Después de hora

Martin Scorsese has always been a master of kinetic filmmaking but After Hours is really where he starts cranking up the energy even more. This movie is simply alive in a way that most movies aren't. Everyone in it has a story to tell and we're ready to hear them all.

From the cocktail waitress who seems stuck in the 1960s to the ice cream truck driver who wears a rape whistle to the stoic bouncer outside the punk bar and of course the sculptor who lives under the bar and has no scruples about using live subjects, there are so many weirdos in this film it's fantastic.

I've seen plenty of New York movie but I'm not sure I've ever seen any make the city feel so oppressively large. There's a great sense of space in this film and it genuinely feels hopeless for Paul to try to get home, which could sound like a dumb premise for a movie until you see it handled here. The journey is downright epic and Scorsese uses every visual technique he learned in school to keep the tempo cruising through this long trip.

I wasn't bored for a second at any point during After Hours and you won't be either. This film is alive and Thelma Schoonmaker does maybe the best work of her great career at an editing bay. She should've gotten an Oscar nomination. This film is simply a master class in pacing.

This is one of Scorsese's lesser known films which is a travesty. Griffin Dunne plays a cubicle working blue collar- the type that was so rampant in the mid 80s, who accidently experiences a series of bizarre misadventures in New York City. This is not typical Scorsese fare and one reason it works is because of the legendary filmmaker's deft skills- the atmosphere is amazing as is the pacing of the film. The protagonist is relatable in an everyman lost and confused kind of way. Like a bad dream or surreal experience After Hours is one hell of a ride. As stated in the opening line of this review- it is a travesty that more people aren't aware of this film.

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 starts off tame but slowly gets more and more strange. In general this is an entertaining movie and it will keep you guessing especially the first half of the movie. But tends to fall off towards the end.

Directing is well done, the quintessential dolly zoom on characters isn't missing here, a Scorsese trademark it seems. I love it though and it adds such a level of interest and importance to characters. There's some rotating shots and pans, some cool stuff. Lot's of variety. But nothing felt too special.

Music selection is great, no original score, just actual music from classical to punk rock and oldies. Scorsese does this a lot and they definitely liven up the scenes. Though the acting is the strongest factor for that here.

Acting is great and everyone has got this weird thing about them, none of the characters feel like they can be trusted except the main character and it makes it all the more weird when watching. There's always some way they blow up about something or act odd. It makes for entertaining characters and conversations which of course this movie needs considering it's 90% that. It's character heavy and the characters that are there are fine and acted well.

The ''story''... or more so an experience that main character goes through, is engaging. There's all these links between everyone but whilst some of them work others are just there for the only reason to have a link, even if it makes little sense. In general I think most of the linkage was odd. But I have at theory about all the events that happen, it seems like this entire experience was some sort of play on Hackett. Like everything was set up, like some weird artistic endeavor where they put a random guy in the middle of their art ''show''. Especially towards the end when he meets June. And the room he goes into with all the plaster, on the left in that scene you can see a stack of those bagel cream cheese whatever -paper weights like they were prepared for something. It would explain all the links. And the lack of follow up on the dead girlfriend from the police. And all the timing and distractions from the people he encountered.

That said that's just a theory. It's never said or anything. Generally though it was a pretty good movie.

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.