Die Aushilfe

The stalker from hell was the most popular plot in Hollywood in the early 1990s . In fact come to think of it , it was probably the only Hollywood plot in those days . Never a week went by without a major film studio releasing film featuring a spurned lover from hell , a lodger from hell , a cop from hell a flatmate from hell etc . What I didn`t know was that there was a personal assistant from hell film called THE TEMP untill I saw it on TV the other night .

I`ve got to admit I`ve got a soft spot for these type of movies even though they`re all the same . As you`d expect THE TEMP plays out like the rest of them with an everyman character finding his life falling apart with the climax involving a physical life or death struggle . Timothy Hutton plays the everyman character fairly well in this , and the final scene isn`t as how you`d expect it . Without doubt the best scene involves some public samples of biscuits .

If you like these type of movies you`ll like THE TEMP . If not you won`t

Very suspenseful film stars the Lara Flynn Boyle as a temp who is climbing the corporate ladder faster than her boss (Timothy Hutton) and makes his life a living hell the entire way by sabotaging his work and murdering various executives. Boyle turns in a delightfully wicked performance that rises beyond, and Hutton's performance as Peter Derns is exceptionally true to what any man would do. Lara plays a convincing deadly Diva, along the same lines as some of the greats like Kathy Bates in "Misery", Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction", and Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct." Rarely do you see this many twist and turns in what looks to be a straightforward plot...

Actually I really like this movie! Stunning and popular star Lara Flynn Boyle overtly titillating us and wearing skimpy outfits even including a bikini, Timothy Hutton, habitual scene stealer Oliver Platt during younger and thinner days, superstar Faye Dunaway, and Steven Webber from the TV show "Wings." How's that for voltage? Add in a proved plot-line with a long pedigree, some great whacky dialog, and top it off with the inspired idea of a corporate thriller set in a cookie company with the climax in an industrial kitchen, and yeah... I'll bank that. How could you possibly lose?

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

THE TEMP stars Timothy Hutton as marketing executive, Peter Derns. When his assistant leaves suddenly, the title character, named Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle) arrives to fill in. At first, everything runs swimmingly, due to Kris' amazing skills, and her innate ability to overcome adversity. She seems too good to be true.

When a series of serendipitous "accidents" occur, causing mutilation and death, Peter remains oblivious to the obvious. Meanwhile, Kris starts doing exceptionally well, even attaining executive status!

This movie is as much a black comedy as it is a thriller. It could easily be viewed as a biting satire of big business, climbing the corporate ladder, etc. Hutton's paranoid, everyman character would fit right into the likes of CATCH-22, THE TRIAL, or DR. STRANGELOVE. It helps that Faye Dunaway, who starred in NETWORK, one of the greatest black comedies of all time, has a role as head of the corporation.

A great movie to watch if you've had a terrible day at work...

I found this video in an ex-rental shop, i had never heard of it and bought it for 50 eurocents. When i came home and searched on how people voted for this film. The average vote was not encouraging so i left it on the shelf for months. When i decided to watch it, it was surprisingly good. Not a classic and sometimes very predictable, but never dull. Good performances by the leading characters, especially Laura Flynn Boyle and Faye Dunaway. I rate this film 8 out 0f 10.

THE TEMP is one of those glossy 90s office thrillers that you can watch with one eye closed, walk away from it for a few minutes, come back to it and not miss a thing. Michael Douglas made one of these as well, 1994's DISCLOSURE. Lara Flynn Boyle, the main reason for watching this, plays a nutjob temp who fills in for corporate exec Tim Hutton's regular secretary. Pretty soon, his in-office competitors and acquaintances are dropping like flies, and the very existence of the company is threatened -- all thanks to the evil machinations of the delectable and obsessed Ms. Boyle, who is lots of fun to watch as she slithers about and whispers dire warnings in her boss' ear. Hutton perhaps plays his part a little too straight, but old-timer Faye Dunaway as the beleaguered company head tears up the scenery in every one of her too-few scenes. Dunaway at least knows when she's working a turkey jerky. Try watching Boyle and not think of her in WAYNE'S WORLD, by the way. She played a similar nutjob in that comedy classic.