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Thanks for taking the time to watch and critique. I'm not going to try to defend the film, since you're perfectly entitled to dislike it. The only point I'd respond to is #3 - the lack of dialogue is intentional, the idea being that at a job like that a person can go through a day (week, month, whatever) without really talking to anyone, just going to work and going home without any human interaction, aside from the buzzing blackberry. It does sound depressing when written out like that... but I will say that lawyers seem to get a perverse amusement from it, so maybe you have to be a certain type of crazy to appreciate the humor?

Since I took the time to watch the video I feel I might as well critique it. I''ll be as honest as possible and try to get my points across bluntly.

1. I felt the pacing of the film is terrible; it's just far too slow. I'm not one that needs to see explosions and action every 5 seconds in order to be engaged in a clip, but if the pacing is going to be really slow, it has to build towards something. I guess the lawyer did get fed up and eventually threw her phone in the lake, but it was anti-climatic and predictable. It didn't take more than about a minute to understand that her job was monotonous and tiring.
2. It seemed more like a documentary than a comedy to me. Thousands of office workers are in a similar role to the main character in this film. Quiet, hard working people get taken advantage of and you see other, more social individuals, excel even when they're lazy (or a jerk). I just didn't get what was supposed to be funny. At best, the characters were slight exaggerations of real life people.
3. What's with the lack of a dialogue? Solid dialogue with a couple of jokes thrown in really could have been a nice addition.
4. I think the film was shot pretty well. Pretty good transitions from one shot to the next.

There you have it. That's my opinion, and that's all it is. Take it to heart or disregard it.

I will now critique your critique.
1. New York City does not have a lake, unless you count a reservoir in Central Park as a lake (we don't). This film is in Manhattan, which has the the Hudson River on the west and the East River on the east (though the East River is technically a channel, not a river). The cell phone was clearly thrown into the Hudson River. And the film did have explosions, but of the small emotional types that built into a crescendo. Explosions can be subtle and metaphoric.
2. People getting taken advantage of is funny. I'm a desk slave and it's a real riot. I'm laughing about my plight right now. Posting stuff on BB Forums during office hours is like me symbolically throwing my cell phone into the Hudson River. I'll go and retrieve the phone, but I'll keep throwing it back again and again. Really funny stuff.
3. I think the lack of any speech by the protagonist was a metaphor for her suffering in silence, like she doesn't have a voice in the world. She's just a tool to be used and nobody cares about her. Nice touch. By the way, is she looking? I might have a friend for her.
4. I like how you can sort of see the office window, but it's kind of glare like, as if it were maybe a prison cell.


edit: 2 typos. funny stuff.

Last edited by chihorn at 8/25/2011 5:47:38 PM

I liked the lack of dialogue, but also thought it was a little long. I like the idea and thought it was entertaining -- it made the point well.

BTW, I think there are a few lakes in Queens and on Staten Island -- its been ages since I've been back there though. I don't know, maybe that's not the "city".



Last edited by Solana_Steve at 8/25/2011 7:46:33 PM

When you live in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island don't really count. Queens might have a lake or two, but they might be man-made. I don't really know. I'm in the center of the universe and don't have time for the outer boroughs.

Don't worry, once the hurricane passes there might not be any more outer boroughs.

Getting pretty wet out there now... I assume once the wind really kicks in overnight it's going to be pretty wild out there. It's strange seeing just about everything closed. I've never seen the city look so prepared for serious weather like this before. I guess the mayor learned his lesson after last winter's blizzard and all the city officials were on vacation and the city was panned for poor responsiveness and preparedness.

Here's to a safe hurricane! Cheers!