"Uptown Girls" is what you might expect to come out in late summer when the studios release the films they think don't quite have the potential or star-power to hold up in the cluttered summer schedule. Oh, yee of little faith. The film is largely marketed as a comedy but it turns out to be more of a drama. It's elements of comedy bring the requisite levity to the story and prevent the film from becoming too heavy handed. Within the typical framework of a finding-your-true-self film lies a star-turning performance that you can't help but love.
What makes this film better than it should have been was definitely the performance of its star, Brittany Murphy. This is Ms. Murphy's first top billing and it was a good project for her to start her leading lady status. The romantic elements of the film remain as the sub-plot giving Ms. Murphy's character much more attention than her love interest, Neal Fox (played by Jesse Spencer). The romance plays as the weakest element of the story. It initiates lustfully and then never really convinces us that they are attracted to each other as their characters continue to interact. The romance seems to fizzle out early on but for reasons which are hard to detect. Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) pursues Neal after his incessant rejections of her. I kinda thought that Molly was so lonely because of the untimely death of her father (a rock'n'roll legend) and mother, that she seeks comfort and affection from Jesse, a rock'n'roller himself. Neal becomes selfish very early on and that prevents us from really wanting Molly and him to get together. However, we do sympathize for Molly and want her to find happiness that actually has substance within her material world. The relationship she develops with the child is far more convincing and identifiable than the one she builds with Neal.
Therefore, the film luckily focuses on the relationship between Molly and Lorraine ("Ray"), a precocious 8-year-old played wonderfully by Dakota Fanning. Both character have disheartening backstories which they come to terms with together as their friendship develops. You truly believe that these two characters come to sense the affinity they share despite their vast contrasts. Molly is a woman who could never grow up since she lost those most dear to her as an 8-year-old and Ray is a child who grew up too fast because she lost those most dear to her as an 8-year-old (her father's in a coma and her mom's a workaholic). They reacted completely contrary to these similar scenarios but their internal struggles remain the same. They both seek affection, compassion, friendship and normality within a life that has always lacked them.
You can't help but bubble inside when Ms. Murphy dawns the screens. Her presence radiates whatever message and emotion the story calls for at that time, whether it's effervescence, ineptitude, despair, confusion, sadness, remorse, empathy, courage, and list could go on and on for there seems to be no limit to Ms. Murphy's range. And Ms. Murphy is one of the better actresses working today who can achieve multiple emotions simultaneously, which is not an easy task for an actor. She has worked so hard throughout her relatively short career with over 40 films and TV guest spots in the past 15 years. She has matured as an actress and a person and worked her heart out to prove her love for her craft. She's gone to great lengths to alter her appearance (which I don't think was necessarily a requirement since her truest talents lie in her acting ability). Unfortunately, Hollywood's A-list actresses are all svelte, beautiful woman (Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez) and that seems to be what the industry requires. Ms. Murphy worked a lot as a slightly rotund yet still quite striking actress but never really elevated to the status of such other female stars. It wasn't until she slimmed down and dyed her hair blond that she got her more notable roles in such recent hits as "8 mile", "Don't Say a Word", and "Just Married". She gets a lot of attention for her new look but she'll always be that extremely talented actress who delivered one outstanding performance after another. Now that she has the total package by Hollywood standards, expect to see a lot more of her in the future. She will surely be paid the money she deserves now and hopefully it won't be too long before she's getting the same money as Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz. Brittany Murphy has more talent in her little finger than Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz combined. I don't believe that Ms. Murphy was ever really concerned with the enormous paycheck judging by all the roles she has taken in smaller films and how much she committed herself to those characters. She's taken on so many challenging personas and broken type for the Hollywood movie star so many times, you must believe she just loves the acting craft and the opportunity to explore characters to her fullest potential.
"Uptown Girls" might not have worked in less capable hands, but Ms. Murphy exudes such energy and emotion, you can't take your eyes off of her. She pulls you in and never lets go. In the film's final scene, she doesn't have a single line, but her face speaks volumes. Throughout the entire film, she captures your heart with her charm and pathos. I sincerely hope that Ms. Murphy continues to challenge herself and take the Hollywood leading lady down a less conventional and predictable road. Her influence is growing and she'll be presented with myriad projects over the next few years and it would be wonderful to watch her side-step the Hollywood cookie cutter and make a mold all her own.
What makes this film better than it should have been was definitely the performance of its star, Brittany Murphy. This is Ms. Murphy's first top billing and it was a good project for her to start her leading lady status. The romantic elements of the film remain as the sub-plot giving Ms. Murphy's character much more attention than her love interest, Neal Fox (played by Jesse Spencer). The romance plays as the weakest element of the story. It initiates lustfully and then never really convinces us that they are attracted to each other as their characters continue to interact. The romance seems to fizzle out early on but for reasons which are hard to detect. Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) pursues Neal after his incessant rejections of her. I kinda thought that Molly was so lonely because of the untimely death of her father (a rock'n'roll legend) and mother, that she seeks comfort and affection from Jesse, a rock'n'roller himself. Neal becomes selfish very early on and that prevents us from really wanting Molly and him to get together. However, we do sympathize for Molly and want her to find happiness that actually has substance within her material world. The relationship she develops with the child is far more convincing and identifiable than the one she builds with Neal.
Therefore, the film luckily focuses on the relationship between Molly and Lorraine ("Ray"), a precocious 8-year-old played wonderfully by Dakota Fanning. Both character have disheartening backstories which they come to terms with together as their friendship develops. You truly believe that these two characters come to sense the affinity they share despite their vast contrasts. Molly is a woman who could never grow up since she lost those most dear to her as an 8-year-old and Ray is a child who grew up too fast because she lost those most dear to her as an 8-year-old (her father's in a coma and her mom's a workaholic). They reacted completely contrary to these similar scenarios but their internal struggles remain the same. They both seek affection, compassion, friendship and normality within a life that has always lacked them.
You can't help but bubble inside when Ms. Murphy dawns the screens. Her presence radiates whatever message and emotion the story calls for at that time, whether it's effervescence, ineptitude, despair, confusion, sadness, remorse, empathy, courage, and list could go on and on for there seems to be no limit to Ms. Murphy's range. And Ms. Murphy is one of the better actresses working today who can achieve multiple emotions simultaneously, which is not an easy task for an actor. She has worked so hard throughout her relatively short career with over 40 films and TV guest spots in the past 15 years. She has matured as an actress and a person and worked her heart out to prove her love for her craft. She's gone to great lengths to alter her appearance (which I don't think was necessarily a requirement since her truest talents lie in her acting ability). Unfortunately, Hollywood's A-list actresses are all svelte, beautiful woman (Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez) and that seems to be what the industry requires. Ms. Murphy worked a lot as a slightly rotund yet still quite striking actress but never really elevated to the status of such other female stars. It wasn't until she slimmed down and dyed her hair blond that she got her more notable roles in such recent hits as "8 mile", "Don't Say a Word", and "Just Married". She gets a lot of attention for her new look but she'll always be that extremely talented actress who delivered one outstanding performance after another. Now that she has the total package by Hollywood standards, expect to see a lot more of her in the future. She will surely be paid the money she deserves now and hopefully it won't be too long before she's getting the same money as Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz. Brittany Murphy has more talent in her little finger than Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz combined. I don't believe that Ms. Murphy was ever really concerned with the enormous paycheck judging by all the roles she has taken in smaller films and how much she committed herself to those characters. She's taken on so many challenging personas and broken type for the Hollywood movie star so many times, you must believe she just loves the acting craft and the opportunity to explore characters to her fullest potential.
"Uptown Girls" might not have worked in less capable hands, but Ms. Murphy exudes such energy and emotion, you can't take your eyes off of her. She pulls you in and never lets go. In the film's final scene, she doesn't have a single line, but her face speaks volumes. Throughout the entire film, she captures your heart with her charm and pathos. I sincerely hope that Ms. Murphy continues to challenge herself and take the Hollywood leading lady down a less conventional and predictable road. Her influence is growing and she'll be presented with myriad projects over the next few years and it would be wonderful to watch her side-step the Hollywood cookie cutter and make a mold all her own.