» STORY

[Synopsis]

Two women on different ends of the spectrum of corporate power come together with explosive results in this drama. Julie Styron (Stockard Channing) is a successful executive with a major international corporation who is starting to feel the pressure of her position; she has few friends and no family to buffer her from the responsibilities of her work, and she suspects that the company’s CEO is thinking about replacing her. Trying to get one step ahead, she meets with the slightly manipulative headhunter Nick Harris (Frederick Weller). Julie’s anxieties come to a head when she has to give a major out-of-town presentation without the help of her assistant Paula Murphy (Julia Stiles), who failed to show up on time. Furious, Julie gives Paula a severe dressing down before firing her, but then Julie is called into a meeting with Nick in which she gets some unexpected news — she’s going to be taking over his job. Eager to celebrate, Julie runs into Paula, and tries to apologize for their earlier encounter by offering her a hotel room for the night and a few drinks. In time, Nick also turns up at the hotel and the women – upon running into him – realize that he is a mutual acquaintance. Later, Paula shares a secret with Julie — Nick raped one of her friends while they were in college, and since then Paula has pondered taking revenge against him. Julie is eventually drawn into Paula’s plan when they encounter Nick later that evening. But there may be more to Paula than meets the eye. The Business of Strangers was the first feature from writer and director Patrick Stettner; the film was shown in competition at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

© Allmovie


» CAST

Marcus Giamatti as Robert – Mary Testa as Receptionist – Stockard Channing as Julie Styron

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

Entire castlist @ IMDB

» PAULA

Payla is an assistant who indulges in an evening of alcohol-fueled control games with a brittle CEO played by Stockard Channing.


» JULIA SAYS

“I took this movie because I wanted to do something smaller, not just in terms of budget, but in terms of focus. That’s much more interesting than some big production. I’m not really interested in maintaining some stratospheric career.”

“Some people think Paula is unlikeable. But I think she is just a really good actress and there’s a kernel of truth in everything she says, she’s just out there. But I’m not like that in real life.”

“It was such an intense movie, it was filmed at a bunch of hotels in New Jersey, and when we had breaks during the day, we had nothing to do but watch MTV. I kind of went through a whole educational process with her, teaching her about Eminem and Britney Spears.”


» REVIEWS

Received 67 metascore out of 100 based on 30 reviews @ Metacritic.com [09/29/07]
Overall grade breakdown: A‘s: 6 18.2% B‘s: 9 27.3%

New York Post
Entertainment Weekly
USA Today

More @ Rotten Tomatoes


» DVD INFORMATION

Released: 6th August 2002
Available in Full Frame DVD

Bonus Materials

• Interactive trailer
• Interactive menus
• Scene selection

More info?


» MONEY TALKS

Domestic Total Gross: $1,030,920
Foreign Total Gross: $256,678
Opening Weekend: $71,821
Widest Release: 60 theaters
Production Budget: N/A

© Box Office Mojo


» AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

1. 2001 Patrick Stettner SKYY Prize – San Francisco International Film Festival
2. 2002 Patrick Stettner Special Jury Prize – Paris Film Festival
3. 2002 Golden Fleece – Golden Trailer Awards

1. 2001 Dramatic Patrick Stettner Nomination – Grand Jury Prize Nomination – Sundance Film Festival
2. 2001 Patrick Stettner Nomination – Grand Special Prize – Deauville Film Festival
3. 2002 Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama (Stiles) – Golden Satellite Award Nomination – Satellite Awards
4. 2002 Patrick Stettner Grand Prix Nomination – Paris Film Festival

» LINKS

IMDB – Official Site – Wikipedia