The Real Blonde

If there was any justice, Catherine Keener would be on Hollywood's A-list. Until then, we can thank director Tom DiCillo for giving her regular employment. She was Brad Pitt's paramour in Johnny Suede, the frustrated actress in Living in Oblivion and the off-putting phone sex operator in Box of Moonlight. Personal bias admitted, her characteristically winning and engaging performance is the best thing about this romantic comedy set in Manhattan's entertainment and fashion scenes. Bland Matthew Modine is the weakest link as an idealistic (and unemployed) actor whose uncompromising attitude is putting a rift in his six-years-on relationship with Mary (Keener), a make-up artist challenged with soothing the fragile psyches of insecure supermodels. This shambling film has added hip cachet with a parade of memorable cameos by Marlo Thomas, Buck Henry, Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, Denis Leary as a verbally abusive self-defense instructor, and Steve Buscemi, back from Oblivion as the director of a Madonna music video. There are even pivotal roles for Darryl Hannah and Elizabeth Berkley of Showgirls infamy. Recommended, if only for Keener, of course. (K. Lee Benson)