After Hours
One of the main reasons why i wanted to start this blog was to discuss obscure (master)pieces of art that I love, and hopefully get people to go out and check them out. In this case the film was released smack dab in the land of obscurity known as the 1980's. By far, in my opinion, one of, if not THE worst decade that film has had to offer. And keep in my mind that it immediately followed the most important decade that film has had to offer, the 1970's, which makes the 80's look all the more worse. Anyway, while the film itself, entitled After Hours would no doubt register as obscure with the majority of today's movie-goers, it's director, Martin Scorsese, is no obscure name. If you haven't seen or heard of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or Goodfellas, then you've most likely seen The Aviator, The Departed or Shutter Island. Either way, if you've seen any one of these then you know what a one-of-a-kind director Mr. Scorsese is. None the less I've found that even people who consider themselves fans of the man have rarely said that they've seen this hidden gem.
The film centers around the character of Paul Hackett (Griffin Dune), a word processor by day, and a not-so ladies man by night. From the looks of it Paul is just a normal guy who has a regular routine that he follows. On one particular night his routine includes a trip to a cafe and a re-read of his favorite Henry Miller novel whilst sipping away at his black coffee. A female customer in the cafe spots the cover of the book and immediately strikes up a conversation that results in the exchange of a number, thus hurtling Paul into a nightmare of a night. It begins as a quest for an artsy paperweight and some female companionship and ends up with Paul's face plastered on a wanted sign all across SOHO as he's running for his life from more than one scorned town-folk.
Over the course of the film viewers will be treated to bondage sessions, punk clubs, human-statue making, a raucous soundtrack that includes Bad Brains, and a HIGH-larious cameo by america's leading pot-smoking comic duo. The Rest of the cast, including it's amazing lead Griffin Dune, are perfect in their roles, especially Catharine O'Harra and John Heard of Home Alone parental fame.
After hours is by far Scorsese's most eclectic film to date. It's a thriller, it's a comedy, it's a drama and it's scary in its nightmarish descent into a never ending night. While some consider The Departed to be Scorsese's fourth masterpiece, I beg to differ; not because The Departed isn't worthy of that title but rather because chronologically speaking Goodfellas was his fourth, and After Hours was his third. Am amazing film worth checking out for any fan of cinema.
