After Hours

No one prepared me for this surreal, anxiety inducing chaotic nightmare of a night. What an thrilling ride this was!

This wasn't a big hit when it came out, but it should have been. Martin Scorsese is a master of creating atmosphere and exploring a specific setting, and he has proved that in movies like Taxi Driver and Gangs of New York. In this film he brings the SoHo of the early to mid 1980s to life in brilliant and surreal fashion. Griffin Dunne is a great Every Man character. You like him from the very first scene and you follow his adventures with excitement and dread. The tension in this film is also intense, and that is amazing for a light hearted comedy. I am always surprised to hear that people have not seen this movie, or that people don't like this movie. I urge all Scorsese fans to see it. It's one of his best, even though many critics did not like it when it came out. It's a cult hit, but it deserves to be more than that too. It's a masterpiece.

Reviews on the "After hours" are quite different, but here it is: once in a couple of years we see a nightmare of being stock in a never ending circle and don't know how to get out of it, but unless other nightmares this very dream turns out to be so adventurous, that it leaves a bitter sweet aftertaste once we wake up and tell about it to our friends. I think Scorsese had a similar nightmare right before he came up with the idea of the "After hours" movie. In spite of all the weirdness and troubles the main character goes through during one night, the movie itself is quite watchable thanks to Scorsese's magical skill of creating action and fun wherever possible and impossible. Oh, and the MOST important part is as follows: for one hour straight I've been thinking "what for God's sake it reminds me of? Have I watched this movie before?" Then, Catherine O'Hara appeared and lights turned on in my brain's memory card: BEETLEJUICE! Nothing from the script, but the genre, humor, weirdness and the whole vibe of the Halloween classics "Beetlejuice", as well as Catherin O'hara resembles the "After hours" on different levels.

'After Hours' is a really dark, nightmarish comedy and is one of Martin Scorsese's most enjoyable films. Griffin Dunne is perfection as the computer operator who meets lovely but ditsy Rosanna Arquette in a diner and arranges to meet her late one night. His journey to downtown New York goes hideously wrong when he loses his taxi fare and spends the rest of the evening trying to get home. Along the way we meet feisty Linda Fiorentino, whimsical Verna Bloom, Gorgeous but hysterical Teri Garr and Dusty Springfield look alike Catherine O'Hara. We also get to witness suicide, murder, robbery and vigilante mobs in this tale of big city madness. The camera-work is stupendous and features every trick in the book. There is much to admire in this film and thankfully it now has a DVD release with a commentary by the Director and star.

Out of all the Scorsese films - I would have to admit this ranks in the top five. After Hours draws you into it's dark and surreal world with fantastical wonder. The characters are all interesting, the acting superb - especially Griffin Dunne - and the pacing is great.

It was made in 1985, and I can already see the techniques Scorsese used in Goodfellas - and the quick editing. It is directed and edited really well. So if you were a fan of Scorsese's frantic camera work in Goodfellas and Casino, this film is for you.

It really does put you on edge - as a viewer, you really want Dunne's character to get back home - but everything possible that could happen to him - happens. This is not just a evocation of soHo in the early 80's - it is a deeply black comedy. All the rules go out the window for Dunne's character, because after all it is after hours.

Scorsese really is the best living director at the moment - so do yourself a favour and watch this movie - it's fantastic.