The Business of Strangers

The witty feature début of Stettner (who also wrote the screenplay) has been described as the female version of IN THE COMPANY OF MEN. But though it shares a similarity of title, THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS is more sharp character study than Darwinian demonstration, albeit set within the cut-throat culture of corporate America. The film centres on another amazing performance from Channing, who seems to get even better with each new role. She plays Julie, a high-flying sales exec whose presentation at another important meeting is marred by her assistant’s late arrival with the materials. For which the assistant (Stiles) is promptly fired. But the two soon meet again, with very different result.