Rosanna Arquette in After Hours (1985)
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One of the most desperately uncomfortable and uncomfortably hilarious dark comedies ever conceived, Martin Scorsese’s After Hours is unlike any comedy you’ve ever seen and most certainly one you won’t soon forget. Sadly overlooked upon its 1985 theatrical release, the film has since enjoyed a stunningly healthy life as a massively adored cult classic. (Mention this movie to a film freak between the ages of 25 and 40; watch their reaction.)
Griffin Dunne is your typical New York office drone, one whose lethargy is briefly interrupted by the sight of a pretty blonde in a diner. Paul and Marcy (Rosanna Arquette, at perhaps the cutest she’s ever been - which is saying something) share the same taste in reading materials (Henry Miller) and both seem lonely enough, so they make plans to meet at her massive studio apartment later that night. Now, one wouldn’t think that a 15-mile trek could prove to be a chore of biblical proportions, but if you think that way - you’ve obviously never seen After Hours. Paul loses his money, indirectly causes Marcy to overdose on drugs, contends with two determined burglars, unwittingly romances a bizarre actress stuck in the sixties, nearly causes a late-night riot, finds himself encased in a papier-mâché statue, and (above all else) simply CANNOT get back home. Sounds funny? Damn right!
Dunne delivers the best work of his career as Paul, a faceless (yet still sympathetic) everyman who learns - the hard way - that he’s not really ‘up’ for life in the big city. His nighttime insanity just keeps spiraling further out of control, while viewers find themselves darkly tickled one moment and virtually incredulous the next. “What ELSE can go wrong for this guy?” is a thought that will cross your mind more than once. The supporting cast is a who’s-who of colorful goofballs, including Verna Bloom, Teri Garr, Catherine O’ Hara, Linda Fiorentino, John Heard, Will Patton, Dick Miller, and Cheech and Chong - each one of whom bring their own distinct brand of inspired lunacy to the movie. (Fiorentino and Garr stand out most in my mind.)
It’s rare to find comedy this deliciously painful to sit through, but I consider After Hours easily one of Scorsese’s best ‘little’ efforts and a movie you should absolutely keep an eye out for. Be forewarned, though; this is not sitcom-style haw-haw comedy schtick. Some of the material is wonderfully dark and dicey, and those are precisely the little touches which make the flick so damn great.
Nudity Report: Fiorentino graces us with a quick but enjoyable look at her unfettered rack; later she’s tied up wearing a black see through top while Arquette shows off some sultry curves - while avoiding the display of any real goodies.
IMDb Summary: 3,492 IMDb users rate this one at 7.3/10.
Box Office: Good news is that the flick doubled its budget. Bad news is that the budget was only $5 million.
DVD Info: When you hear a distinct scream of joy originating out of Philadelphia, you’ll know that this movie has finally been announced on DVD. As of this writing, this brilliant flick is still not available in digital form.
Written by Scott Weinberg