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Amazon.com
With her third feature, Friends With Money, writer-director Nicole Holofcener continues to develop one of the most distinctive voices in American independent film-making. While not as purely satisfying as her previous films Walking and Talking and Lovely and Amazing, Holofcener's third feature is admirably ambitious in establishing a diverse and dynamic range of relationships among long-time girlfriends, their spouses (for better and worse), and the way in which money (or lack of it) affects them all. The have-not of the group is Olivia (Jennifer Aniston), a teacher-turned-pot-smoking housecleaner in the upscale neighbourhoods of West Los Angeles. She's drifting, uncertain of her future both professionally and romantically, while her friends Franny (Joan Cusack), Christine (Catherine Keener), and Jane (Frances McDormand) cope with the relatively enviable problems of wealthy discontentment. They've all got personal crises to resolve, and while Olivia juggles the affections of a likable louse (Scott Caan) and a lonely slob who's secretly rich (Bob Stephenson), Holofcener taps a rich vein of humor and melancholy as these women go about their daily routines, attending benefits, chatting over meals, and doting over Olivia as the "needy one" in their closed circle of friendships.
All of this is richly observed and wonderfully acted (with male costars played by Greg Germann, Jason Isaacs, and Simon McBurney), but reaction to Friends With Money is strictly a matter of personal taste. Holofcener isn't telling a story so much as examining lives in various states of disarray, and she offers no false comforts or simple resolutions. Like life, Friends With Money just continues on its way, with some friends happier than others. There's plenty of truth to be found, if you know where to look.--Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com
With her third feature, Friends With Money, writer-director Nicole Holofcener continues to develop one of the most distinctive voices in American independent film-making. While not as purely satisfying as her previous films Walking and Talking and Lovely and Amazing, Holofcener's third feature is admirably ambitious in establishing a diverse and dynamic range of relationships among long-time girlfriends, their spouses (for better and worse), and the way in which money (or lack of it) affects them all. The have-not of the group is Olivia (Jennifer Aniston), a teacher-turned-pot-smoking housecleaner in the upscale neighbourhoods of West Los Angeles. She's drifting, uncertain of her future both professionally and romantically, while her friends Franny (Joan Cusack), Christine (Catherine Keener), and Jane (Frances McDormand) cope with the relatively enviable problems of wealthy discontentment. They've all got personal crises to resolve, and while Olivia juggles the affections of a likable louse (Scott Caan) and a lonely slob who's secretly rich (Bob Stephenson), Holofcener taps a rich vein of humor and melancholy as these women go about their daily routines, attending benefits, chatting over meals, and doting over Olivia as the "needy one" in their closed circle of friendships. All of this is richly observed and wonderfully acted (with male costars played by Greg Germann, Jason Isaacs, and Simon McBurney), but reaction to Friends With Money is strictly a matter of personal taste. Holofcener isn't telling a story so much as examining lives in various states of disarray, and she offers no false comforts or simple resolutions. Like life, Friends With Money just continues on its way, with some friends happier than others. There's plenty of truth to be found, if you know where to look.--Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a brief glimpse at the lives of 7 friends, 3 married couples with money and their single friend,( Jennifer Anniston), who works as a maid and is pretty much broke.
One couple are very wealthy, another couple are screenwriters whose marriage is collapsing in bitterness and the final couple consist of a husband everybody assumes is gay and his menopausal wife who is getting decidedly cranky. The odd one out is Jennifer Annistons maid who had to leave her job as a teacher because of the snide behaviour of the middle class pupils whose clueless snobbery,( that you aren't shown ), is reflected in the way her friends treat her.
One friend matches her up with a charmless pig of a man but she eventually finds someone to love in an unexpected direction.
There is much to admire in the self discipline the director applies to her handling of this movie. The individual storylines are not all neatly 'tied up' in the end, instead there is a satisfying feeling that these peoples lives could go in a varity of directions after we have left them. The running time is little over 1hr 20 mins which means the story can be moved along at a good pace and there is no time for pointless waffle or long periods where nothing happens. Each moment is fully utilized and very quickly you start to feel you know these people,( but you don't and the expected cliches are avoided so that there are one or two surprises),.
The script is sharp and although there is humour this is not a comedy. The actors all bring their best to their roles and provide lifelike characters that draw you in. Standouts are Francis Mcdormands crumbling but funny menopausal woman, angry, confused and desperately trying to get a grip and Jennifer Anniston gives her best performance so far as damaged, lonely and odd friend out.
The picture and sound are fine and it makes a refreshing change to have a non-intrusive soundtrack that isn't trying to advertise itself throughout.
The extras aren't really up to much as they don't add up to much more than a series of stating the obvious and back slapping. I haven't heard the directors chat track but it's nice to have it included.
If you want to step up a gear from the relentless line of rom-coms being churned out lately and fancy something adult and thoughtful then I recommend this, it will entertain you and give you something to think about.
One couple are very wealthy, another couple are screenwriters whose marriage is collapsing in bitterness and the final couple consist of a husband everybody assumes is gay and his menopausal wife who is getting decidedly cranky. The odd one out is Jennifer Annistons maid who had to leave her job as a teacher because of the snide behaviour of the middle class pupils whose clueless snobbery,( that you aren't shown ), is reflected in the way her friends treat her.
One friend matches her up with a charmless pig of a man but she eventually finds someone to love in an unexpected direction.
There is much to admire in the self discipline the director applies to her handling of this movie. The individual storylines are not all neatly 'tied up' in the end, instead there is a satisfying feeling that these peoples lives could go in a varity of directions after we have left them. The running time is little over 1hr 20 mins which means the story can be moved along at a good pace and there is no time for pointless waffle or long periods where nothing happens. Each moment is fully utilized and very quickly you start to feel you know these people,( but you don't and the expected cliches are avoided so that there are one or two surprises),.
The script is sharp and although there is humour this is not a comedy. The actors all bring their best to their roles and provide lifelike characters that draw you in. Standouts are Francis Mcdormands crumbling but funny menopausal woman, angry, confused and desperately trying to get a grip and Jennifer Anniston gives her best performance so far as damaged, lonely and odd friend out.
The picture and sound are fine and it makes a refreshing change to have a non-intrusive soundtrack that isn't trying to advertise itself throughout.
The extras aren't really up to much as they don't add up to much more than a series of stating the obvious and back slapping. I haven't heard the directors chat track but it's nice to have it included.
If you want to step up a gear from the relentless line of rom-coms being churned out lately and fancy something adult and thoughtful then I recommend this, it will entertain you and give you something to think about.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Normally I'd try to eat my left leg before watching a film about 'modern relationships in middle class America'. But FWM was a pleasant surprise. It would be too easy to throw rotten tomatoes at this for it's 'boo hoo it's horrible being middle aged and rich' plot line. But then it's handled so well that it's hard not to like the film. The interactions between the married couples is spot on, all that stuff not said being more important that what is said. Thank God there's nothing mawkish about the kids. There's a couple of pretty funny 'oh, he really is gay' type jokes. Plus Anniston plays it just right as the aimless, meandering pot-head.
The only bad points. The ending is too twee and Anniston is just too pretty to be so unlucky and so naive with men.
The only bad points. The ending is too twee and Anniston is just too pretty to be so unlucky and so naive with men.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'm all for movies that are full of dialogue, making you think and reflecting life as opposed to fairytale cliched storylines, and I thought this would be one, but at the end of the movie my wife and I looked at each other and laughed..."Is that it?!"
There is no opportunity to get to know the people or to care about them. No attempt is really made to delve deeper into any of the characters than what you could pick up as a passer by. There is simply no storyline at all and the last scene leaves you feeling like the movie is about to start and then it ends.
It's not a comedy, it's not a drama, it's just nothing. Spend your money elsewhere.
There is no opportunity to get to know the people or to care about them. No attempt is really made to delve deeper into any of the characters than what you could pick up as a passer by. There is simply no storyline at all and the last scene leaves you feeling like the movie is about to start and then it ends.
It's not a comedy, it's not a drama, it's just nothing. Spend your money elsewhere.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great disappointment.
I thought that this would be a typical chick-flic, it had a great cast, and sounded really intresting. However the film could not have been a bigger disappointment. Read more
Published 1 month ago by gwenalop
Kind of disappointed.
I really love Jennifer Anniston, that's why I bought this film. But now I know that film starring by great Holly Stars are not always good. It bored me.
Published 2 months ago by Vicen14
Terrrible film
Why did they make this film? I can only think that it was to give Jennifer Aniston the opportunity to have another bad review. It was terrible!
Published 4 months ago by Teen
Very enjoyable, refreshingly entertaining!
I watched this film with my daughter who is in her late 20s and I must say we both loved it. It's a compelling mixture of bitter-sweet drama with comic and feel-good moments. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Deedee Pinetree
NOT ONE OF JENNIFER ANISTON'S BEST FILMS
Jennifer Aniston plays Olivia, a former teacher who has resorted to cleaning houses for a living after quitting her job. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Camilla Macaulay
a quiet surprise
I have this film as part of a cheap mixed bag of a DVD boxset, I bought it for another film in the set (which was a massive disappointment) but this ended up being the winner for... Read more
Published 18 months ago
I got bored waiting for the 'film' to start
None of the characters were endearing, nothing really happened, the story (what there was) was poor. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by Mr. David Brook
A challenge
The photo on the cover would have you believe this is a feel-good comedy, but it's more of a humourous drama. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2009 by shpadoinkle
Not Bad?!?!?
not bad but definatly not one for the family also i didnt find it that funny. unfortunatly i did not find this film very entertaining due to the weak story line :(
Published on 8 Jan 2009 by Stephanie French
good acting, biting humour but a slow - paced story
There is some good acting - as you'd expect with a cast of this quality - and biting humour in this movie, but it has to be said it has a slow moving storyline. Read more
Published on 18 May 2008 by dan the fan
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