IN HER SHOES
US, 2005, 130 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Diaz, Tony Collette, Shirley Mac Laine, Mark Feuerstien, Ken Howard, Candice Azzara, Richard Burgi, Brooke Smith, Francine Beers, Jerry Adler.
Directed by Curtis Hanson.
This is one of those films where it is best to suspend final judgment until the very end credits. It is quite a long film and one is tempted during some of the dramatic lulls to think that up till then the parts were better than the whole. But, by the end, it is quite satisfying and its themes worth reflecting on.
The screenplay, based on a novel by Jennifer Weiner, was written by Susannah Grant who wrote Erin Brockovich and the forthcoming Charlotte’s Web. It is very much a women’s project. The focus is on three women and the emotional issues between them. It is surprising to find that the male director, Curtis Hanson, is better known for some tough thrillers like his best film, LA Confidential, as well as Bad Influence, The River Wild and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.
This time the shoes are not kinky boots but a wardrobe full of stylish shoes collected by the plain and dowdy sister, Rose (Toni Colette). They are borrowed without permission (and broken) by the attractive and wilful sister, Maggie (Cameron Diaz). The first part of the film is the compare and contrast of the two women and the exasperation of the responsible sister who is sick of mopping up after the thoughtlessness and spoilt-brat behaviour of the other. While Rose can sometimes be annoying as she tries to cope and make good with some unexpected relationships, Maggie is completely frustrating. It is to the credit of both actresses that they are quite persuasive.
When Maggie disappears to Florida to sponge on her newly discovered grandmother, Rose is quietly distraught at having thrown her out and being unable to find her. However, love enters her life and it is wonderful. Maggie, on the other hand, does a deal with her grandmother and is transformed (rather quickly) by working in a home for the elderly, full of genial refugees from the colder northern states, especially the wise and wisecracking Mrs Lefkowitz (Francine Beers).
The reason the Florida sequences work so well is the presence of Shirley MacLaine?. She gives a finely controlled performance as a strong woman with sensible convictions who wants to rectify the mistakes she has made in her past. Watching her, we realise that she could have a powerful influence on changing the fickle Maggie.
The film ends happily (which has brought down the wrath of some critics who deplore hope as sentimentality).
1. The title? The literal focus on shoes? Rose and her comfort buying, her closet? Maggie, envying the shoes, stealing them, breaking them?
2. The title – and being in another’s shoes?
3. The audience in another’s shoes? Rose’s? Maggie’s? Michael’s? Ella’s?
4. The Philadelphia setting, the city, law offices, apartments, restaurants, homes, socials? The contrast with Florida, the home for the elderly, the apartments, the amenities? The weather, the pool? Hospital? Atmosphere? The musical score?
5. A female perspective, the novelist, Susannah Grant as writer?
6. Rose’s story, the older sister, her age, studying law, driven, always at work, her dowdy appearance? The affair with her boss, the plan for the meeting in Chicago, Simon going instead, her disappointment? Her good friend, Amy, the chats, the advice? Her father, his marrying again, the stepmother’s daughter and talk about her? Her memories of her mother? Her mental condition, her death, deliberate? Her love for Maggie, good friend – yet exasperation? Getting her out of messes?
7. Maggie, the story, younger, no memories of her mother, staying with her father and stepmother, the arguments, being ousted? Her irresponsibility? Drinking, stealing the dog and her mess in the dog wash? The sexual encounters, casual? Going to Rose, the clothes and shoes? The applications for the job, the collage, making the CV, not holding down a job? The money, the television interview, her not being able to read quickly? The failure, the sexual encounter with Rose’s boss, Rose’s anger and ousting her?
8. Audience sympathies with two sisters, identifying with them or not? Maggie’s prospects?
9. Maggie discovering the cards from Ella, the money? Her father and the blame? Her father, his marriage, his wife’s mental illness, feeling that Ella was interfering and controlling, banishing her?
10. Maggie, the arrival in Florida, her expectations, Finance? Talking with Ella, at the pool, the men ogling her? Searching for the money, finding the photos? Ella, the
explanations? Making the deal if Maggie got the job, matching her dollar for dollar?
11. Rose, giving up her law job, walking the dogs, the client’s interested in her doing dog-walking? Returning the dog to the dog wash? Simon, his presence in the company, his attention to Rose, taking her out, the meals, his being a gourmet, her relaxing in his presence, the proposal, her acceptance, his family visit, the bridal shower and her stepmother and the images, her being upset? Not being able to tell Simon about Maggie? His breaking off the engagement?
12. Ella writing to Rose, Rose going to Florida, discovering Maggie there? Her reaction, sharing, talking, gradually changing her attitude?
13. Ella as a character, her work, her friends at the centre, chat, Lewis and his attentions? Maggie, the deal, the advice, the business manager for Maggie? The attentive response of the old women? Her telling Rose and Maggie the stories? Regretting how she acted in the past?
14. Maggie, the work at the hospital, the professor, his blindness, the conversation, reading, the poetry, his praising her? The sadness of her discovery of his death? The encounter with the son and his saying his father spoke of her?
15. Bringing Simon to Florida? His being reunited with Rose, the explanations, the planning, the restaurant, the friends, the wedding?
16. The wedding sequence, everybody happy, Maggie and her reading of the poem? The effect on Rose? Michael and Ella and the mutual apologies?
17. Audiences and the changing attitudes towards Maggie, towards Rose? Being in their shoes?
