Clockwatchers (1997)

Directed by Jill Sprecher. Starring Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, Alanna Ubach, Debra Jo Rupp, Bob Balaban, Helen Fitzgerald, Jamie Kennedy, Paul Dooley, Stanley DeSantis, David James Elliott. [PG-13]

Bitter, low-key seriocomedy centered on a group of temps working for a big, faceless credit company. It’s supposed to just be “another stop” for them on their way to better things, but office politics, bureaucratic dehumanization, and other influences straight out of Orwell and Kafka either beat them down or drive them to (minor) rebellion. The malaise felt by timid, frumpy Collette—essentially our reticent window into this world—creeps into the movie’s texture, so it’s bound to turn off certain viewers while speaking loud and clear to others. Those with experience in an office environment will recognize numerous truths (and, depending on how fresh the wounds are, should offer cynical chuckles aplenty), but the movie falters at developing credible camaraderie among these short-term employees, and the only one with a consistent spark of sordid life is Posey; Collette’s personal life away from work is shown on a few occasions, but the details are bread crumbs that lead nowhere. Written by the director with sister Jill Sprecher. Released in Australia almost a full year before arriving Stateside.

63/100