After Hours

I’d love to spend a night like this. It would make for a great story :-D… This is the Scorsese’s film I’ve enjoyed the most. (31/03/2012)

Martin Scorsese is another director that I like, but I have quite a few gaps when it comes to his work. I first met him in the film "Gangs of New York", then I saw the movies "The Aviator" and "Shutter Island" which convinced me that Leo is a great actor. I have yet to see "The Departed", but not "Hugo" and his great story. But his earlier work? In that regard, I really can't say anything, so I decided that I need to fix my Scorsese illiteracy. The film "After Hours" became my first textbook. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/02/po-zaviraci-dobe-1985-80.html (09/04/2013)

Scorsese is very high in my personal ranking of film directors, but this was the first case when I didn't gel with Martin's film. After Hours gives me the impression of an unfunny guy who, after a few drinks, tries to make an impression on a lady. He is annoying, without charisma, just awkwardly trying too hard, and he's simply a nuisance. The story drags and doesn't hold together at all, the screenwriter constantly tries to impress with new ideas, but the situations don't lead to a funny ending, and the characters (mostly having exaggerated and unrealistic personalities) come and go without their micro-stories being fulfilled in any way. Even the two stars I'm giving it are not convincing. Overall impression: 35%. (10/08/2013)

When waking up late at night from the restless sleep of an office rat, Paul has to constantly tell himself that in a few days he will laugh about whatever bad things happen to him, but he can never be entirely sure about that. And thanks to Scorsese’s fondness for the dark corners of cities and of the human psyche, viewers can’t be too sure either. The unsteady transition from comedy to thriller and back is ensured by very steady directing and a well-written screenplay, sooner or later eliminating any doubts about the gratuitousness of any offshoot motif. Everything fits together beautifully, everything is interrelated and it all ends with an amazing office dance scene, an affirmation that, in this case, it was nothing grand, essential or groundbreaking. Just a bit of a filmmaking lark. With the highest level of craftsmanship. Appendix:  Another item on the very long list of films that Timur Bekmambetov took inspiration from when putting Wanted together. 80% (27/08/2012)