Corner Office

I did not know what to expect from this film but had seen Apple TV "Severance" so was expecting something along the same lines. However I was refreshingly surprised at the nuisances and tone. The office seems a lot more oppressive and the setting and tone are masterpieces in their own right! Such an extenuation of the corporate office environment possibly of the 1990/2000,s.

I loved the introductory monologues that revealed the thought patterns of the main character and his strategies that any on a spectrum of some sort could relate to when entering a social environment.

The room.was a great representation of a mind space. The colleagues a great representation of the close minded colleagues of the 90 and 2000,s. Thankfully I have observed many an office environment changing. However Office politics always exist and this was a great reflection of that.

For those who have not worked in a corporate environment or understand life on a mental spectrum you may not appreciate the nuisances of this slow burn. But for the rest of us it was an amazing piece of cinema!

I liked it, but then I find movies (and other art forms) concerning the act of work, especially office work, quite engrossing. I can understand why it might seem weird and unremarkable to some. Perhaps you need to have experienced office work, especially in a large, soulless space, toiling for a large, soulless organisation, to appreciate some of the nuances and petty frictions on display here. The more I think about the film, the more it chimes with me. It's one man raging against the machine and finding his own way of managing the profound frustrations of being misunderstood and under-appreciated.

Based on a book, 'The Room' by Swedish author Jonas Karlsson, a dark comedy.

I never found it boring in the least. It depends on your preconceptions going into it I guess? You experience it almost entirely in the head of the protagonist, and his internal monologue. The lead plays this to perfection, though I found myself envisioning Steve Carrell in the role! Its certainly not a thriller, in fact, like (I guess) a typical corporate office environment, its mundane, stifling, repetitive.

So why did I like it? It has you guessing, does the room exist? It has you thinking, why is this man like this? Have I known someone like this, and how did I, and others treat them?

The acting and direction are excellent, you buy into all of the characters as ordinary everyday types. The cinematography and soundtrack are faultless, there is nothing to distract you from the monologue. Its 1 hour 41 minutes occupying the head of a troubled individual, who's increasingly fractious interactions with his fellow workers provides drama and interest enough to keep it interesting.

It's been a while since I watched a real movie. It was sufficient for me to know that John Hamm was starring in a dark comedy for me to watch it with no further information. I do believe its best to just watch it with minimal prior awareness. Just like some excellent movies of yesteryears, this movie will grip you and stay with you even after the end credits roll.

Anybody with a creative bent and also work experience in a corporate environment will quickly warm up to the protagonist and identify with him. Creative people want the same things as others, but others fail to accept the manner in which creative people operate.

The movie is a critique on the culture of supremacy of mediocrity. It isn't that mediocre people are without their little fallacies and foibles, but somehow their issues are ignored. The odd behavior of a creative person, regardless of his or her contribution is however chastised.

If you've had enough years of life experience in the work force, then this movie will provide some catharsis. The protagonist experiences the same fears, pride, and injustices you have experienced and so you feel less alone.

I'd whole heartedly recommend this movie to folks with some professional life experience. If you've got a bit of creativity in you, you'll like this move even more.

In off-centre, dark dramedy "Corner Office" (adapted by Ted Cupper from Jonas Karlsson's book 'The Room') Jon Hamm (always strong) is a new employee (under Christopher Heyerdahl alongside the likes of Danny Pudi & Allison Riley (with Sarah Gafon in support)) at a dull, grey, monolithic corporation, which tho contempory feels backwards & Seventies (in a "Wristcutters: A Love Story" stylee). Told from Hamm's perspective it's soon clear he's mentally ill, imagining for example the plush titular office (which no-one else can see) where he gathers his thoughts. Joachim Back delivers a quirkily interesting film in distinctive style... but it won't be to everyone's taste.