Writer | Director Holofcener on the set of LOVELY & AMAZING |
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The title of Nicole Holofcener's latest writing | directorial effort, FRIENDS WITH MONEY may actually be a statement as to her present day-lifestyle in comparison with her world ten years ago.
Working now with a generous budget, big name studio, and A+ list actresses (albeit B name actors), Holofcener seems to be retaining her character-dialogue driven, vignette style of filmmaking while moving up the Hollywood ladder.
On the day I spoke with Holofcener on the telephone she was at the airport in Dallas, Texas, just about to board her flight taking her on the next leg of her FRIENDS WITH MONEY publicity tour. Battling a strained throat and mild exhaustion, Holofcener was gracious to grant me a few minutes of her time.
While Holofcener's previous two feature films, WALKING AND TALKING (1996) and LOVELY & AMAZING (2002) were both been well-received from a critical standpoint, their box office attraction tended to lump them within the Indie-Art Film arena.
Yet, Holofcener, who for the past four years has taken time away from feature films to direct episodes of such renowned cable series as "Sex and the City" and "Six Feet Under", does not categorize herself an "art-house film" writer | director.
"Who would label themselves as that?" Holofcener questioned. "How about a brilliant director-that is how I would like to be known."
More amenable to the term "independent," Holofcener remarked, "I am independent in the sense that nobody (referring to the studio—Sony Pictures Classics) told me what to do while filming."
Essentially, Sony Pictures Classics gave her free reign to make all of her own decisions –the only criterion they was that they wanted big names for the lead roles.
Very fortunate with regard to casting, Holofcener was able to get her pick of actresses, an enviable list which included: Catherine Keener—a personal friend of Holofcener's—the two previously worked together on both WALKING AND TALKING and LOVELY 
Holofcener's first film, WALKING AND TALKING |
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& AMAZING; indie favorites—Joan Cusack and Frances McDormand; and Jennifer Aniston, who is quite good at playing the only friend without money in the bunch.
"In the beginning I was insecure and felt compelled to try and prove myself so it certainly helps to have a couple of past films that now speak on my behalf, " stated Holofcener of the respect she has earned among the Hollywood set.
Apparently, she has paid her dues as studios are willing to back her and prominent actors want to be a part of her work and read lines from scripts she has written.
Typically what is true about Holofcener, who the New York Times recently called a "first-rate portraitist," is that she writes about whomever and whatever is presently occupying a pertinent place in her own life.
In addition to the idea of "friends" playing a central role in FRIENDS WITH MONEY so does the notion of "wealth"—how you spend your money, how you view others who have money and what people with money think of those who don't have it.
"Doesn't everybody have issues with money? ....weird idiosyncrasies, lingering psychoses that come up around the subject of money," Holofcener asked in non-rhetorical fashion.
Yet, when queried as to whether she felt people all over the US shared similar thoughts on money, Holofcener, a Los Angeles native and not one to delve too deeply into any one particular subject, stated, "I'm too self-absorbed to know. But I am sure people outside of Los Angeles have issues with money—it is definitely a universal theme."
With regard to depicting the sizable wealth the characters in the film had—Holofcener said, "Rich people require bigger budgets, I wanted to show their affluence – bigger restaurants, more locations, better homes, etc."
Though not able to disclose the exact budget of the film, when asked whether it was small, mid-size or large, Holofcener did state, "In comparison with my others, to me it felt like a big-budget film." 
Holofcener talking with Frances McDormand for FRIENDS WITH MONEY |
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Overall, the film took 24 days to shoot—a relatively short-time span for a feature film. Of the project's brevity, Holofcener admitted, "It was a compromising and grueling schedule trying to coordinate everyone's scenes."
Yet, surprisingly, amid the frenetic pace, Holofcener said, "The set was comfortable, warm and very friendly. It felt as if we were almost having too much fun to call it work."
Making its debut January 2006 at the Sundance Film Festival (Holofcener-an alum of the Sundance Filmmakers' Institute), FRIENDS WITH MONEY received glowing advance commentary from the fest's director, Geoffrey Gilmore, who referred to it as, "A superior example of Sundance quality and sterling specimen of AmerIndie moviemaking at its finest."
In addition, FRIENDS WITH MONEY also garnered favorable media reviews:
• "A movie rich in hilarity, heartbreak, and a sense of life in all-its vibrant, messy sprawl." – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
• Pitch-perfect ensemble comedy that burrows deep into the mind-set of white, upper middle-class Angelinos" – Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
• "Another finely etched, intelligently acted social comedy from Nicole Holofcener, one of America's most casually perceptive filmmakers, her movies are smart and true about the ways people treat one another and themselves." – Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
And while critics have been complimentary, does that mean everyone will appreciate what Holofcener and cast have to say?
"I can't expect everyone to like it. But, I am very proud of the film and grateful for the amazing support it has received." stated Holofcener.
And, hopefully, for those filmgoers among us who appreciate Holofcener's ability to present slice-of-life scenarios and explore the inner dynamics of personal relationships, we won't have to wait another four years for her next film....
Nicole Holofcener on Matchflick
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| Nancy Simon |
A Chicago-based freelance writer and film enthusiast, Nancy has an insatiable curiousity and knack for picking out talented, promising individuals.
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