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'Friends with Money': A wealth of fine performances

Money may or may not make the world go 'round, but it certainly can make a world of difference in our relationships with our friends, our lovers, our spouses and our whiny, insecure inner selves.

"Friends with Money" is a beautifully acted, astutely observed character piece from Nicole Holofcener who previously gave us "Walking and Talking" and "Lovely & Amazing," two other fine films about females and friendship.

Sony Pictures Classics 'Friends With Money' B The verdict: Offers an embarrasment of riches, starting with its top-notch cast. Director: Nicole Holofcener Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Jason Isaacs Run time: 88 minutes Release date: April 7, 2006 Rating: R for language, some sexual content and brief drug use. See showtimes Meet the director Five good reasons you'd want to be Nicole Holofcener's friend. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Friends With Money'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Her newest effort isn't ,well, as lovely and amazing as the previous two. Still, it's a thoughtful, funny film whose especially appealing cast makes up for what it lacks in plot. And given all the blow-'em-up extravaganzas and chopped-up-teens pictures out there, it's wonderful to finally have a movie that's about people you might know, with problems you might recognize. Even if the people live in Los Angeles and tend to have L.A.-scaled problems.

Wealthy Franny (Joan Cusack) is happily married to Matt (Greg Germann). Their biggest problem is, what charity should they donate their big bucks to this year and what sort of silent auction items can they round up to match the sweater hand-knitted by Reese Witherspoon.

Middlingly well-off Christine (Catherine Keener) is unhappily married to David (Jason Isaacs). Their biggest problem is, they're a constantly bickering screenwriting team, who are trying to replace the hole in their marriage with a second-floor new addition to their home — which effectively blocks their neighbors' view of the Pacific.

Somewhere between Franny and Christine is Jane (Frances McDormand), whose marriage to Aaron (Simon McBurney) would be perfectly happy if she weren't so perfectly unhappy with the world. A hugely successful fashion designer, she's finding 40-plus to be no plus whatsoever and she's having problems with everything from people cutting in line to drivers who steal parking spaces.

Finally, there's the now near-indigent Olivia (Jennifer Aniston), who gave up her job teaching at a posh school (her own students ragged her for being poor) to work as a maid. She has problems with everything, too — from men who treat her badly to her women pals who disapprove of both her new profession and her renewed passion for smoking pot.

At heart, Holofcener's film is less about money than it is about middle-age. Not the usual cosmetic concerns (facelifts are not an issue here), but, where you are in your life; how do you relate to friends you've known forever, when you're no longer the same people you were when you first became pals. And do you want to keep on doing the same thing or is it time for a change, be it a job or a marriage?

"Friends with Money" can be awfully funny in that "Seinfeld-ian" petty-annoyances way. Jane and her parking spot tantrums. Aaron's great taste in clothes and food, which means he's always getting hit on by gay guys. Olivia's badder-than-bad blind date who leaves her sitting alone for most of the evening while he chats up a woman he knew in high school.

Yet it's also achingly serious. A stumblebum who's always knocking into things, Christine bitterly wonders aloud if, just once, David could ask if she's OK. Having endured another of his wife's litany of complaints, Aaron, though he loves her truly, madly, deeply, exasperatedly asks, "What terrible injustice was done to you?"

Good question. But it's not injustices, it's life that's making these friends a little nutty.

And yet there are moments of unexpected grace.

Typically, after a group dinner, each couple separately dissects what was said and what went on. Near the movie's end, with things either not especially tied up or too neatly finished off (a flaw), the filmmaker allows several of her characters a lovely moment of completeness. "You were the prettiest one there," their men tell them on the way home.

Sometimes being told you were the prettiest (or handsomest) one there is all you need to hear. From the right person. At the right time. "Friends with Money" reminds us how important finding those people — and recognizing those moments — are.