Girl 6

Last updated

Girl 6
Girl six poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Spike Lee
Written by Suzan-Lori Parks
Produced bySpike Lee
Starring
Cinematography Malik Hassan Sayeed
Edited by Sam Pollard
Music by Prince
Production
companies
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • March 22, 1996 (1996-03-22)(United States)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12 million [1]
Box office$4.9 million

Girl 6 is a 1996 American black comedy film produced and directed by Spike Lee. The film stars Theresa Randle, Isaiah Washington, and Lee. Suzan-Lori Parks wrote the screenplay, making it the first film directed by Lee that he did not also write. Directors Quentin Tarantino and Ron Silver make cameo appearances as film directors at a pair of auditions.

Contents

The accompanying soundtrack is composed entirely of songs written by Prince. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. [2]

Plot

Judy, a young and timid African-American aspiring actress living in New York City, attends an audition with Quentin Tarantino for what he describes as "the greatest romantic, African-American film ever made". Judy grows apprehensive when asked to expose her breasts, as the role requires nudity. She reluctantly complies, but feeling uneasy, she storms out of the audition.

Afterwards, Judy's agent Murray, having worked hard to get her an audition with such a prestigious director, furiously drops her from his roster of clients. Her melodramatic acting coach also criticizes her apathy towards her acting art and the entertainment industry overall, insisting that Judy should have simply followed Tarantino's directions. This, coupled with Judy's financial issues preventing her from paying her coach for her services, results in Judy being dropped from her roster of clients as well.

Now unable to secure regular acting work, Judy tries various jobs. She comes across newspaper classified advertisements for a "friendly phone line" and another with the headline "mo' money, mo' money, mo' money", circling both. At a call center specializing in customer service and phone sex, Judy has an interview with Lil, who is assertive but friendly. Judy then attends interviews with other phone sex companies, including one run by a stripper, who offers her the opportunity to work unrestricted in her own home. However, the job would require her to have own private telephone line, which she currently does not have. She decides to keep this opportunity in mind for future reference.

Ultimately, Lil hires Judy as a phone sex operator at the call center. During orientation, Lil explains that although most girls on the team are African-American, they should always pretend to be Caucasian, unless the caller requests otherwise. Under the moniker "Girl 6", Judy immediately settles into her new job. Her sports memorabilia-obsessed cousin and best friend Jimmy, who lives in the same apartment complex as her, worries that her new job might distract her from her acting career. While running errands, Judy occasionally sees her kleptomaniac ex-husband, explaining her current occupation.

Thanks to her new job, Judy has become more confident and uninhibited. She bonds with "Bob Regular", a caller from Arizona who requests her specifically; Judy adopts the nickname "Lovely" especially for him. Unlike other callers, Bob has friendly, platonic conversations with her, mostly about his ailing mother. When Bob tells Judy he is visiting New York on business, they agree to meet in person at Coney Island during her lunch break. As Judy anxiously waits for Bob, a man walks past her; believing the man to be Bob, she calls out to him, but he does not respond. Despondent, Judy leaves.

Shortly after returning to work, Judy receives a disturbing call from a verbally abusive man. Lil, monitoring her call, disconnects him and reminds her to be more careful with the men that call in. Nevertheless, the man reconnects to Judy's line, further harassing her. Judy's job gradually begins to affect her mental health. Noticing Judy's exhaustion, Lil places her on leave so she can rest. Judy, however, now able to obtain a private line, decides to continue her phone sex career at home. She devotes herself fully to her job, ignoring Jimmy's and her ex-husband's attempts to contact her.

One night, Judy engages in a conversation with a sadistic caller who discusses his fantasy of strangling her, soon realizing he is the same abusive man who harassed her earlier. As he reveals that he knows her address, she suffers a breakdown and lashes out at him, much to his delight. Terrified, she runs upstairs to Jimmy's apartment for protection. Judy tells Jimmy she has decided to abandon her phone sex career and move to Los Angeles to resume her acting career. Before leaving, she makes amends with her ex-husband.

In Los Angeles, Judy attends an audition with Ron Silver who, like Tarantino, asks her to bare her breasts. This time, however, she stands up for herself and leaves the audition. Walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she crosses the street towards Grauman's Chinese Theatre, which is showing the film Girl 6.

Cast

Soundtrack

Home media

The film was released on VHS on August 6, 1996, and on DVD on March 7, 2006. [3]

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $4,939,939 domestically. [4]

Critical response

Girl 6 received mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 39% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Girl 6 has a compelling star, a Prince soundtrack, and Spike Lee's vivid style – and, unfortunately, a story that's never as compelling or insightful as it needs to be." [5]

Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars and said, "Even though Spike Lee's Girl 6 was written by a woman, it seems conceived from the point of view of a male caller, who would like to believe that the woman he's hiring by the minute is enjoying their conversation just as much as he is." [6] He added the film's central problem is, "It's about a woman exposing herself for male entertainment, even though it pretends to be about men exposing themselves for female employment." [6] Janet Maslin of The New York Times was more positive, writing, "Spike Lee's Girl 6 doesn't reveal much about its title character, but it does make this clear: Mr. Lee adores her. He shows his fondness for this beautiful heroine (Theresa Randle) by surrounding her with every bit of fun and flattery in his considerable arsenal. Bold colors, a dance track of Prince songs, a parade of wild costumes, good-humored sexual teasing and warmly inviting cinematography by Malik Sayeed all contribute to this comedy's high-energy party mood." [7] Todd McCarthy of Variety said the film lacks "meaningful insight into Girl 6's character", [8] and Rolling Stone 's Peter Travers commented Lee has "sucked the fun out of call-in sex and replaced it with sanctimonious prattle". [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quentin Tarantino</span> American filmmaker (born 1963)

Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American filmmaker. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue often with profanity, and references to popular culture. During Tarantino's career, his films have built a cult following, as well as critical and commercial success; he has been considered "the single most influential director of his generation". He is the recipient of two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and one Palme d'Or.

<i>Pulp Fiction</i> 1994 crime film by Quentin Tarantino

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American independent crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino from a story he conceived with Roger Avary. It tells four intertwining tales of crime and violence in Los Angeles, California. The film stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and Uma Thurman. The title refers to the pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels popular during the mid-20th century, known for their graphic violence and punchy dialogue.

<i>The Goodbye Girl</i> 1977 film directed by Herbert Ross

The Goodbye Girl is a 1977 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross, written by Neil Simon and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings and Paul Benedict. The film, produced by Ray Stark, centers on an odd trio of characters: a struggling actor who has sublet a Manhattan apartment from a friend, the current occupant, and her precocious young daughter.

<i>Jackie Brown</i> 1997 film by Quentin Tarantino

Jackie Brown is a 1997 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, based on the 1992 novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. It stars Pam Grier as Jackie Brown, a flight attendant who smuggles money between the United States and Mexico. Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, and Robert De Niro appear in supporting roles.

<i>Anything Else</i> 2003 film by Woody Allen

Anything Else is a 2003 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, produced by Letty Aronson, and starring Allen, Jason Biggs, Stockard Channing, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon, and Christina Ricci. The film premiered as the opening night selection of the 60th Venice International Film Festival. It was released theatrically in the United States on September 19, 2003, to mixed reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretchen Mol</span> American actress (born 1972)

Gretchen Mol is an American actress. She is known for her role as Gillian Darmody in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014). She also appeared in the films Rounders (1998), Celebrity (1998), The Thirteenth Floor (1999), The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)—in which she played the title character—3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Manchester by the Sea (2016).

<i>Inglourious Basterds</i> 2009 film by Quentin Tarantino

Inglourious Basterds is a 2009 war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger and Mélanie Laurent. The film tells an alternate history story of two converging plots to assassinate Nazi Germany's leadership at a Paris cinema—one through a British operation largely carried out by a team of Jewish American soldiers led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt), and another by French Jewish cinema proprietor Shosanna Dreyfus (Laurent) who seeks to avenge her murdered family. Both are faced against Hans Landa (Waltz), an SS colonel with a fearsome reputation for hunting Jews.

<i>Shes Gotta Have It</i> 1986 American comedy drama film by Spike Lee

She's Gotta Have It is a 1986 American black-and-white comedy drama film written, produced, edited and directed by Spike Lee. Filmed on a small budget and Lee's first feature-length film to be released, it earned positive reviews and launched Lee's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theresa Randle</span> American actress

Theresa Randle is an American actress. She has appeared in films such as Malcolm X (1992), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Space Jam (1996), Spawn (1997) and the Bad Boys franchise (1995–2020).

<i>Breathless</i> (1983 film) 1983 American drama film directed by Jim McBride

Breathless is a 1983 American neo-noir romantic thriller film directed by Jim McBride, written by McBride and L. M. Kit Carson, and starring Richard Gere and Valérie Kaprisky. It is a remake of the 1960 French film of the same name directed by Jean-Luc Godard and written by Godard and François Truffaut. The original film is about an American woman and a French criminal in Paris, while the remake is vice versa in Los Angeles.

<i>I Like It Like That</i> (film) 1994 American film

I Like It Like That is a 1994 American comedy-drama film about the trials and tribulations of a young Puerto Rican couple living in a poverty-stricken New York City neighborhood in the South Bronx. The film stars Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Lisa Vidal, Griffin Dunne, Jesse Borrego and Rita Moreno, and was written and directed by Darnell Martin who, in her filmmaking debut, became the first African-American female filmmaker to take helm of a film produced by a major film studio.

<i>Switchblade Sisters</i> 1975 film

Switchblade Sisters is a 1975 American exploitation action film detailing the lives of high school-aged female gang members. It was directed by Jack Hill and stars Joanne Nail, Robbie Lee and Monica Gayle. The film is also known as The Jezebels, Maggie's Stiletto Sisters and The Warriors II: Las Navajeras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoë Bell</span> New Zealand actress and stunt woman (born 1978)

Zoë E. Bell is a New Zealand stuntwoman and actress. Some of her most notable stunt-work includes doubling for Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess and for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasha Smith</span> American actress, director and producer

Tasha Smith is an American actress. She began her career in a starring role on the NBC comedy series Boston Common (1996–97), and later appeared in numerous movies and television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Landa</span> Inglourious Basterds character

Standartenführer Hans Landa is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 2009 Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Basterds. He is portrayed by Austrian actor Christoph Waltz. For his performance, Waltz received widespread acclaim and won numerous accolades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandra Peabody</span> American talent agent, producer and former actress

Sandra Peabody is an American producer, writer, acting coach, talent agent, and retired actress. Peabody is best known for her role as Mari Collingwood in Wes Craven's directorial debut horror film The Last House on the Left (1972), as well as her subsequent career as a producer of children's programming on cable television, which earned her accolades including an Emmy Award and a CableACE Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quentin Tarantino filmography</span>

Quentin Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer who has directed ten films. He first began his career in the 1980s by directing and writing Love Birds In Bondage and writing, directing and starring in the black-and-white My Best Friend's Birthday, a partially lost amateur short film which was never officially released. He impersonated musician Elvis Presley in a small role in the sitcom The Golden Girls (1988), and briefly appeared in Eddie Presley (1992). As an independent filmmaker, he directed, wrote, and appeared in the violent crime thriller Reservoir Dogs (1992), which tells the story of six strangers brought together for a jewelry heist. Proving to be Tarantino's breakthrough film, it was named the greatest independent film of all time by Empire. Tarantino's screenplay for Tony Scott's True Romance (1993) was nominated for a Saturn Award. Also in 1993, he served as an executive producer for Killing Zoe and wrote two other films.

<i>Adoration</i> (2013 film) 2013 Australian film

Adoration is a 2013 drama film directed by Anne Fontaine. It is Fontaine's first English-language film. It stars Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Ben Mendelsohn, Xavier Samuel, and James Frecheville. The film tells the story of a pair of middle-aged women who are life-long friends and have sex with each other's teenage sons, and the resultant emotional consequences of their ongoing affairs. It is based on a 2003 novella by British writer Doris Lessing called The Grandmothers.

<i>The Hateful Eight</i> 2015 American film by Quentin Tarantino

The Hateful Eight is a 2015 American Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern as eight dubious strangers who seek refuge from a blizzard in a stagecoach stopover some time after the American Civil War.

<i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i> 2019 film by Quentin Tarantino

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood is a 2019 comedy drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Films, and Visiona Romantica and distributed by Sony Pictures, it is a co-production between the United States, United Kingdom, and China. It features a large ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, the film follows a fading actor and his stunt double as they navigate the rapidly changing film industry, with the threat of the Tate murders looming.

References

  1. "Girl 6". The Numbers . Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. "Girl 6". Cannes Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  3. Henderson, Eric (March 24, 2006). "DVD Review: Spike Lee's Girl 6 on Anchor Bay Entertainment". Slant Magazine . Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  4. "Girl 6 (1996)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. "Girl 6". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (March 22, 1996). "Girl 6". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  7. Maslin, Janet (March 22, 1996). "Movie Review – Girl 6 – FILM REVIEW; Finding a Career in Telephone Sex" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  8. McCarthy, Todd (March 17, 1996). "Girl 6". Variety . Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  9. Travers, Peter. "Girl 6". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2023.