Customer Reviews

Clockwatchers [VHS]

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a mostly overlooked and underrated portrayal of the world of office temps. The beauty of this film is that, rather than hitting us with obvious plot devices, it slowly builds an atmosphere of oppression and monotony. The nameless company that employs and exploits the temps slowly chips away at the dreams, hopes and self-esteem of the characters. They are caught in an anonymous, meaningless life where the silliest of rules are ruthlessly enforced by petty tyrants. What's refreshing about Clockwatchers is the way it exposes the alienation of modern corporate life without resorting to the usual movie cliches. There is no sex, violence or even law suits here. It is seemingly trivial events, like the theft of small personal objects, that builds tension. There is also humor, the kind that fans of Dilbert will appreciate, as when a fired worker objects, "you can't fire me, you don't even know my name!" There is an existentialist feeling to the film, most notably verbalized by Parker Posey (a great addition to any independent film), who says something like, "I don't think anyone cares if I even exist." Clockwatchers is, I think, more than a movie about office temps. It's a commentary on our whole bureaucratic, atomized society. Along with Safe, another of my favorite films of the last decade (I'll proably review that one soon), Clockwatchers is a truly significant film about the modern world.

Reading the other reviews here, I felt compelled to submit my own. Clockwatchers is one of my favorite movies of 1998, perfectly capturing the aimlessness and degradation of being a temporary worker. I can't figure out the current trend of completely inaccurate movie synopses on video boxes (Muriel's Wedding, another Toni Collette favorite, is definitely not the madcap adventure the box would have you believe)... True, there are some truly great comic elements here, but THIS MOVIE IS NOT A COMEDY. i guess some of the other people expected a laff riot--this is definitely not it. Toni Collete's understated performance as sweet-but-shy iris is perfect. Parker Posey is hilarious as usual, playing the bitchy temp veteran. This movie is subtle, complex, well-developed, there is tons of foreshadowing and symbolism, the muzak-y score is perfect... again, this is definitely not a comedy, but it is one of the best and most thoughtful movies I've seen in some time.

As someone who has been both a "perm" and a "temp," I find much in "Clockwatchers" to be completely truthful. Where "Office Space" (a movie I also loved) offered a cathartic revenge fantasy, "Clockwatchers" dares to tell it like it is -- that dead-end jobs really have no way out or up -- even if it is dreary and depressing.

There is humor, but rather than the cartoonish humor of "Office Space," "Clockwatchers" shows the ridiculous in little everyday workplace happenings: playing with the adjustment mechanisms on your chair, popping sheets of bubble wrap, or using Liquid Paper as nail polish.

The weird combination of emotions that these temps go through -- hopelessness and ambition, despair and frivolity, anger mixed with s**t-eating grins -- are extremely realistic and something that those in a similar work situation can probably easily relate to. The performances are outstanding, especially Toni Collette and Parker Posey.

Highly recommended!

The editorial reviewer infers that it might be unlikely that "intelligent, capable women languish" in boring, demeaning office temp work. Apparently, the editorial reviewer has led an advantaged life some place where the economy has always boomed, where everyone has always known what they wanted and gotten it, where business culture is democratic and kind. Clockwatchers, for all its interesting European styling, has pinned down two realities most realistically: life in a business office and what life is like when you are waiting for it to become something, anything. Toni Collette's performance is incredible as is that of the rest of the cast. Their characters are recognizable but not stereotypes. The comedy is gentle, the sound and settings are stark, but the sting of being so invisible you don't even rate the bottom of the totem pole is like a bright flare. I gave this only four stars because some might think it drags (but that is part of its point), and others will never appreciate the fact that yes, for many intelligent women, this is a passage of life. For those who have been stuck in it, it is a vindication, a soft anthem.

You don't need to be an office temp to relate with Clockwatchers. Anyone who has ever worked will understand it. I can relate to everything Iris (Colette) goes through in the film. When someone starts a job, it begins as fun. Then, something comes along to turn it into just another job. That's what makes Clockwatchers a spot on interpretation of our lives. The performances are also great: Colette as the shy one; Kudrow as the man wanting, actress; Posey as the fiesty, outspoken one; and Ubach as a pampered, unknowing bride-to-be. I'm usually not a fan of independant films, but once in a while, one comes along to grab my attention and never let's go until the very end. This one did that. This movie also makes it's point without using excessive language, violence, or sex. After the last indy film I watched (Happiness), I needed a cleansing. This was a nice change of pace. lately, people have been writing discouraging remarks about this film. OK, then, why don't you rent some box office moneymaker for the 10,000th time? That's really original.

A dark comic expose on the control tactics used by the corporate workplace to break a person's spirit. It could also be public school grades 6-12.
4 bright females are caught in the rat race of office temping and finding meaning in their lives. In it's view of female alienation, this film is very indebted to Jane Campion's Sweetie and "that is a good thing."
Fantastic cinematography creates the cold and abstract look of the modern work place where everyone has taken the ideas of lifestyle magazines and personalized them.
Rule number one: dress neat.
If you enjoyed this film you may want to check out Office Space, another film that attacks the de-humanizing world of corporate America.

There is a scene in "Clockwatchers" where Parker Posey sprays breath freshener into the flame of a lighter, scratches her nose, and says to her coworker how hard it is to find a permanent job. These few seconds of acting are among the most devastating I've seen in recent film. They are beautiful, and so is Parker Posey. Every move she makes in this film gushes with brilliance. And her acting is only one of the reasons that this film is a must see. "Clockwatchers" is one of the twenty best films of the 90s.

Clockwatchers is one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. An inspired film full of original ideas, this thought-provoking brilliant satire that makes clever social commentary about how a workplace environment dehumanizes the people who work in it. Underlying the dark humor in the film are some powerful truths about the world of work.

Clockwatchers follows the story four temporary workers Iris, a shy woman contemplating her future in the working world, Margaret a brilliant free spirit whose dynamic personality hides her vulnerabilities, Paula, an older woman running out of time to achieve her dreams of becoming an actress, and Jane, a woman biding time with a job until she gets married to her dream man. Global Credit's indifferent employees don't see them as people with dreams and futures; just butts to fill seats so the company looks busy. So the four bide their time doing mindless tasks in this brain-numbing environment complete with tortuous lite muzak, bright florescent lights and drab gray furniture. Because they're temps no one sees them. To get a semblance visibility from someone in the company the four act in passive aggressive manner at work: Paula constantly breaking the copier with paper clips; Margaret's destroying the desk to state she was there, Jane's constant personal calls and Iris writing in a journal. To cope with the isolation on the job, the four temps become friends and even hang out after work.

As the women start to grow closer, they change: Iris grows out of her shyness, Margaret starts to actualize her potential as a leader, Paula starts making her move on the copier guy and working towards her acting career, and Jane starts to see an identity outside of her future husband. Just when the women are starting to grow, the soul-crushing environment of Global Credit works to break their friendship and their spirits. Even though the company has temps, it hires Cleo, an assistant for the job Margaret wanted and even suggested to management. Ironically, when the temp clique ignores her she begins stealing office objects in the same passive aggressive way to get attention. Minor stuff like mugs and such. This brings the full-time office staff into an uproar. I just love the BS speech made by the CEO about being a "family". Truly hilarious! I love how in that scene the out-of touch executives are shown sitting at a conference table on one side of the room and the employees huddled together tightly next to the door. Just like real life.

The company blames the temps for the thefts and starts to treat them in a more dehumanizing way to ferret out the thief. The humiliating tactics used by management like cameras, to watch the temps ultimately breaks up the relationships of the women. Iris passively watches as Margaret is fired unjustly; Jane escapes through her marriage and Paula gets transferred. Once all her friends are forced out of their jobs Iris starts to stand up for herself. Making herself visible with make-up and a suit her father bought for her, she gets her journal back from Cleo, and then manipulates the managers in such a way so she can get a letter of recommendation for Margaret. At the end of the movie we see Iris make a final transformation into a complete human being. Following her father's advice she never lets go of the memories of her friends from the temp job as she begins her new permanent job at the food company. I believe that's where she went, and this is why she stopped working at Global credit. In addition to the suit her father got her, She wears a gold necklace like Jane, lipstick like Paula, hair like Margaret and a new personality of her own.

This movie on the surface looks like a story about temps and how they deal with the indifferent workplaces they're in however, it's has more layers than that. There's probably more to this movie than I'm writing about, each time I watch it I get something new from it.

Directors Jill Sprecher and writer Karen Sprecher create a perfectly crafted film that looks and feels like real life transpiring in every frame. Production values are top notch for a low budget film. I love the office set design; the drab gray furniture and monotonous Berber carpet contrasting against the white Formica desks and bright florescent lights create an environment that's downright apathetic. The mind destroying lite muzak only adds to the insanity. But what I love most of all are the little touches in the characters' costumes, like Iris wearing no dowdy clothes and makeup, Margaret wearing the same brown rubber sole shoes with every outfit, and Paula's character overdressing and wearing too much makeup just to look younger. I also love how some supporting characters wear the same outfits two and three times. These little touches make this film just that more realistic and distinguish the character's unique personalities.

The acting in this movie is just brilliant. Toni Collette gives an-Oscar level performance as Iris. The understated way she acts truly captures a shy person. You only know how she feels about what's going on at work by watching her subtle facial expressions. Parker Posey also gives an Oscar level performance as Margaret. Posey has such a strong presence that she steals all of the scenes she's in. Lisa Kudrow is in top form here as Paula. Alana Ubach is great as Jane the woman who does nothing, but kill time until the nuptials. Look For Jamie Kennedy in a standout role as the mailroom guy and Debra Jo Rupp as Barbara the evil boss who always goes by the rules regardless of the people who work for her and, David James Elliot as a tall handsome manager who doesn't see anyone under him.

Clockwatchers is a top ten Shawn James Five star Essential Video. If you have a job or are starting one, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE! Mark my words in another four or five years people will be calling this movie a classic. Don't procrastinate; You must buy this DVD for your collection NOW!

When I asked for this for Xmas, my brother was convinced he had mis-heard me and was either asking for "Clockers" or "A Clockwork Orange"....of course I had to explain that I had caught this movie by accident on cable on a lunch break, been riveted to my couch, and ended up blowing off an hour of work so I could finish it. It was that good. People should not be fooled into thinking, however, that this is some laugh-out-loud comedy. There are laughs, but "Clockwatchers" is by and large a dark film. It covers a year in the life of four temp-secretaries who work at a soulless, drab stuck-in-the-1950s ad firm that looks like every schoolroom you grew up in (outstanding set design, down to the frosted ripple glass windows, washed-out pastel tones and antique pencil sharpeners)and is about as much fun to work at. The girls are all trying to escape to better lives and become friends, but as they grow increasingly desperate and humiliated, their friendship, rather than strengthening, begins to crumble. Toni Collette does a great job as Iris, the chief-young-woman-in-transition, trying to figure out who she is and where she is going in a world where she does not seem to matter, while Parker Posey, who rightfully has a cult following (and not just because she's cute, though as long as we're on the subject -- she is, very) is hilarious as the girl who wants a better life but isn't willing to work to get it. All four believe they are invisible and irrelevant, and they are largely proven right as the movie goes on. Their job is dehumanizing drudgery, and those who could mitigate it, by showing them respect and consideration, do the exact opposite. The woman who oversees the temps is every condescending schoolmarm you ever had in fourth grade. The executives are either shallow or vacuous, and talk without listening and smile without meaning it. Even the perfume girl in the department store, who should be an ally, chooses to hide behind snobbery. All the girls want to hear is "I see you" but people keep trampling them as if they don't exist. If all this sounds familiar to you, it may very well be -- "Clockwatchers" is a satire or sorts, but not so exaggerated that one can't relate to it from personal experience. It may not be a "guy" movie, but I'm a guy and I loved it anyway. By the way, did I mention I think Parker Posey is cute?

Saw this in the theatre twice and was screaming with laughter. Although this isn't technically a comedy, anyone who works in an office would be rolling on the floor in recognition of the tedium that sitting behind a desk means. Parker Posey makes me smile anytime she is on the screen, and in this film, she is truly the engine that makes it run. The truly hysterical moment, when after receiving yet another senseless memo, where Posey rolls her chair out into the aisle ripping the memo to shreds and throwing it over her head is classic. Toni Collette is fabulous, the whole cast is, but buy it for Parker Posey. What a treat.