David O'ConnellSteve Martin's Shopgirl
May 16th 2008 07:00
A short work of fiction by actor Steve Martin is the unlikely literary source for one of the most underrated films of 2005 directed by Anand Tucker, an English director who first made a mark with Hilary and Jackie back in 1998. Shopgirl is a complex, moving, and occasionally funny character study of three very different people unsure of what they're searching for in life.
At the heart of the story is the beguilingly beautiful Mirabelle Buttersfield (Claire Danes), who is bored by her changeless, unchallenging job selling gloves in a huge Saks department store in L.A. Through chance two men will enter her life – firstly Jeremy, a weird, initially offputting guy with a chaotic mind but a heart of gold, and a font stenciller by profession! Jason Schwatzman, of Rushmore fame, plays him perfectly but his roles before and since this suggest he’s likely to be typecast into this mould forever. He meets Mirabelle in a laundromat, and though she seems a little uncertain of him, she’s won over enough by his eccentric charms to agree to a date.
A few funny scenes follow, as Jeremy, with his very odd ideas of how to impress a woman, takes Mirabelle out, and though he fails to win her heart she undeniably becomes fond of him. Their time together seems to peter out to a natural end however with Mirabelle meeting Ray Porter (Steve Martin), a much older, mysterious man who comes into Saks and after a first meeting, leaves an open invitation for her to a date at a fancy restaurant. Mirabelle accepts, unsure of what to expect, but intrigued by the possibility of someone new showing such a blatant interest in her.
Much of the rest of the film charts the fluctuating relationship between the two, and at times the charming, intelligent and wealthy Ray seems to be everything Mirabelle could have dreamed of. But there are wonderful complexities in Martin’s screenplay as Mirabelle’s naivety and openness set her up for disappointment and betrayal. We’re given glimpses into Ray’s other life which suggest he seems to be on a different wavelength to Mirabelle - it seems obvious that he’s using her in a remote, spontaneous way, wanting only “part of her” as he says in his final narration.
Mirabelle becomes overwhelmed by their delicate affair, showered with gifts and luxuries, but is it all real? Could this possibly be her perfect man? Throughout their relationship, we still get glimpses of Jeremy and his road trip with a bunch of rock musicians, still seeking self-understanding with the help of self-improvement audio tapes that he uses to fill the hours. We know he’s going to play an important part in the outcome of Mirabelle’s life, but his comic scenes are a nice counterweight to the drama in her life in the meantime.
Claire Danes is luminous and sympathetic as Mirabelle, whilst Steve Martin gives a likeable, understated performance as Ray. Given the horrible comedy films he’s been making in recent years, I wonder all the more why he doesn’t concentrate on roles like this; in the past he’s proven how good he can be when in a serious role.
I’ve seen Shopgirl twice now, and really love it and find it genuinely moving. It reeks of class and elegance, beautifully made and with a gorgeous score by Barrington Pheloung accompanying the visuals.
It seems a more complex and adult musing on the nature of love and relationships, and though that may seem partly a direct result of how many pointless and vapid romantic comedies are released these days, it stands on its own as a poignant and bittersweet tale worth savouring.
At the heart of the story is the beguilingly beautiful Mirabelle Buttersfield (Claire Danes), who is bored by her changeless, unchallenging job selling gloves in a huge Saks department store in L.A. Through chance two men will enter her life – firstly Jeremy, a weird, initially offputting guy with a chaotic mind but a heart of gold, and a font stenciller by profession! Jason Schwatzman, of Rushmore fame, plays him perfectly but his roles before and since this suggest he’s likely to be typecast into this mould forever. He meets Mirabelle in a laundromat, and though she seems a little uncertain of him, she’s won over enough by his eccentric charms to agree to a date.
A few funny scenes follow, as Jeremy, with his very odd ideas of how to impress a woman, takes Mirabelle out, and though he fails to win her heart she undeniably becomes fond of him. Their time together seems to peter out to a natural end however with Mirabelle meeting Ray Porter (Steve Martin), a much older, mysterious man who comes into Saks and after a first meeting, leaves an open invitation for her to a date at a fancy restaurant. Mirabelle accepts, unsure of what to expect, but intrigued by the possibility of someone new showing such a blatant interest in her.
Much of the rest of the film charts the fluctuating relationship between the two, and at times the charming, intelligent and wealthy Ray seems to be everything Mirabelle could have dreamed of. But there are wonderful complexities in Martin’s screenplay as Mirabelle’s naivety and openness set her up for disappointment and betrayal. We’re given glimpses into Ray’s other life which suggest he seems to be on a different wavelength to Mirabelle - it seems obvious that he’s using her in a remote, spontaneous way, wanting only “part of her” as he says in his final narration.
Mirabelle becomes overwhelmed by their delicate affair, showered with gifts and luxuries, but is it all real? Could this possibly be her perfect man? Throughout their relationship, we still get glimpses of Jeremy and his road trip with a bunch of rock musicians, still seeking self-understanding with the help of self-improvement audio tapes that he uses to fill the hours. We know he’s going to play an important part in the outcome of Mirabelle’s life, but his comic scenes are a nice counterweight to the drama in her life in the meantime.
A first meeting between Ray and Mirabelle
Claire Danes is luminous and sympathetic as Mirabelle, whilst Steve Martin gives a likeable, understated performance as Ray. Given the horrible comedy films he’s been making in recent years, I wonder all the more why he doesn’t concentrate on roles like this; in the past he’s proven how good he can be when in a serious role.
I’ve seen Shopgirl twice now, and really love it and find it genuinely moving. It reeks of class and elegance, beautifully made and with a gorgeous score by Barrington Pheloung accompanying the visuals.
It seems a more complex and adult musing on the nature of love and relationships, and though that may seem partly a direct result of how many pointless and vapid romantic comedies are released these days, it stands on its own as a poignant and bittersweet tale worth savouring.
The eccentric but loveable Jeremy
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Comment by Anonymous
lol