Birthday Girl (2001)

Director: Jez Butterworth

Before They Share A Future, They Have To Survive Her Past

Writer: Jez Butterworth & Tom Butterworth

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ben Chaplin, Vincent Cassell, Mathieu Kassovitz

I find this a bit of a random film. My confusion starts and ends with the fact that Nicole Kidman is in this film. It’s a Film4 movie with writer/directors who have only done a few films before and since. It seems a bit of an odd project for Nicole Kidman to get involved with. Saying that, it is a very funny film. John (Chaplin) seems stuck  single after the break-down of a relationship many years before. He works long hours and lives in a limited area and concludes the only way to find a wife would be to buy one from Russia. Enter, Nicole Kidman as “Nadia”, a chain-smoking Russian beauty who appears not to speak a word of English. Depsite attempts for John to send her back, he finally starts to fall for Nadia (who pulls him in by acting out his deepest sexual fantasies). However, Nadia is actually a conwoman, named Sophia, working with two other Russians Alexei (Cassell) and Yuri (Kassovitz). Together, they get John to rob a bank and John finds himself having to fight to keep Sophia safe and keep their future. The film is odd, funny and not remotely deep but will stop you feeling lonely one late night. Heads up; the Russians are played by one Australian and two French guys lol. For those who want to see British stars in British films we have;  Steve Mangan, Alexander Armstrong, Sally Philips and a brief cameo by Ben Miller.

BEST QHOTE

Nadia: You can’t hurt me more than I’m hurt already.
John: Well, Nadia, if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to give it a bash.

6/10

~ by ejmarquez on October 14, 2009.