The Business of Strangers Review

by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)
December 25th, 2001
THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2001 David N. Butterworth

** (out of ****)

    Holed up in an imposing glass and steel airport hotel on a layover, corporate executive Julie Styron (Stockard Channing) waits to learn her fate.
    After a botched sales presentation for which her tech assistant arrived 45
minutes late (after the meeting Julie fires the young woman on the spot; she’s played by "O"’s Julia Stiles), Julie has been informed that her boss is flying in for a one-on-one meeting with her. Assuming she’s about to be fired, Julie quickly sets up an impromptu consultation with a corporate headhunter named Nick (Frederick Weller, sporting menacing Christian Slater-type eyebrows), who assures Julie he’s not looking to find her replacement.

    Later Julie spots Paula (Stiles) in the hotel bar--her flight has been
cancelled--and saunters over to apologize, scotch in hand. The two get to talking, just as you would with the person who just fired you, and before you know it Paula is asking Julie if she has a spare bathing suit (to show off her spidery tattoos, no doubt).

    Later still Nick turns up--his flight has also been delayed--as does Paula’s remembrance of a nasty situation from her Boston college days (think "Tape") and the scene is set: three people, one hotel, and revenge with the corporate weapon of choice--magic markers!

    Although not as contrived a set-up as it sounds, "The Business of Strangers" *feels* contrived due to first-time director Patrick Stettner’s rushed exposition (at 84 minutes it’s a short film by traditional standards) and uneven writing (including some real howlers). Channing and Stiles make mincemeat out of the lackluster material though, and the female power games/body politics are intriguing, but this dark, brought-to-you-by-Dewars thriller is itself like having to pull an overnighter at the airport Radisson: you don’t exactly mind being there but you’d rather just get home.

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David N. Butterworth
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