Thursday 7 May 2015

Thursday Movie Picks - Workplace Movies




It's Thursday so that means it's time for a new Thursday Movie Picks Hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves

Tried to pick a film that many of you may not have seen and one that is worthy of checking out, the film in question Crime d'amou (Love Crime). This examination of the work place focuses on the conniving and manipulative personalities of the ambitious. Kristen Scott Thomas is at her very best in this French thriller. There was a remake (directed by Brain Da Palma), but I haven't seen it.


My next choice is one you probably have seen. Office Space perfectly captures the mundane boredom of a 9-5 office job. Many of the drones work in single cubicles, which is a office plan that is slowing dying out as, I think, as more companies are going for a open space office plan (or at least I think they are). Endlessly quotable and still relevant - in fact it even invented a heavily used meme. 

Another film that depicts an office environment in a comedic way is 9 to 5 which is perhaps more interesting when it's looking at sexism in the work place in the 1980s.


Absolutely rude and endlessly quotable, Glengarry Glen Ross is based on a stage play and depicts the behind the scenes action of a real estate office. Lots of swearing, lots of angry men and the some of the best actors of the 90s (and Alec Baldwin) deliver superb performances.

26 comments:

  1. Though I didn't pick any of them, all of your picks, except Love Crime, were among the first to come to my mind. Haven't heard of the other, but it sounds really good. Excellent picks.

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    1. Glad I picked one you haven't heard of as you always seem to pick movies I've never heard of, haha. Love Crime is worth checking out, not a greatest of films but one I liked.

      Or are you saying you haven't heard of 9 to 5?

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  2. I think Office Space will be popular today. I actually haven't seen the other too, though now I really want to because I like French movies and angry, swearing men. lol

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  3. I went with Office Space, which is like one of my favorite comedies ever.

    Love that you highlighted a KST film I've never heard of, as I LOVE HER SO MUCH so now I really need to watch this.

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    1. Glad I could draw your attention to a previously unknown film.

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  4. I still haven't seen Office Space, but I probably should. This movie Love Crime also sounds like it could be pretty compelling, if intense.

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    1. It is that, Kristin Scott Thomas in particular is in top form.

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  5. These lists would be incomplete without Office Space. It's everywhere for a reason!

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    1. Haha. It's making lots of appearances that's for sure.

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  6. I liked LOVE CRIME* and OFFICE SPACE is one of my favorites. By the way, is your mention of 9 TO 5 cheating?

    *I haven't seen the remake either.

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    1. Umm...9 to 5 isn't an official choice, I am only mentioning a film which I feel is similar and fits the current theme. But it could construed a cheating, but my intentions were perfectly innocent, haha.

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  7. "...lots of angry men and the some of the best actors of the 90s (and Alec Baldwin)..."

    Was that a jab at Baldwin? I hope so, it was really hilarious!

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    1. Haha. It was. Glad someone spotted it.

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  8. Office Space is awesome, I didn't expect to enjoy it so much.

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    1. Indeed. No surprise it's been picked so much

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  9. Great picks with Office Space and Glengarry Glenn Ross! They are both so quotable and capture so many things that are wrong in the workplace.

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    1. Very much so, I like how Office Space invented a Meme.

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  10. Gosh Office Space is everywhere! Since you mentioned it I thought that spot would be filled by 9-5 today. I actually prefer that one though I like Office Space. I've avoided Glengarry like the plague since I hate most things Mamet, maybe some day. I have seen Love Crimes referenced but don't know much about it, however I love KST and I appreciate that you went for the unique. I'll have to chase it down, thanks for the tip.

    In that spirit of highlighting films that might not have been seen I'll offer my three of the week, two of which are pre-60's.

    Soapdish (1991)-It's high time for hilarity on the set of "The Sun Also Sets". Taking place mostly in the offices and sets of the soap with a cast that any show would kill for this shows the day by day insanity that sometimes goes on behind the scenes. Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Shue, Robert Downey, Jr., Carrie Fisher, Kathy Najimy and Teri Hatcher are all brilliant in parts large and small but the two true standouts are Sally Field as Celeste Talbert, the rapidly unspooling America's Sweetheart and Cathy Moriarty as grasping diva Montana Moorehead, she's positively unhinged.

    Desk Set (1957)-Tracy & Hepburn comedy set right at the dawn of the computer age. Kate is the head of a reference department for TV network when efficiency expert Spencer shows up with a proposal to install an electronic brain, as computers were referred to at the time, it takes up an entire room! They spar and do the dance they do so well as they circle each other. One of their best with a delightful, peppery performance by Joan Blondell in support.

    Executive Suite (1954)-When the head of a large furniture manufacturing firm dies suddenly his vice-presidents scramble to see who will assume the presidency. A sharp drama of corporate maneuvering with an all-star cast including William Holden, Fredric March, June Allyson, Shelley Winters and Barbara Stanwyck.

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    1. I preferred Office Space, I felt some of the comedy in 9 to 5 was a little dated for me to fully understand - I.E old technology and so on.

      Nice picks, William Holden reminds of another pick, Network.

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    2. Although I didn't like it very much you're right Network is an excellent fit. I do love William Holden though.

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  11. LOVE CRIME! YES! Love the combo of Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier. Pity about the DePalma remake, though (not bad, exactly, just kind of dull coming from him).

    I love parts of Office Space but not the whole thing. And Glengarry is such a brilliant script by Mamet.

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    1. Yeah. I was surprised it was DePalma, but it could be good. I haven't seen it so in no position to judge

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    2. I didn't know that Passion was a remake...Passion was just awful, the dialogue was just so weird, like a weird translation that didn't flow and make any sense.

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  12. Great choices! I haven't seen Love Crime. I'll add it to my list.

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    1. Awesome, try to add the French one and not the remake.

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  13. Movies are the best way to see a story with the the so experienced actors nowadays
    i enjoy reading so many Noticias de Cine.

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