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Great Film overall

Good concept, poorly executed.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I gave this film 8 out of 10 points, but I automatically give any film with Julia Stiles at least a 7. She is always sultry and seductive and here is no exception. She is the Lauren Bacall of our time.Anyways, I have to agree with those that saw this as a taunt female thriller of the "Single White Female" variety. I have to disagree that the ending is unsatisfactory in comparison to that movie. This movie simply moves back into a realistic mode, instead of going for a psycho-bloodbath and gore finish.The movie really reminded me of David Mamet's writing. It is the surprise revelations about the characters that happen every couple of minutes that keep you fascinated throughout. That you have two great actresses playing here keeps things together.I found it filled with enough fun and unexpected moments to recommend it. It doesn't make you jump to the edge of your seat, but it does make you lean forward a few times.

Stockard Channing is one of the best actresses on the planet and when she is at her best, as she is here, it is one of life's pleasures watching her perform. Debut director Patrick Stettner's film is a small stunner; a three-hander that may not make much sense if viewed 'realsitically' but has all the pleasures of a film made by someone who loves films for people who love films.Channing is the big business executive stuck overnight at an airport hotel who falls in with the mousy assistant she had fired earlier, (Julia Stiles, almost stealing the film) and a sleaze-ball headhunter, (Frederick Weller, also excellent). What happens owes a lot to other movies rather than real life and Stiles turns out to be anything but a mouse, but it's smart, clever, funny, visually imaginative and it wrong foots you every step of the way. In fact, it's a small classic; the kind of film you remember when the big ones get away.

I have always liked Stockard Channing, and recently have come to respect Julia Stiles and her choice of roles a great deal. So I was expecting a highly poignant movie here; a deep character study. I didn't get that. These characters, being from the corporate world, are shallow and self-centered, and Stiles' character is distinctly unlikeable. On the other hand, it does show just what such people are like, and how the events depicted here are par for the course in that world.I disagree with a previous poster who said that Nick was the one character to come out of this story unscathed and with his innocence intact. Rather, his lack of a reaction to what they did to him demonstrates that this kind of thing is pretty much business as usual for him. He may have raped someone, and he isn't even shaken up about it. Shows what kind of a hardened, unscrupulous person life in the corporate stratosphere has made him. He's not exactly an angel. Slippery as an eel indeed.Also, the "lesbian themes" that seem to be so played up in the hype and discussion of this movie are hardly even there. There are some instances of innuendo, but nothing material. Which I'm not complaining about, I'm just saying it. If you watch this movie for the sake of that (which I didn't), you'll be let down.As it was, I was let down anyway, as the movie didn't really go anywhere or resolve anything.My rating: 5 out of 10.

Julie Styron (Stockard Channing) suspects she may be getting fired and hires headhunter Nick Harris (Fred Weller). She fires new assistant Paula Murphy (Julia Stiles). She is surprised when she is promoted to CEO. They later run into each other at a bar. They are joined by Nick when Paula reveals a shocking story to Julie.You should be able to see the ending coming a mile away. You know exactly the big reveal as soon as the "story" unfolds. It could've been interesting if something REAL edgy happens, but they might as well have a sing-along for the climax. Stockard Channing plays a smart, hard-nose executive, but couldn't ask the right questions to the guy? She's smart enough to run a multi-million dollar company, but so stupid she buys into the story. It's too bad. It has a good premise.