Connelly has worked with a number of highly-regarded film-makers over the course of her career; aside from those mentioned in this list, she's shared the set with the likes of Sergio Leone, Dennis Hopper, Walter Salles and Iain Softley. But when she came to work with 1980s icon John Hughes, it wasn't exactly a match made in heaven. What resulted was Career Opportunities, an incredibly annoying, poorly-scripted affair featuring Connelly at her least convincing. Career Opportunities follows the life of lazy "people person" Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley), whose father threatens to put him on a bus to St. Louis if he doesn't land a steady job. Becoming a night janitor at the local Target store, he runs into Josie (Connelly), a spoilt heiress with whom he went to school. The two decide to run away to California, but matters are complicated when two small-time crooks attempt to rob the store with them inside. Career Opportunities is a pretty dismal affair which borrows heavily from Hughes' 1980s hits like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. While its premise is paper-thin and its characters are broad stereotypes, Connelly's performance is one of its weakest elements. Connelly felt uncomfortable on the set, particularly during the gratuitous scene of her suggestively riding a hobby horse (it's more awkward than anything else). Not only does she look uncomfortable, but her delivery is often rushed or nervous and she over-does the spoilt aspect of her character. It's easily her weakest performance, even if it's not all her fault. --- Disagree with my choices? Drop me a comment below or visit Mumby at the Movies for more film reviews.
Freelance copywriter, film buff, community radio presenter. Former host of The Movie Hour podcast (http://www.lionheartradio.com/ and click 'Interviews'), currently presenting on Phonic FM in Exeter (http://www.phonic.fm/). Other loves include theatre, music and test cricket.
