Shopgirl

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Shopgirl ★★★ 2005 (R)

Writer/actor/ director Steve Martin adapts his novella about a rather bland, disconnected and melancholy 20something glove salesgirl. Mirabelle (Danes) shares an unemotional romance with older rich guy Ray Porter (Martin), then meets Jeremy (Schwartzman), who is perhaps a better (and younger) match. Martin doesn't depart from his previous films, again staying in his beloved LA. Characters are a bit flat, but Martin's flair for words and setting the scene add an artsy, highbrow element that absolutely works. 116m/C DVD . US Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Sam Bottoms, Frances Conroy, Rebecca Pidgeon, Samantha Shelton, Gina Doctor, Clyde Kusatsu, Romy Rosemont, Anne Marie Howard; D: Anand Tucker; W: Steve Martin; C: Peter Suschitzky; M: Barrington Pheloung.