Friends with Money (2006)

Just like yesterday's film, Friends with Money too was mentioned by Steven from Surrender to the Void earlier this year for the meltdowns week of the Thursday Movie Picks series. And just like yesterday's film, it sounded interesting, specifically because of Frances McDormand's meltdown scene, and I decided to check it out. 

The film follows a group of four girlfriends: three of them, Franny (Joan Cusack), Christine (Catherine Keener) and Jane (Frances McDormand) are wealthy and married; the fourth, Olivia (Jennifer Aniston), is a single former teacher who now works as a maid. While Franny, Christine and Jane find themselves in various stages of marriage —Franny is very happy with her husband Matt (Greg Germann), Christine keeps fighting with her husband David (Jason Isaacs) over the silliest things and Jane is constantly angry as she's afraid her husband Aaron (Simon McBurney) may be gay—, Olivia struggles to find a good man. 

The plot to this film doesn't really go anywhere. There's barely a plot, actually, as all the movie does is depicting the desperately sad marriages/love lives of four rich, spoiled women. Also, there are many elements —the three couples having kids, for instance— that could have been easily left out and absolutely nothing would have changed as they have no impact whatsoever on the story. Despite this, the story is compelling because the issues these women are facing are real, whether it's money related or dealing with the world in general. And it is so engaging I didn't want it to end —I was happy with the ending but at the same time I was unhappy with it because that meant I couldn't follow the lives of these women anymore.

Which is crazy considering that the characters don't have a lot of depth, lack development and only have a glimpse of characterization. We are not given any backstory either and because of it, it's impossible to figure out why the four women became friends in the first place as it doesn't seem like they have anything in common —at some point one of the women tells another that if they were to meet under their current circumstances, they might not become friends. Shouldn't we then know why they became friends?

Sony Pictures Classics

The cast, on the other hand, is delightful. Frances McDormand is terrific as Jane, a neurotic and frustrated designer who is losing control. Hers is a very annoying character but she turns her into such an entertaining and sympathetic one. Cathrine Keener does a nice job as Christine, but she could have been great if director and writer Nicole Holofcener bothered giving her a more developed character. Jennifer Aniston is very likeable and kind of relatable as Olivia, the miserably broke and single friend. The standout, however, is Simon McBurney as he is truly outstanding as the maybe gay husband.

Ultimately, Friends with Money could have used a better script —the dialogue is quite enthralling though—, but overall the film is pretty fun and entertaining, the cast does an amazing job and the meltdown scene featuring Frances McDormand is priceless.