SEX AND THE CITY
US, 2008, 148 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristen Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candice Bergen, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Jason Lewis, Joanna Gleason.
Directed by Michael Patrick King.
This is one of those highly anticipated blockbuster events that is review proof. Since the television series was so popular for five years and won so many awards, it had an enormous following worldwide. And the fans will be lining up for this film and, with its two and a half hour length, they can indulge in nostalgia and enjoyment. For those who have not seen the series and find themselves watching the film, the screenplay does its best to introduce the characters and fill in the background of how they got to this stage of their lives – but some audiences may find it difficult to sustain interest in these characters for such a long time.
The target audience is women and women who are middle-aged and older.
The emphasis is certainly on the city, New York. It is a star in its own right. This is where three of the famous four girls (now forty-something women) live while the fourth lives in (and criticises) Los Angeles.
The emphasis is also on the Sex of the title, but, compared with so many films, this is quite restrained with a few breakout moments to emphasise Samantha’s roving eye and appetites. In fact, by the end of the film, traditional values have been affirmed, especially as regards marriage and commitment – which may also help to explain its wide appeal.
Sarah Jessica Parker as writer, Carrie Bradshaw, produced the filmand carries the plotline with her voiceover and her own story being at the centre, the other women being supportive of her. She has been with the millionaire Big (Chris Noth looking like – and acting like – a latterday Victor Mature) – for ten years. The question of marriage arises but is waylaid for a time. Charlotte (who is prone to outbursts of laughter, excited squealing and eating only American made products during a trip to Mexico with dire stomach results) is happily married, has adopted a child and is pregnant. She (Kristen Davis) is able to say that she is happy every day. Lawyer Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is married with a son but experiences betrayal and separation. Her story is the most interesting.
Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is living with what is generally called a hunk – who looks it but actually speaks and acts with more presence and sense than a hunk.
The story is slight as stories go. It is the girl-power in the friendship through thick and thin for so many years that is the core of the film. The other aspect is fashion, and even more fashion – glamorous clothes galore. Somebody remarked that one of the underlying principles of this kind of story is that ‘expensive is good’ – which will certainly irritate the more social-justice-minded amongst us. Which means that Sex and the City, despite its yearning for love and commitment, is a glossy would-be fantasy-fulfilment of the American dream.
1.The popularity of the television series? Its appeal? Its audience?
2.The series as a film, the running time, for fans, for others?
3.New York City and its gloss, homes and restaurants, fashion, the cityscapes, the musical score?
4.The women, their age, the introduction filling in the past, the situations, characters, in themselves, as a group, the bonding? Age and experience, marriage or not, sex and commitment, talk, chat gossip? Girl-talk like the discussions about waxing …? How serious?
5.Carrie Bradshaw, the voice-over, her telling the stories, her perspective?
6.The importance of fashion, clothes, expensive clothes, accessories, a consumerist mentality, a self-focused group?
7.The meetings, the talk, advice, sharing? Samantha and her life in Los Angeles? Visits to New York? Shopping, preparations for the wedding, the party, the experience of jilting, the group’s reaction?
8.Carrie’s story, as a writer, success, her books? Her relationship with Big? The past, sharing with him? The apartment, the new apartment and the visit, his buying it, the issue of the closet, his making a new one, the women helping her pack, moving, chat, with Big and the discussion about marriage, the agreement, the plan? The issue of the list, the helpers, the expanding list, the dress, Vogue editor and the photo shoot, the glamour of the shoot, the discussions about her life? The wedding, Big and his reaction? The night before, the party? Her being jilted and her reaction? The blame? Her weeping, going to Mexico with the group, sad, laughing at Charlotte’s accident? The return? Her relationship with the others, Miranda and the revelation of her secret, her anger? Miranda and her husband and Carrie telling her to get back with him? The chance meeting, with Big? Getting the secretary, the letters, organising her life, discovering the truth about Big’s messages? His being sorry, their getting together? The reasons or not for marriage? The registry office, their friends present, commitment?
9.Big as rich, silent, three times married, supporting Carrie, the agreement to the wedding, the preparations, cold feet, in the car in the street, his messages, the encounter with Charlotte and her attacking him, the meeting with Carrie, getting together again, the apartment, the closet, the wedding?
10.Charlotte and her husband, as characters, adoption, the Asian child, the family atmosphere, her becoming pregnant? Her attitude towards Big? In Mexico, the discussions about food, her accident? Her plan on meeting Big and cursing him? The water breaking, going to the hospital, Big and his helping out, her happiness with the baby?
11.Miranda and her work, strong, her son, bond with her husband, the lack of sexual engagement, her husband’s confession, her being hurt, moving out, with her son? Her hard line, his coming to the party, his pleas, his character? Gatecrashing, Miranda’s words to Big? Her not telling Carrie? The aftermath, in Mexico, feeling bad? Her husband’s attempts to reconcile, Carrie’s advice, going to the counsellor, their discussions, the plan to meet on the bridge, their meeting each other, reconciliation, forgiveness?
12.Samantha and her style, older than the others, her preoccupation with sex, her dialogue and innuendo, getting the dog – and the sex jokes? Los Angeles and her work, living in luxury? Her relationship with Smith? Going to New York, the many visits, the phone calls? Reassessing her relationship with Smith, the sushi episode, the phone calls? Her decision, breaking with Smith? Her neighbour, sexy, nudity, her refusing him? Her final decisions?
13.The world of these women, their friends, the gay friends, the Vogue fashion shoot …?
14.A glossy world, self-preoccupied, affluent, “Expensive is good” – but, with Samantha’s fiftieth birthday, an admission of age, reflection on life and marriage and commitment?
