Business of Strangers

The Business of Strangers depicts the relationship between two women of different backgrounds and generations over the course of one eventful night. Julie Styron (Channing) is a high-flying company executive, sent by her firm to deliver an important presentation. When her newly appointed assistant, Paula Murphy (Stiles) turns up late, she's promptly fired. Later, and after Styron has unexpectedly been made chief executive of her company, she encounters Paula in the hotel bar. After apologising to her, Styron buys Murphy a drink (and a room). Suitably intrigued by the other, the two women spend some time together. But once sleazy corporate headhunter, Nick Harris (Weller) turns up, things get complicated. A taut, tightly scripted feature, The Business of Strangers has little in the way of pleasing aesthetics - indeed, it seems as though it was penned for the stage rather than the screen. Where it excels however, is with the performances, as both Stiles and Channing do exceptional work with their well-formed characters. Things get a little messy in the final few minutes, but for the most part, The Business of Strangers is an intelligent and well-paced movie that warrants your attention.