High Heels and Low Lifes (2001) - Synopsis
HIGH HEELS & LOW LIFES follows two best friends, Frances (Mary McCormack) an aspiring actress still waiting for her big break, and Shannon (Minnie Driver), a nurse, struggling to do good with limited resources, who accidentally overhear a heist taking place in their neighbourhood. Frustrated with the way their lives are going, they devise a seemingly simple plan to blackmail the gang. But when one innocent phone call pitches them deep into a criminal world, events spiral out of control and the girls realise that they have taken on far more than they could have ever bargained for. Empowered by their friendship, they use their wits to perfect break-ins, shoot outs and drop-offs as they lure the criminals into an increasingly precarious trap.
Minnie Driver, Oscar-nominated for her role in Good Will Hunting (1997) and whose credits also include Return to Me (1999), Ideal Husband, an (1999) and Governess, the (1998), co-stars with Mary McCormack, last seen starring on Broadway in "Cabaret", with film credits including Broken Hearts Club (2000), Deep Impact (1998) and Private Parts (1997)
Supporting cast include Mark Williams, of BBC 2's "The Fast Show", Shakespeare In Love (1998) and 101 Dalmatians (1996) as police officer Tremaine; Kevin Eldon, whose TV credits include "Big Train" and "Comedy Nation" as Tremaine's sidekick McGill; Kevin McNally, recently seen in Alan Bennett's West End theatre production Lady In The Van and whose filmography includes Entrapment (1999)and Sliding Doors (1998), as criminal kingpin Mason and Human Traffic (1999)'s" Danny Dyer as ill-fated Danny
HIGH HEELS & LOW LIFES is directed by Mel Smith, noted for his international hit comedy Bean (1997) and whose Talkback Productions was bought last month by Pearson Television for £62 million. Originally one of the "Not the Nine O'Clock News" team, his directing credits also include "The Tall Guy" and "Radioland Murders".
The film is written by screenwriter Kim Fuller whose credits include Spice World (1997), successful TV series "Miami 7" and "LA 7" and HBO's "Tracey Takes On".
Barnaby Thompson and Uri Fruchtmann of Fragile Films, responsible for such hits as Spice World (1997), Ideal Husband, an (1999) and Kevin and Perry go large (2000) , serve as the film's producers with Nicky Kentish Barnes, co-producer of gangster No.1 (2000), as co-producer. To bring their vision to the screen they have assembled an impressive creative team which includes Director of Photography Steven Chivers, Production Designer Michael Pickwoad, Costume Designer Jany Temime and Casting Director Rhodes James.
"Kim Fuller has come up with another strong female story and with Mel Smith at the helm, we think this will be a stylish and very funny film showing a London that has rarely been seen in the movies," said Uri Fruchtmann
