| 10 ITEMS OR LESS |
 2006 - USA
Director: Brad Silberling
- Reviewed by Vickie
Set over the course of a day, the film tracks the relationship between a famous Hollywood actor (Morgan Freeman, whose character is never named) and a Spanish check-out girl named Scarlet (Paz Vega), who works in an inner-city ethnic supermarket. Their paths cross when the actor decides to research a possible role by spending time at a grocery store. But when his driver fails to return to fetch him and he realizes to his embarrassment that, as a mega-star, he’s completely incapable of doing ordinary things like getting himself home (can’t remember his own phone number, only has his agents—who are off due to a holiday—to call, etc.), a dilemma arises. Scarlet, meanwhile, is a fantastic little spitfire who, among other things, delivers a great rant about how people constantly try to sneak more than 10 items through her “10 items or less” lane. She wants more for herself than working as a cashier, and she has a job interview to attend, but finds herself saddled with the actor when she offers to drive him home. The duo then embark on a small series of misadventures involving things like Scarlet’s combative ex (Bobby Cannavale), a pit-stop at Target, fine dining at Arby’s and career counseling that applies acting strategies to the interview setting. All the while, as with any movie of this nature, each person learns more about the other… and more about themselves in the process. The success of this entire story relies on its two leads, and both Freeman and Vega turn in wonderful performances. Freeman is light and breezy and funny and wise, while Vega is tough and determined and spirited and lovely. They play off of each other nicely, and have a unique dynamic that totally works as small revelations emerge and new courage is discovered. They also have undeniable chemistry and the filmmakers tread wisely in this area so as not to turn the film into a dreadful love story. Instead, both characters recognize the finite nature of this transient friendship and relish in it while it lasts, in the same way I relished in the film as I watched it gracefully unfold onscreen. |
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Anyone who reads the ‘Pie regularly knows of my love for Brad
Silberling’s 