter for a New York paper. When her story about a closeted gay Senator who preaches family values is spiked, she quits and soon finds herself investigating the grisly murder of a childhood friend. Her friend had been dumped by ad exec Harrison Hill, so he's Rowena's prime suspect. Rowena gets a job at the ad agency as a temp, and she's soon the object of Hill's attentions. She's helped in her subterfuge by Miles Haley, a friend at the paper who has a secret thing for her. Everyone, it seems, has secrets, including Hill, who must keep his affairs from his wife - her money fuels his lifestyle. Murder will out?

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Plot Keywords:

friend | childhood friend | reporter | gay | murder | 

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Taglines:

How Far Would You Go To Keep A Secret?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, nudity, some disturbing violent images and language

Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont Columbia Tristar [fr] Official site [au]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seduciendo a un extraño

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,795,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£277,047 (UK) (13 April 2007)

Gross:

$23,705,592 (USA) (18 May 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Heidi Klum:  The Victoria Secret Angel that introduces Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis) at the Victoria Secret party.

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Goofs

Where Ro is eating her Ben and Jerry's ice cream, the container is turned in several different motions and the amount at the top is different each time although her hands stay the same

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Quotes

Miles Haley: [slides her a USB drive] Take this.
Ro: And what's that?
Miles Haley: It's new spyware you're gonna mickey into Hill's laptop. Go at the end of the day, install it into the computer, and bury it into the hard drive.
Ro: And how long will that take?
Miles Haley: Uh, 3 minutes and 14 seconds. But, that's just a guess.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: The Worst of 2007 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"These Arms of Mine"
Written and Performed by Otis Redding
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Just another twist movie with an uncreative storyline

I watched Perfect Stranger at a preview at my local theater this past weekend, and next to the scantily clad Halle Berry, there was no reason to go watch this movie. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with movies with twists, but as long as they're done with thought, taste, and creativity. The problem in this movie is writers have all the freedom in the world to guide a viewer's mind and place where the twists lie. It is too easy for writers to trick the audience, and to some audience members, the simple trick in itself is good enough to make the movie "great." Well, this doesn't cut it for me. I want a movie that connects, makes me think, has me connect with a character, or even teaches me something. Perfect Stranger lacked meaning, taste, and creativity and is just another one of those "movies with a twist." FYI: The movie was a long advertisement with way too much product placement. Even if the movie does bomb, the movie industry would have made up for the loss with the amount of advertising they put in the movie.