CAREER GIRLS 1997
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1997 Timothy Voon
1 :-( for a bumpy, static movie ride
Cast: Katrin Cartlidge (Hannah), Lynda Steadman (Annie), Kate Byers, Mark Benton (Ricky), Joe Tucker (Adrian) Director: Mike Leigh Producer: Simon Channing-Williams Screenplay: Mike Leigh
When Annie was young she used to speak like this:
"I study psychology you know you know and I got this rash on my face that the boys don't find attractive I don't know why please Miss Bronte Miss Bronte tell me why I have this awful rash open page 183 throw your finger to the winds of fate and it lands on the word 'Heathcliff' I knew it was a stupid and dumb thing to do you know I did you know I did so let's try it with sex anyway Miss Bronte Miss Bronte will I ever get laid open page to 96 it's an empty page damn book as if it had anything good to say anyway about whether I get laid or not sorry Ricky I like you but not in that sort of a way but I have this fantasy about men watching me when I do it do you mind Adrian can we do it can we?"
When Hannah was young she was one very angry lass:
"Stupid bloody idiot I'll hit you I will I really will so shut up and do what I say I'm in charge here so don't F'k with me or I'll bloody hit you I will I'll do what I please so Miss Bronte Miss Bronte I'll do as I please so listen Ricky you stupid imbecile don't F'k with me and stay still Adrian you hear me I like being in control so that means I stay on top you hear me."
You must be wandering at this moment whether Tim Voon has gone temporarily insane, in my defence the above writing styles in some ways embodies how this movie feels. Two students Annie and Hannah, who spent four very troubled and confusing years of college life together, are reunited six years later elegant, mature and much changed career women. So during this weekend of memories, they talk, they dine and they meet past loves and likes in what becomes a rediscovery of the past.
Some concepts I found difficult to palate include: trying to believe the miraculous transformation of two despots like Annie and Hannah, into comprehensible, sane and intelligent persons over a short period of years. Also annoying, is the huge amount of flashbacks and flashforwards between the past and present. This leaves the viewer temporarily stunned by the large amount of friction, caused by the static past and fluid present. However, if such characters do exist in the world, what better than in a Mike Leigh movie.
Timothy Voon e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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