2008 Woodie Awards
Friend's with Money Can't Buy a Better Review
Kate Brindisi
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: A & E
- Page 1 of 1
Friends with Money is the poignant tale of a group of friends and their relationship and money issues. Jennifer Aniston plays the single, pot smoking, maid, in a group of couples.
Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, and Joan Cusack also star in this quirky film. The movie also opened for this year's Sundance Film Festival earlier this year in Utah.
Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, whose other writing and directing credits include the movies Lovely & Amazing, and Walking and Talking. Holofcener's television directing credits include Gilmore Girls, Sex & the City, and Six Feet Under.
The four main characters, Jane, Olivia, Franny, and Christine, have been friends for a long time and now all but Olivia is married, but the couple thing is not what bothers her. The fact that she is a former teacher now cleaning houses for $65 a pop, and the rest of her group is rich is what she can't get past.
Jane, played by Frances McDormand, the extremely successful clothing designer, is going through a mid-life crisis overcoming the fact that she isn't as young as she use to be and pondering her husband, Aaron's (Simon McBurney), homosexual tendencies.
Franny, played by Joan Cusack, is the wealthy stay at home mom who questions her husband Matt's (Greg Germann), need to purchase their 2 year old $90 shoes, but they are unwilling to lend Olivia money unless she agrees to get therapy and figure out her life. 'She's unmarried, a pothead and a maid,' says Jane to husband, Matt.
Catherine Keener's character, Christine, is a successful screenwriter whose partner is her egotistical husband, David (Jason Issacs), attempts to finish their screen play while their marriage is disintegrating with the hammering of each nail on their extensive house addition.
The movie had a shorter running time than most with an 88 minute length.
"I liked the plot, however I think it could have been longer and that would have extended the story further, it was cut short and was somewhat confusing," said Holly Finneran, sophomore, Glen Ridge, NJ.
The movie got mixed reviews from critics and students.
"I like Jennifer Aniston, but didn't want to see the movie, even though she is in a maid's outfit," said Brian Almeida, junior, Stratford.
Ebert gave a thumbs down and Roeper gave a thumbs up for this Sundance debutee.
Despite the wealth difference between all of the characters they share the fact that none of them are perfect and they all have problems in their relationships and personal obstacles that they must overcome. The film proves money cannot buy love or happiness, but it can keep you warm at night.
Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, and Joan Cusack also star in this quirky film. The movie also opened for this year's Sundance Film Festival earlier this year in Utah.
Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, whose other writing and directing credits include the movies Lovely & Amazing, and Walking and Talking. Holofcener's television directing credits include Gilmore Girls, Sex & the City, and Six Feet Under.
The four main characters, Jane, Olivia, Franny, and Christine, have been friends for a long time and now all but Olivia is married, but the couple thing is not what bothers her. The fact that she is a former teacher now cleaning houses for $65 a pop, and the rest of her group is rich is what she can't get past.
Jane, played by Frances McDormand, the extremely successful clothing designer, is going through a mid-life crisis overcoming the fact that she isn't as young as she use to be and pondering her husband, Aaron's (Simon McBurney), homosexual tendencies.
Franny, played by Joan Cusack, is the wealthy stay at home mom who questions her husband Matt's (Greg Germann), need to purchase their 2 year old $90 shoes, but they are unwilling to lend Olivia money unless she agrees to get therapy and figure out her life. 'She's unmarried, a pothead and a maid,' says Jane to husband, Matt.
Catherine Keener's character, Christine, is a successful screenwriter whose partner is her egotistical husband, David (Jason Issacs), attempts to finish their screen play while their marriage is disintegrating with the hammering of each nail on their extensive house addition.
The movie had a shorter running time than most with an 88 minute length.
"I liked the plot, however I think it could have been longer and that would have extended the story further, it was cut short and was somewhat confusing," said Holly Finneran, sophomore, Glen Ridge, NJ.
The movie got mixed reviews from critics and students.
"I like Jennifer Aniston, but didn't want to see the movie, even though she is in a maid's outfit," said Brian Almeida, junior, Stratford.
Ebert gave a thumbs down and Roeper gave a thumbs up for this Sundance debutee.
Despite the wealth difference between all of the characters they share the fact that none of them are perfect and they all have problems in their relationships and personal obstacles that they must overcome. The film proves money cannot buy love or happiness, but it can keep you warm at night.