I saw the ending of this film before I saw anything else, so I was misled as to the exact nature of what was going on. As a result, there were more surprises than I expected. And some plot twists that I didn't see coming. So for me seeing the entire film was like watching a Columbo murder mystery--I knew what the result was going to be, but not how the movie would get there.
Having said that, I think Whoopi Goldberg did a wonderful job. Her scenes as 'Robert Cutty' were especially good, even though the movie turned out to be more about explaining his absence rather than actually showing the mystery man.
But I really enjoyed Laurel's efforts to come up with ideas and get the ideas into the hands of those who counted. She had to be so creative to get anything done, even making up a name for her partner under pressure. Like Robin Williams' character in 'Mrs. Doubtfire', she used the first name she saw, as a bartender poured Cutty whiskey.
And the makeup job, if that is what it was, looked almost as professional as Mrs. Doubtfire's. Goldberg was quite convincing as a slightly effeminate Wall Street whiz.
Dianne Wiest did an outstanding job as Sally, the secretary to Frank and later Laurel. Yes, I said secretary. I'm sick and tired of hearing the word 'assistant' used for the position. As long as one doesn't work for the likes of Frank, the term 'secretary' does not have to refer to a meaningless job where one is unappreciated. And Sally made the most of her job with Laurel, becoming much more than 'just' a secretary.
Eli Wallach did a great job as Fallon, one of the Wall Street suits who finally had to listen to Laurel--but only because of Cutty. Bebe Neuwirth also shined as one of the people who allowed Laurel to pass along 'secrets' and make Cutty look good. Timothy Daly, on the other hand, just made Frank look like a jerk. Fine, they achieved their goal if that's what it was, but to me it was a performance that belonged in a bad TV-movie. Don't misunderstand; I like bad TV-movies like this and I liked to hate Frank, but this was a well-done theatrical film.
The plot twists were interesting if not particularly realistic, though I have to wonder if a person could get in real trouble for what Laurel did. The SEC did not know precisely what she was doing, and it was never made clear whether they cleared her, though in a movie I suppose anything's possible.
Overall I was very happy.
Having said that, I think Whoopi Goldberg did a wonderful job. Her scenes as 'Robert Cutty' were especially good, even though the movie turned out to be more about explaining his absence rather than actually showing the mystery man.
But I really enjoyed Laurel's efforts to come up with ideas and get the ideas into the hands of those who counted. She had to be so creative to get anything done, even making up a name for her partner under pressure. Like Robin Williams' character in 'Mrs. Doubtfire', she used the first name she saw, as a bartender poured Cutty whiskey.
And the makeup job, if that is what it was, looked almost as professional as Mrs. Doubtfire's. Goldberg was quite convincing as a slightly effeminate Wall Street whiz.
Dianne Wiest did an outstanding job as Sally, the secretary to Frank and later Laurel. Yes, I said secretary. I'm sick and tired of hearing the word 'assistant' used for the position. As long as one doesn't work for the likes of Frank, the term 'secretary' does not have to refer to a meaningless job where one is unappreciated. And Sally made the most of her job with Laurel, becoming much more than 'just' a secretary.
Eli Wallach did a great job as Fallon, one of the Wall Street suits who finally had to listen to Laurel--but only because of Cutty. Bebe Neuwirth also shined as one of the people who allowed Laurel to pass along 'secrets' and make Cutty look good. Timothy Daly, on the other hand, just made Frank look like a jerk. Fine, they achieved their goal if that's what it was, but to me it was a performance that belonged in a bad TV-movie. Don't misunderstand; I like bad TV-movies like this and I liked to hate Frank, but this was a well-done theatrical film.
The plot twists were interesting if not particularly realistic, though I have to wonder if a person could get in real trouble for what Laurel did. The SEC did not know precisely what she was doing, and it was never made clear whether they cleared her, though in a movie I suppose anything's possible.
Overall I was very happy.