The Business of Strangers *** (2001, Stockard Channing, Julia Stiles, Frederick Weller) – Classic Movie Review 6287

‘Everyone eats shit. It’s just a question of degrees.’ – Julie.

Stockard Channing and Julia Stiles play Julie and Paula, business women of very different ages and backgrounds who meet up at an airport motel, bond over drinks and share their darkest secrets.

Writer-director Patrick Stettner’s 2001 film is a posh mystery drama with lots of smart talk and even smarter acting. It is stylish and satisfying, though even so the two main performances may be the most remarkable thing about it. How great they both are!

Though Frederick Weller, Mary Testa, Jack Hallett, Marcus Giamatti and Buddy Fitzpatrick also appear, it is basically a two-hander, and a tour-de-force by the two clever performers.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6287

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com