Themes: Sibling Relationships, Dysfunctional Families, Journey of Self-Discovery
Main Cast: Jerry Adler, Francine Beers, Richard Burgi, Ken Howard, Norman Lloyd, Brooke Smith, Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Feuerstein
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 129 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Curtis Hanson's adaptation of Jennifer Weiner's novel In Her Shoes stars Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz as a pair of very close but very different sisters. Free-wheeling irresponsible Maggie Feller (Diaz) gets through her life thanks to her remarkable looks and her lack of scruples. She constantly goes to her straight-laced, plain-Jane successful lawyer sister Rose (Collette) for financial help. The two sisters have been very close to each other in part because their troubled mother died when they were girls. Right about the same time that Maggie discovers hidden letters that reveal she and Rose have a grandmother, Maggie does something to betray Rose's trust. Maggie sets off for Florida to find the grandmother. A failed workplace romance forces Rose to rethink her career, a career that has been the center of her life. As Rose tentatively begins a new relationship and Maggie gets to know her grandmother (played by Shirley MacLaine), the two learn a dark family secret that helps smooth the path toward reconciliation. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Review
Unlike many adaptations of novels, Curtis Hanson's In Her Shoes feels like the filmmakers retained almost everything that happened in the book. The film is loaded with incidents, events, and behavior. In lesser hands, the sheer amount of all those storytelling materials would sink most films; however, Hanson has proven to be one of the best workmanlike directors of his time. He can work, and work well, in any genre because he understands both how to tell a story and how to put a film together that is always entertaining to watch. As he does with each of his films, Hanson gets superb work from his actors. Cameron Diaz surprises by playing a character almost wholly unsympathetic for much of the film. Her willingness to play a selfish, self-loathing, good-time girl goes against her endearing image, allowing her to improve as an actor without sacrificing an ounce of her sex appeal. Toni Collette believably plays both halves of her ambivalence toward Diaz's character, always tempered by her character's straight-laced, in-control role as the big sister. She gets the best moment in the film when she discovers an act of betrayal committed by her sister and hits her with an insult so perfect that the audience may laugh until a split second later when they realize how devastating a remark it is. Shirley MacLaine shines as the long-lost grandmother of the sisters. While MacLaine has a history of playing larger than life, this time around she plays a very grounded older woman who knows what she is, knows what she has done, and has the strength to try to make things right. Like the two main characters, In Her Shoes is flawed but certainly appealing. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Candice Azzara - Sydelle Feller; Francine Beers - Mrs. Lefkowitz; Alan Blumenfeld - Mr. Stein; Carlease Burke - Elegant Paw Proprietor; Dan Fitzgerald - Altercocker in Golf Cart; Marcia Jean Kurtz - Mrs. Stein; Robert Miller - The Bench; Tony Russo - Tea Dancer; Brooke Smith - Amy; April Stewart - Jerk Hut Staff; Joan Turner - Edie; Jerry Adler - Lewis Feldman; Ken Howard - Michael Feller; Norman Lloyd - The Professor; Benton Jennings - Shoe Salesman; Marilyn Raphael - Mimmy; George Randall - Shuffleboarder; Jon Ingrassia - Bartender; Eric Balfour - Grant; Anson Mount - Todd; Brandon Karrer - Canal House Guy; Richard Burgi - Jim Danvers; Carol Florence - Dog Walking Woman; Andy Powers - Tim; Mary-Pat Green - Diner Waitress; David Shatraw - The Professor's Grandson; Jason Peck - Cuervo Carl; Nicole Randall Johnson - Rose's Assistant; Bill Miller - Shuffleboarder; John Mastrangelo, Sr. - Di Bruno Bros. Cheese Guy; Emilo Mignucci - Di Bruno Bros. Cheese Guy; Terrance Christopher Jones - Lawyer; Kateri Demartino - Ferocious Shopper; Gene Bozzi - Doorman; Karen Vicks - Amtrak Counter Woman; William Spangler - Dog Walking Couple; Maureen Torsney-Weir - Dog Walking Couple; Chihiro Kawamura - Sushi Waitress; Kevin Scott Anthony - Fan at Pat's Cheesesteaks; Salih Abdul-Qawi - Fan at Pat's Cheesesteaks; Earnie Philps - Fan at Pat's Cheesesteaks; Bill Polk - Fan at Pat's Cheesesteaks; Jacquin Rashad Walker - Fan at Pat's Cheesesteaks; Jackie Geary - My Marcia; Jill Saunders - Lopey; Mel Alpern - Rabbi; Richard Ace Jah & the Sons of Ace - Wedding Band; Cebert Hall - Jerk Hut Staff; Ayana Mingo - Jerk Hut Staff; Asabi Rich - Jerk Hut Staff; Carole Robinson - Jerk Hut Staff; Nicola Shirley - Jerk Hut Staff; John Draper - Shuffleboarder; Len D'Errico - Shuffleboarder; Ira Friedman - Shuffleboarder; Mario Santrelli - Shuffleboarder; Ray Sullivan - Shuffleboarder; Ray Wiersema - Shuffleboarder; Dorothy Kelly - Dora; Fran Gellatly - Mrs. Stempel; Jeri Jordan - Jeri; Ruth Byler - Mrs. Haskell; Shirley Beehner - Pool Noodler; Sophie Klein - Pool Noodler; Marie Malocco - Pool Noodler; Betty Ricciardelli - Pool Noodler; Florence Ruprecht - Pool Noodler; Kenneth Beehner - The Bench; Bob Koehler - The Bench; George Rosenberg - The Bench; Fritz Rulli - The Bench; Dale Schwant - The Bench; Jay Bressner - Tea Dancer; Jack Brown - Tea Dancer; Maxine Brown - Tea Dancer; Madeline S. Bruni - Tea Dancer; Rene Godin - Tea Dancer; Sandye Menduke - Tea Dancer; Maureen Solomon - Tea Dancer; Michael Schmidt - Pool Noodler
Credit
John Warnke - Art Director, Jesse Rosenthal - Art Director, Wayne Griffin - Supervising Art Director, Carl Fischer - Boom Operator, David Rubin - Casting, Mike Lemon - Casting, Lori S. Wyman - Casting, Maribeth Rubenstein - Casting, Joann Fregalette Jansen - Choreography, Sandy DeCrescent - Consultant/advisor, Ken Kugler - Conductor, Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda - Co-producer, Erin Upson - Co-producer, Linda S. Cormany - Costume Designer, Kelly Lindquist - Costume Designer, Elizabeth Frank - Costume Designer, Sophie De Rakoff - Costume Designer, Conan Castro, Jr. - Costume Designer, John Wildermuth - First Assistant Director, Curtis Hanson - Director, Lisa Churgin - Editor, Craig Kitson - Editor, Tony Scott - Executive Producer, Carol O'Connell - Hair Styles, Lona Vigi - Hair Styles, Mike Fantasia - Location Manager, Jennifer Radzikowski - Location Manager, Alex Sinclair - Lighting, Sean M. Ginn - Lighting, Dave Lukasik - Lighting, Michael Kelly - Lighting, Kieran Illes - Lighting, Ignacio Trujillo - Lighting, Mark Isham - Composer (Music Score), Carol Fenelon - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sherilyn Stetz - Makeup, Robin Fredriksz - Makeup, Kyle C. Rudolph - Camera Operator, Gary Jay - Camera Operator, Dan Davis - Production Designer, Terry Stacey - Cinematographer, Curtis Hanson - Producer, Ridley Scott - Producer, Carol Fenelon - Producer, Lisa Ellzey - Producer, Gary Ritchie - Recording, Kathaleen McCart - Recording, Anthony D. Parrillo - Set Designer, Petur Hliddal - Sound Mixer, Stephen Krause - Sound Mixer, Jeff Imada - Stunts Coordinator, G.A. Aguilar - Stunts Coordinator, Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda - Unit Production Manager, Cristen Carr Strubbe - Unit Production Manager, Susannah Grant - Screenwriter, Gregg A. Friedman - Production Assistant, Jessica Franks - Production Assistant, Danielle Hartzell - Production Assistant, Tisha Jahnke - Production Assistant, Chad Koch - Production Assistant, Anastacia Nemec - Production Assistant, F. Lee Reynolds - Production Assistant, Chris Withrow - Production Assistant, Paul Young - Production Assistant, Scott A. Jennings - Sound Effects Editor, Jonathon Klein - Sound Effects Editor, Steve McAuliff - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Nick McAuliff - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Spooky Stevens - Unit Publicist, Phillip J. Bartell - Additional Editing, Michael Klimchak - First Assistant Camera, Peter Walts - Gaffer, Donald Reynolds Sr. - Grip, Al M. Castillo - Grip, Jose Santiago - Grip, Ken Carceller - Grip, Scott Hillman - Grip, Brady Majors - Grip, Jake L. Milam - Grip, Edward Pickrell - Grip, Sean Shinneman - Grip, Brad Wilder - Makeup Supervisor, Carlton Kaller - Music Editor, Christy Dimmig - Post Production Supervisor, Shannon Petska - Production Coordinator, Michelle Brattson - Production Coordinator, Gregg Edler - Production Supervisor, Elayne Schneiderman - Production Supervisor, Demian Resnick - Production Supervisor, Trish Gallaher Glenn - Properties Master, Steve Pederson - Re-Recording Mixer, Kevin E. Carpenter - Re-Recording Mixer, Julie Pitkanen - Script Supervisor, Frank Kostenko, Jr. - Second Assistant Director, Diane Calhoun - Second Assistant Director, Paul Sokol - Special Effects Assistant, John Hartigan - Special Effects Coordinator, Kirk R. Gardner - Steadicam Operator, Sidney Baldwin - Still Photographer, David Giammarco - Supervising Sound Editor, Michele Perrone - ADR Editor, Thomas J. O'Connell - ADR Mixer, Rick Canelli - ADR Recordist, Rosa Palomo - Assistant Art Director, Christine Bieselin - Assistant Costumer Designer, Roger M. Awad - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Donny Martino Jr. - Assistant Location Manager, Peter Martorano - Assistant Location Manager, Sherrill Smith - Assistant Location Manager, Chanel Chadock - Assistant Location Manager, Kate Chase - Assistant Location Manager, Steven Lee - Assistant Location Manager, Dan Tipton - Assistant Production Coordinator, Gloria Murphy - Assistant Properties, Adam Austin - Assistant Properties, Bryan D. Garofalo - Assistant Properties, Joe Schiff - Assistant Sound Editor, Rupert Nadeau - Assistant Sound Editor, Kai Morbey - Best Boy Electric, Glenn Davis - Best Boy Electric, Francine Natale - Best Boy Electric, Red Valentine - Best Boy Electric, Gary Schwab - Best Boy Grip, Earl Perque, Jr. - Best Boy Grip, Chris Beattie - Best Boy Grip, Kimberly Rial - Best Boy Grip, Julie Aquino - Buyer, Michael D. Alvarez - Camera Loader, Deanna Brigidi - Casting Assistant, Erica Arvold - Casting Associate, Robert A. Baumgartner - Chief Lighting Technician, John R. Elliott - Construction Coordinator, Michael Metzel - Construction Coordinator, Hope Slepak - Costumes Supervisor, David V. Butler - Dialogue Editor, Bruce Hamme - Dolly Grip, Bill Tricarico - Dolly Grip, Glenn E. Moran - Electrician, Joel A. Ruiz - Electrician, Jason Santelli - Electrician, Mark Sadler - Electrician, Scott J. Sprague - Electrician, Hannah Hempstead - Extra Casting, Chris Bustard - Extra Casting, Alejandra Gravier - First Assistant Accountant, May Kuckro - First Assistant Editor, John Roesch - Foley Artist, Alyson Moore - Foley Artist, Neil Pontecorvo - Greensman, James Breen - Greensman, Benjamin P. Hall - Greensman, Scott Bailey - Leadman, Doug Sieck - Leadman, Michael Calabrese - Leadman, Amro Hamzawi - Personal Assistant, Valentina Aulisi - Personal Assistant, Jordan Sheehan - Personal Assistant, Shane Starr - Personal Assistant, Thomas Sharkey - Personal Assistant, Josh Leith - Personal Assistant, Jesse Lutz - Personal Assistant, Jessica Otto - Personal Assistant, Joanne Woodward - Post Production Accountant, Mike Justice - Post Production Assistant, Peter McManus - Production Accountant, S.R. Conger - Second Assistant Accountant, Merdyce McClaran - Set Dresser, John Armstrong - Transportation Captain, Arry W. Crenshaw - Transportation Captain, Billy Hamilton, Jr. - Transportation Captain, Melvin Turner - Transportation Captain, Jim Chesney - Transportation Coordinator, Mark David Katchur - Transportation Coordinator, Teresa Visinare - Set Decorator, Jennifer Weiner - Book Author, Larry Clause - Construction Foreman, Deluxe Catering, Inc. - Craft Service/Catering, Yvonne Gabrielli - Craft Service/Catering, Hanna Brothers - Craft Service/Catering, Tricia Barnes - Craft Service/Catering, Marc H. Katz - Craft Service/Catering, Hael Pappas - Craft Service/Catering, Mary Jo Lang - Foley Mixer, Gary Burritt - Negative Cutter, Thomas Krueger - Set Medic/First Aid, Chris Walkowiak - Special Effects Foreman, Daniel P. Moore - Video Playback, The Reel Team - Voice Casting, yU+Co - Title Design, Denis Cordova - Properties Maker, Randy Culby - Properties Maker, Robert Brian Elliott - Properties Maker, Rick Heil - Properties Maker
Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and Rose Feller (Toni Collette) are sisters with nothing in common but their shoe size. They were raised by their father Michael (Ken Howard) and stepmother (Candice Azzara) after their mother died in a car accident. Rose is the eldest; a plain and serious lawyer who is protective of Maggie despite her flaws. Maggie is a free spirit who is unable to hold a steady job (due to her difficulties with reading) and turns to alcohol and men for emotional and financial support. Rose grudgingly allows Maggie to move in with her in her Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia apartment when their stepmother throws her out of the house. Their already difficult relationship ends, however, when Rose catches Maggie in bed with Jim (Richard Burgi), her boyfriend. Maggie subsequently disappears from Rose's life.
A few days before, while secretly looking through her father's desk for money, Maggie discovered a bundle of old greeting cards containing cash. She was astonished to discover that the cards were addressed to both her and Rose and were from their grandmother Ella (Shirley MacLaine). Now, homeless and without job prospects, Maggie travels to Delray Beach, Florida to find her and hopefully a new source of income.
When Ella first hears from Maggie, she invites her to stay in her home, partially out of guilt for abandoning her responsibilities as a grandmother. However, as time passes, Ella discovers Maggie trying to take money from her. Maggie asks Ella to finance an acting career for her; Ella agrees to match her salary dollar-for-dollar if she accepts a job with the assisted living section of her grandmother's retirement community. Meanwhile, Rose has decided to quit her job, become a dog-walker, and date Simon Stein (Mark Feuerstein) whom she had previously ignored. They become engaged.
Maggie befriends one of her patients, a blind retired professor of English literature (Norman Lloyd), who has asked Maggie to read Elizabeth Bishop to him[1]. She does so, but with great difficulty. After asking if she is dyslexic, the professor encourages Maggie to continue reading to him while offering emotional support to her. Maggie finds a friend in the professor who does not ridicule her difficulties and helps her to improve. Maggie's confidence grows not only with reading but with her self-image. She also becomes friendly with the residents of the retirement community. Maggie discovers a livelihood that is needed among the elderly women: a personal clothing shopper, an activity for which Maggie shows talent. Ella offers to run the financial aspects of the business. In the process, they become close and resolve their past history.
Meanwhile, problems erupt when Rose refuses to tell Simon about her sister because she is scared that Simon will hate her. Rose sees Jim at a party and whines to him about how he ruined her relationship with her sister and tells him why she can't tell Simon about it. Simon witnesses this and breaks up with her. Rose continues to wear the engagement ring.
Ella secretly contacts Rose and asks her to visit. Rose is excited to hear from her long-lost grandmother, but her pleasure quickly sours when she arrives to find Maggie. Ella reveals that their mother's car 'accident' was suicide (their mother struggled with bipolar disorder and refused to take her medication). Ella never recovered from her death and never resolved her feelings towards her granddaughters, whom she felt contributed to her daughter's difficulties. The three women bond and resolve their complicated past. At Rose's wedding, Ella also reconciles with Michael and Maggie reads a poem[2] to Rose as a wedding gift.
In Her Shoes has received generally positive reviews from critics. In the review of Rotten Tomatoes reported 74% of the positive reviews, based on 149 reviews.[3] In another review, Metacritic reported 60% of positive reviews, based on 36 reviews. Rex Reed in the The New York Observer calls In Her Shoes "pure joy" and "a movie to cherish", arguing that Shirley MacLaine has "found her finest role since the Oscar-winning Terms of Endearment [...] funny and poignant, she uses abundant humanity and smart psychology to great advantage, lending her knowledge to the other actors generously."[4]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times states that the film "starts out with the materials of an ordinary movie and becomes a rather special one. The emotional payoff at the end is earned, not because we see it coming as the inevitable outcome of the plot, but because it arrives out of the blue and yet, once we think about it, makes perfect sense. It tells us something fundamental and important about a character, it allows her to share that something with those she loves, and it does it in a way we could not possibly anticipate. Like a good poem, it blindsides us with the turn it takes right at the end."[5]
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle argues, on the other hand, that the film "is almost a true statement, almost an honest rendering of a sibling relationship and almost not a sentimental Hallmark card of a movie. But it compromises with itself and ends up in a limbo of meaninglessness, with writer Susannah Grant and director Curtis Hanson strenuously pretending to have told one kind of story, when actually they've told quite another."[6] Carino Chocano of the Los Angeles Times concurs, calling the film "a curious movie, hovering for upward of two hours between light and dark, truth and fake uplift, menace and mollycoddling."[7]
