Search - The Business of Strangers on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Sexual Situations, Alcohol Consumption Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 08/06/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 24 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 8 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama

Two women on different ends of the spectrum of corporate power come together with explosive results in this drama. Julie Styron (Stockard Channing) is a successful executive with a major international corporation who is starting to feel the pressure of her position; she has few friends and no family to buffer her from the responsibilities of her work, and she suspects that the company's CEO is thinking about replacing her. Trying to get one step ahead, she meets with the slightly manipulative headhunter Nick Harris (Frederick Weller). Julie's anxieties come to a head when she has to give a major out-of-town presentation without the help of her assistant Paula Murphy (Julia Stiles), who failed to show up on time. Furious, Julie gives Paula a severe dressing down before firing her, but then Julie is called into a meeting with Nick in which she gets some unexpected news -- she's going to be taking over his job. Eager to celebrate, Julie runs into Paula, and tries to apologize for their earlier encounter by offering her a hotel room for the night and a few drinks. In time, Nick also turns up at the hotel and the women - upon running into him - realize that he is a mutual acquaintance. Later, Paula shares a secret with Julie -- Nick raped one of her friends while they were in college, and since then Paula has pondered taking revenge against him. Julie is eventually drawn into Paula's plan when they encounter Nick later that evening. But there may be more to Paula than meets the eye. The Business of Strangers was the first feature from writer and director Patrick Stettner; the film was shown in competition at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Stockard Channing - Julie Styron
Julia Stiles - Paula Murphy
Frederick Weller - Nick Harris

Julia Stiles and Stockard Channing star in the revenge thriller The Business of Strangers. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, this transfer appears to be solid and very pristine. Without nary a hint of edge enhancement or grain in the image, this transfer features sharp black levels and bright, vivid colors. Overall this is a very commendable job by MGM. Also available on side B is a full-frame version of the film. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English. Since this is not an effects-laden action movie, it's not surprising to find this 5.1 mix to be somewhat subdued. However, what the track lacks in directional effects it makes up for in a crystal-clear soundtrack. Also available on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles. The extra features on The Business of Strangers are at the bare minimum -- the only supplement available on this disc is an original theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide