I finally made up with Claire

I watched Shopgirl (2005) again this weekend. I had gotten it through Netflix months ago. I remember thinking it was better than I expected it to be which is always a pleasant surprise. Part of my problem going into the movie was Claire Danes. I’ve always run lukewarm wit her. Even back in the days of My So Called Life, she slightly annoyed me. I never quite got her appeal.

As years went on, she separated herself from the usual pack of pretty but marginally talented actresses in her generation. She proved herself to be intelligent and thoughtful in her role selection. That’s why I was disappointed to see her audition for the role of The Other Woman. I’m speaking of her badly timed relationship with fine ass Billy Crudup. Usually I don’t care about the personal lives of actors enough to let it effect my movie watching but I thought this was particulary shitty since Crudup’s girlfriend of many years Mary Louise Parker was heavily pregnant with his baby.

Even if the relationship was on the rocks, they were still expecting a baby. Even if she was the bitch of a lifetime, she was pregnant with his baby. Even if Claire is the love of his life, he still owed Parker enough respect to be more discreet with his new love. Walking a few steps behind your paramour doesn’t make it a well-kept secret. The problem with these romances and similar situations is that the public is fickle. We like our celebrities to be adventurous and daring but we turn into puritans when we feel they’ve cross the line. Unfortunately, you can never know where that line will be drawn.

I have to admit none of these players rated on my radar except for Crudup who was a revelation in Almost Famous. I adored his talent and boyish good looks. Putting all of this aside, I did watch Stage Beauty, which was the film that lit the flame and they do have amazing chemistry.

Back to Shopgirl, I found it a delightful little movie. Based on a Steve Martin novella (that’s right The Jerk is a writer), it tells the story of Mirabelle Buttersfield, a Vermont transplant living in Los Angeles who must decide between the suave well-traveled and much older Ray (Steve Martin) and the work-in-progress Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman). It is elegantly shot and moves at a leisurely pace. Schwartzman as always is quirky and lovable as the underdog who must raise his game. I was amazed but Martin brought some to heat to his sex scenes. Danes was great as the heroine who must make life-altering decisions and grow up. It’s worth a watch and when you do, tell me what you think.

Was there an actor whose off-screen antics turned you off their on-screen persona? Feel free to insert Tom Cruise here. I feel it coming.