LITTLE BLACK BOOK

US, 2004, 111 minutes, Colour.
Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter, Ron Livingston, Rashida Jones, Julianne Nicholson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Kathy Bates, Carly Simon.
Directed by Nick Hurran.

Little Black Book is a star vehicle for Brittany Murphy after she had appeared to success in films like Clueless. Unfortunately, her career was cut short by her untimely death.

But, it is the veteran Oscar-winners who make a big impact in this film, especially Holly Hunter as a seemingly charming and cooperative co-producer whose ruthless ambitions are unmasked at the end, a very interesting and subtle performance. Kathy Bates is the on-screen personality on a very rough reality show.

Brittany Murphy plays Stacey who has an ambition to work with TV anchor, Diane Sawyer. She has a moody mother who solves all problems by listening to songs by Carly Simon. Stacey has walked away from Mr Right, hoping for something better, moving in with sports entrepreneur, Ron Livingston, and getting a job at the reality TV channel. When she discovers photos and phone calls to former girlfriends, she becomes suspicious, wanting to find out the truth, and egged on by the seemingly supportive co-producer.

She meets a former model whom she does not like, a self-centred gynaecologist, and a chef whom she really does like.Through the co-producer’s manipulation, she finds herself on live camera with the 3 other girlfriends and the boyfriend also turning up on set – a triumph and a masterpiece for the co-producer, an opportunity for Stacey to come clean and go for an interview to work with Diane Sawyer, and for the chef to be reunited with the boyfriend.

Light, yet plenty of satire, touches of romance were plenty of Carly Simon songs throughout – and Carly Simon herself coming in at the end.

1. A romantic comedy with differences?

2. The title, men and their little black books, Derek and his book, the title for the reality show on television? The repercussions?

3. The American cities, scenes in traffic, homes, television studios…? The musical score?

4. Stacey in the traffic, the flashback to being with her mother, her mother listening to Carly Simon songs to become calm again, Stacey listening to them?

5. Her dream of working with Diane Sawyer? Diane Sawyer and her popularity, audience awareness of this?

6. Stacey at College, the relationship, the possibility of relating to Mr Right, giving him up – and later encountering him, Stacey acknowledging her mistake, but seeing his pregnant wife?

7. Derek, the relationship, sharing the apartment with him?

8. Stacey, going to a new job, the television show, the studio, behind the scenes? Barbara as producer, friending her, supporting her? The strength of the friendship? Their sharing? Barbara urging Stacey on?

9. Kathy Bates as Kippie Kann, personality, and manner on-screen, revelations, the dominance, getting the audience on side and their responses? Her producer, the clashes, dealing with the crew, going to staff meetings? Meeting Ira, offhand with him? Favouring Stacey?

10. Derek, sports promotion, his being away? The interview with the model, the story about her vomiting after sex? Stacey listening, Barbara and her idea, getting in contact with the model, setting up the interview, getting the information, discovering Rachel and Joyce?

11. Rachel, the issue of the wart, the appointment, her being a gynaecologist and the effect of the visit on Stacey? Her book, her marketing her medical discoveries? Invited for the interview? Stacey thinking that Rachel was self-centred?

12. Going to Joyce, the photos on the iPad, Stacey and her anger, destroying the pad, the phone? Contacting Joyce, Joyce the chef, the discussions, Stacey’s pretense but their becoming friends?

13. Derek, his continued phone calls? The revelation about the truth and Joyce’s brother and his being signed up?

14. The effect on Stacey, Barbara visiting, talking, fostering her hopes?

15. Stacey going to set, live? Each of the women arriving? Kippie Kann and her questions, moralising? The revelations and the effect on each?

16. The fact that Barbara had contrived everything? Setting everyone up, leading Stacey on? considering this her masterpiece?

17. Derek, arriving, on the live set, bewildered?

18. Stacey, the learning experience, the disillusionment with Barbara? Derek and his realisation of his love for Joyce? The audience on Joyce’s side?

19. Stacey going for the new job, going for the interview, her being accepted, the fulfilment of a dream – and Carly Simon arriving, her mother ringing and fainting, the film
ending with the pleasant fulfilment dream and Carly Simon and her singing?