In Her Shoes (2005)

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writers (WGA):

Jennifer Weiner (novel)
Susannah Grant (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Friends. Rivals. Sisters.

Plot:

Straight-laced Rose breaks off relations with her party girl sister, Maggie, over an indiscretion involving Rose's boyfriend. The chilly atmosphere is broken with the arrival of Ella, the grandmother neither sister knew existed.

Plot Keywords:

Sisters | Grandmother | Shoes | Stepmother | Lawyer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Cameron Diaz	...	Maggie
Anson Mount	...	Todd
Toni Collette	...	Rose
Richard Burgi	...	Jim Danvers
Candice Azzara	...	Sydelle Feller
Brooke Smith	...	Amy
John Mastrangelo Sr.	...	Di Bruno Bros, Cheese Guy
Emilio Mignucci	...	Di Bruno Bros - Cheese Guy
Mark Feuerstein	...	Simon Stein
Terrance Christopher Jones	...	Lawyer
Nicole Randall Johnson	...	Rose's Assistant
Kateri DeMartino	...	Ferocious Shopper (as Kateri Demartino)
Brandon Karrer	...	Canal House Guy
Jon Ingrassia	...	Bartender
Jason Peck	...	Cuervo Carl

Also Known As:

In den Schuhen meiner Schwester (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Ireland:12A | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al. | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-7 | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Czech Republic:U | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Mexico:B15 | Peru:14 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Taiwan:PG-12 | Hungary:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40967) | South Korea:15 | UK:12A | Norway:A

Filming Locations:

Briny Breezes, Florida, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Director Curtis Hanson approached Toni Collette before filming and asked the actress about gaining weight for the part. Collette had complied and proceeded to gain 25 pounds for the part, which she subsequently lost during the film's shooting which is to reflect her character.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Maggie breaks the heel off a pair of her sister's boots, she changes into leather boots (flat-soled) that she had in the car. She proceeds into the dog kennel. When she comes out later, and the car is missing, she is once again in the high-heeled boots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maggie Feller: Your 10-year high school reunion. Everybody wants to make a good impression and I was making mine on Ted, Tad?, whatever...

Movie Connections:

References Rocky (1976)

Soundtrack:

No Regrets

High heels

Maggie Feller is a destructive young woman who has no regards for her sister Rose, or anyone, for that matter, as we meet her. This Maggie is a mess, but what caused her to be that way? One keeps wondering how she could even be related to the meticulous Rose, a lawyer, who seems to be in control of her life. That is, until Maggie appears at Rose's door and disrupts her life, committing the ultimate sin, messing around with her sister's lover! The only thing these sisters have in common is the passion for the fancy shoes Rose loves to buy and Maggie, a penniless girl can't afford.

Curtis Hanson directed this film in which the main characters are women. Men only play a small part in this tale about two young sisters, that in spite of loving each other, grow distant because the carelessness of Maggie. Adapted from the Jennifer Weiner novel of the same title, the movie version was adapted by Susannah Grant.

The main reason for watching this uneven film is Toni Collette, who as Rose, gives one of her most detailed performances in recent memory. Ms. Collette makes us believe she is this woman whose life unravels because her irresponsible sister. Ms. Collette is perfect as the mousy Rose, who secretly would like to be like her sister, but can't bring herself to do it.

Cameron Diaz goes into a transformation in the film. We get a hint of her problems as she auditions for an MTV spot. She has grown into a wild young woman because her mother was not around to supervise, or pay attention to the sisters. But whereas Rose goes to make something of her life, Maggie rebels and does destructive things to herself. It is not until she gets to meet her unknown grandmother that she begins to put her life to good use and in the process discovers what's wrong with her.

Shirley MacLaine is seen in one of the most sedate characters of her screen career as the grandmother Ella. Family problems intervened between her and a son in law that didn't want to have her around at any cost and alienated Ella from her granddaughters. Ms. MacLaine disappears into her role and gives an underplayed performance that sets well with her two co-stars.

While the film could have used some trimming, the first half has a little more spark than the second part, which turns into a formula picture. Curtis Hanson doesn't break any new ground with this film.