‘Friends
with Money’ a good film for mom
Jessica
Iavazzi
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Everyone has heard the cliche “money can’t buy happiness.”
Four middle-aged friends truly figure out the meaning of that phrase in a Sony
Pictures Classics film “Friends with Money.”
“
Friends with Money” is a social comedy-drama, written and directed by
Nicole Holofcener, a new successful Sundance filmmaker.
The movie is centered on the lives of four women in their 40s and their struggles
with their friendship, the men in their lives and their bank accounts.
Of the four women, Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) can be summed up by the quote,
said by one of the characters, “She’s unmarried, she’s a
pothead, and she’s a maid.”
Christine (Catherine Keener) writes screenplays with her husband. Although
they have a lot of money, Christine’s marriage is slowly unraveling throughout
the film.
Jane (Frances Macdormand) is a clothing designer going through a midlife crisis
and menopause, who brings the most comedy to the film with her sarcastic and
blunt lines and potentially homosexual husband.
Last, there is Franny (Joan Cusack) who has the most money out of all the friends
and the least relationship problems.
"Each woman has an ongoing problem throughout the film: Olivia cannot figure
out what to do with her life, Christine is working on a major renovation to her
home while struggling with her neighbors not liking her for it, Jane is going
through a midlife crisis which is shown by her not washing her hair, and Franny
cannot figure out who to donate her extra money to.
Olivia seems to be the most important character in “Friends with Money” yet
she is often overshadowed by her supporting costars and their large amounts
of drama.
Director Nicole Holofcener effectively gives each character her own separate
life while at the same time keeping them connected throughout the entire film.
The characters in each scene are always talking about the characters in either
the preceding or succeeding scenes which is constantly maintaining a connection
through the quartet of women.
Holofcener picked the experienced actresses chosen to portray the four middle-aged
women wonderfully for their roles. Aniston’s role, however, is not one
you would traditionally expect out of her.
“
Friends with Money” puts forth the central message that while money does
not buy happiness, marriage sure does not guarantee it either. Aniston’s
character has more fun than her married friends and she is able to find happiness
not based on money and without “trapping” herself in a marriage
like her friends did.
“
Friends With Money” was a film festival phenomenon in 2006, winning official
selection at Sundance, South by Southwest, the Florida Film Festival, the Philadelphia
Film Festival, and the United States Comedy Arts Festival.
Although it was a success with the critics, “Friends with Money” might
not have such a following in the college student demographic.
Even though the acting and specific way the director puts forth the progression
of the characters are impressive at the end, you find yourself wanting more.
The movie cuts off leaving the viewer with more questions than answers, and
also contemplating what the real point of the movie was.
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