Shopgirl 2005
This movie is a bittersweet romance (that usually means someone dies, but that’s not the case here) that centers on Clare Danes, a girl from Vermont who has moved to LA to do an occasional charcoal drawing and work in a boring job at Saks. She is “romanced” by a slob and an older rich guy at the same time. Steve Martin, who wrote the “novella” the movie is based on a few years ago, plays the rich guy and also wrote the screenplay. Martin’s character has the same level of pretension that you might expect from someone who calls their short book a novella. The bittersweet part is that neither of these are storybook romances, nor are they tragic abuse-filled romances. They are just kind of somewhat bitter and somewhat sweet. That in itself is refreshing and is what sets this movie apart from just about any other movie. Without a heavyweight like Steve Martin behind it, this movie would never be made. Most people probably won’t like it, but I imagine critics, who see so many movies and are dying for something that breaks the formula, will enjoy it along with people who don’t mind watching a well-crafted (albeit a little boring) movie. To do it further damage, I will say it reminds me at least a little of Lost in Translation.
Anyway, the art direction is very front and center which I kind of like. There is nothing very funny in the movie, especially from Martin who plays a pleasant person without much charm. The movie really centers on Clare Danes and she is solid here. I’ve heard people say she should get an Oscar nomination and, although she isn’t a prostitute, killer or drug addict, I think she might have a chance. The other romance featuring the slob takes a backseat for most of the movie and that part suffers a little. Martin knows the shopgirl character and the rich guy well, but the slob doesn’t quite fit.
Shopgirl won’t blow you away, but it is a good movie if you are patient and don’t mind something kind of artsy and non-conformist. I’ll give it a B+.