Le ragazze della notte

I got a sneak preview of this film at the Chicago International Film Festival. The producers of the film and Brenda Blethyn made an appearance (she is thinner and a lot prettier in real life IMO). Then the film started. Was I embarrassed for all involved! I guess I was expecting more from a film that featured both her and Julie Walters. Instead we have a middle of the road boo-hoo fest with more formulas than a chemistry class. We even get an embarrassing in-your-face sex scene with Ms. Walters that was totally unnecessary. You can skip this one. Blethyn and Walters have done a lot better before and since this one.

40-year best friends, co-workers and sisters-in-law, make it out of their British working class neighborhood for a fantasy trip to Las Vegas, tempered by the fact that one of them is dying. Director Nick Hurran and writer Kay Mellor combine quite a number of different ingredients here (including illness, men-vs.-women, factory life, family problems, financial windfalls, travelogue and lovestruck cowboys); and yet, despite some missteps, this weeper from the UK is a worthwhile journey anchored by terrific performances. Playing the firebrand and ill-tempered man-chaser, Julie Walters tones down her sometimes-brash personality and has several beautifully realized moments. As her "mate", Brenda Blethyn juggles the more standardized clichés of a character with a limited amount of time left (she's brave, she glows, she's suddenly strong and charts her own course); however, Blethyn is very engaging and works so naturally and easily with Walters that their friendship strikes nary a false note. Hurran's dreamy framing of this story, with a puzzling introduction, may put some viewers off, but those who stick with it will find a rewarding drama about friendship and love. These themes have been touched on before in films--and true, there isn't much originality or surprises in Mellor's script--yet the bumps in the road are actually rather endearing, and by the end of "Girls' Night" I was moved by the thoughtfully worked-out transition of the plotting. It's a minor gem. *** from ****

Girls' Night is a revelation, a subtle and masterful little film that builds slowly, creating beautifully nuanced characters, and ultimately delivering a deeply-felt emotional wallop thanks to the magnificent performances of its two stars, Brenda Blethyn and Julie Walters. The power between them is so intense, so true and so pure that the energy of it literally sears through the screen.

I love this film and have been searching for a copy for years. it shows a real gritty interpretation of Northan British working class life. I viewed this film with no idea what it was about and have to say it will one day be part of my permanent film collection. If you are British or want a good depiction of Britain's ordinary Northerners this is a great movie. I will admit that a critic or someone who is going to pull it apart, there will be short comings. However as a wonderfully atmospheric and moving all round piece it is just truly splendid, Julie Walters performance was as always just brilliant and together with Brenda, the chemistry for me worked fantastically. Also the ending was unexpected and really rounded it off nicely. I just love it thank you to everyone involved for bringing this quaint and humble story into my life.

Girl's Night is a bit sentimental for my taste and there were fewer funny lines than I expected but the performances are the thing and both "girls" are superb and great foils for one another.I particularly enjoyed the Las Vegas section as I was there last year so it all came back.