Review of Working Girl

Mike Nichols got a brilliant performance out of his leading lady Melanie Griffiths (pre-face-lift version). She must die looking at this picture now: her bum was enormous, her breasts were too small (just like most actresses'), her face and neck were all puffy and OMG! that appalling hair-do at the start: it really stank and could have put you off the picture for all time. However, it gets really good as Nichols lets a strong script speak and teases good performances out of his players. It's all about the "glass ceiling" that prevents secretaries ever breaking out of their shitty jobs and getting into the executive ranks, and it savours an extra element in showing a female executive (guess what?) stealing a great idea from her secretary. It gives a horribly clear glimpse of the sectionalised American society (workers, executives, super-rich) that makes a mockery of the Statue of Liberty past which the working girls sail in the ferry in the opening scene. All-in-all, a strong satirical film that has stood the test of time, even with its idiotic haircuts.