Late Watch

I recently viewed this film during the Tribeca Film Festival and I was pleasantly surprised. The film relies on a slew of quirky characters to keep the action moving and it does so with witty dry humor. I have a feeling that this is one of those few gems that get better each time you view it. The characters were so well defined and worked well on so many different levels.

The film centers around a writer named Travis who has just been hired as a security guard. It is all centered around his first day on the job and the odd characters he comes in contact with. Travis did a superb job as the straight man amongst all of the weird people around him.

Overall, the writing was hilarious, the directing was excellent and the acting superb. I was very happy that I had the opportunity to see this little gem of a film.

A very funny ensemble comedy. There are a lot characters, and each are unique and make their mark on the film. The pacing is great and the movie stays consistently funny throughout. It is well written and directed. The cast does a great job. It is kind of like a blue collar "Office Space." This was easily one of the better films at this years Tribeca Film Festival. If you like smart, character driven comedies, then there's no doubt you are gonna like this movie. It's the kind of movie where you have a smile on your face throughout, anticipating what is gonna happen next. I'm sure each viewer will have a different favorite character, another thing that makes this film unique.

I was in New York this past week and was able to secure tickets to the premier of Late Watch at the Tribeca Film Festival. Not really knowing what to expect I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the film. More importantly I wasn't alone. I noticed that the audience agreed with me more more often than not that this is truly a funny film about the quirky existence of the night watchmen. The in depth character development and progression of the story made sense and the interaction between the characters was hilarious. I feel that this film fits right in with other "stoner" comedies like Clerks and Dazed and Confused that should be a staple in every college dorm room.

It's not often that I see an independent film (and I have seen a lot) look so clean and at the same time play so funny. There always seems to be something off. Henry S. Miller's LATE WATCH proves there is hope for the independent thinking filmmaker. The camera moves with ease as we follow Travis (Stephen Daniels), the new late watchman at the warehouse, through an introduction to his collective of strange and perverse colleagues. We are navigated in detail through the warehouse observing the hilarious rituals of the staff over a twelve-hour period. While some films would gloss over character and focus on stereotypical story lines, LATE WATCH takes it time, engulfing us with "filmic" visuals (no stock footage here), which enables the audience to feel as if we are on shift as well. There are plenty of laughs, jumps and sensual overtones combined with a classic and gritty New York realism. It looks great. It sounds perfect(not the norm for independents). Look for this one soon.

Among the many things I liked about Late Watch, a dark comedy following the perambulations and conversations of night shift watchmen and women, I was most gratified to watch actors who obviously enjoyed being actors. It seemed they were all just shy of turning to the camera and doing their best Cheshire cat impressions. Indeed, most of the performances were believable, honest and sincere, which in comedy is not as easy as one might think. Particularly the two leads, Travis and Otto, whose serious discussions on matters inane and unusual brought out-loud laughs to the theater. The pacing was excellent with quick dialog broken by spurts of tedium. Exactly how a night shift guarding a warehouse would be. And it is a treat for those who enjoy playing the reference game, with tidbits of philosophy, pop culture and literary analysis popping up with crisp effect. All in all a funny and entertaining picture which I very much recommend.