Review of After Hours (1985) by Matt P — 06 May 2011

"After Hours" is spellbinding. It's a film that just begins, and when it does, it makes sure not to take the time and slow down to make sure you're keeping up. We follow several hours of one man's crazy night(played by Griffin Dunne), in search for a more interesting life that doesn?M)t involve a monotonous job.

As a simple word processor, Paul Hackett ticks his life away with every dull moment he spends at the office, doing a job we all know he truly dislikes. But once we see him get enticed by a girl he exchanges small talk with, he realize the events that shape his night seem almost supernatural, as if some force is out to get him.

During his misadventure he experiences such horrors as modern art sculpting, a wild punk rock night club, and a band of homosexuals and angry neighbors out to get him for ?bbing?an apartment. The way the sequences play out are hilarious, yet sort of disturbing.

There?M)s a great score by Howard Shore that plays throughout the whole film--whether Paul be running or just sitting at a bar. It?M)s all unnerving, and the music just keeps on ticking as we dive in deeper to the streets of New York at night.

Paul's journey has no initial conclusion, and there?M)s no satisfying end. It?M)s just one big nightmare, and even he wonders why he is embarking on this perilous ?eam.?Dunne is a natural at playing an impatient word processor.

He has the look of a sort of troubled yet ordinary man, entangled in a mystery that most likely won?M)t be solved. One scene even features him on his knees shouting up to the Almighty begging for an explanation.

Director Martin Scorsese won?M)t give it, and ?ter Hours?was his way of venting his anger at ?e Last Temptation of Christ's?failure to launch in 1983. This is a movie with no sympathy, but with dark humor and complex story and acting.

Don?M)t expect any sort of wrap up though, it's just a differently fun movie by famed mob and religious director Scorsese. ?ter Hours?is a film you need to see just laugh at somebody else?M)s misery for a change.

It?M)s not being sardonic--it's just fun.