Bartleby | | Cast : | David Paymer, Crispin Glover | | Director : | Jonathan Parker | | Studio : | Wellspring Media, In | | Format : | Color, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | January 01, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | July 08, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 16, 2005 | | Summary | Decent film | Content
 | This is a decent film, I'm not that familiar with the original story but it's still good. The thing I liked most about it is that Bartleby's attitude is basically everybody's when it comes to work. Your boss tells or ask you to do something and most of the time if not all of the time you would prefer not too. Anyways, this is worth checking out, good acting and good story |
| Rating | | | Date | January 28, 2005 | | Summary | Odd and nervy. I loved it! | Content
| I'LL KEEP THIS REVIEW SHORT AND SIMPLE. Bartleby has become one of my most favorite indie films to date. It's so bizzare and different, it truely stands out from any movie I've ever seen. I used to work in an office like this and its painfully realistic in my opininon. Granted, the characters in this movie are exaggerated for entertainment purposes but I can totally recall past co-workers in this film. This movie is bound to become a cult classic. If you enjoy dark and oddball comedies, this movie has your name all over it. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 12, 2005 | | Summary | More Crispin glory to obsess over. | Content
| It starts out with Bartleby slowly walking down a bridge above a freeway, and leaning against the chainlink fence, watching the traffic. Automatically, we can tell the guy's nuts. His future boss has just been named the head of an office of public records where things could be much better. The office has 3 other workers: Vivian, a seemingly sex-deprived secretary, Rocky- the usual tough guy who's ready to knock someone out at any moment, and Ernie, a guy who's on the edge. When called into the boss' office to go over a record, this is what he has to say:
"Once, I watched 3 Bond movies in a row. Connery was it man. That series died when he walked. 7 hours! What a marathon! And the dog, was in the car the whole time, I forgot. He crapped in the back seat! He ruined that thing!"
After that, he walks out and does who knows what. But after placing a very honest ad in the paper for a position, Bartleby applies and gets the job (being the only one who applied too). The interview obviously creeped out the boss. Previously, Bartleby worked for the postal service in the dead letters office. It's here that he says that he scanned letters for money, and if they didn't have any, they were destroyed. He says this almost with a smile, and I couldn't help but laugh at the scene. At first, Bartleby's a great worker. Getting a week's worth of work done in just a few days. Soon though, he prefers not to do tasks when given them. It's not that he refuses, he just answers everything with "I'd...prefer not to". The most simple of tasks get that answer. From going out and getting the boss a sandwich, to putting his finger on a ribbon so it can be tied. That scene in particular was hilarious. Bartleby walks into the office, swaying back and forth, twitching, wiping sweat from his brow, pressing his hands against the window, and looks like he's ready to start freaking out. So much tension is built up before saying the phrase and walking out. Eventually, Bartleby is fired after the boss finds out he lives at the office and has no home, but he feels bad for him and tries to help him out. I wish I could go on, but I don't want to ruin things for you. While it may sound like a drama, it truely is a comedy and even after watching it 10 times, I still laugh as much as I did the first time.
I especially adore the characters. My favorites being Bartleby, Vivian, and Ernie. Ernie is just such a wacko that any scene he's in is enjoyable. When the toner for the copying machine is screwing up, he somehow gets it stuck in the water cooler and creates a huge mess...only to clean it up and ruin Rocky's computer and desk. Vivian is strange as well, but in that desperate housewife kind of way. Every scene she's in somehow ends up being erotic, but harmless. And Bartleby, well...he's played by Crispin, so I don't need to explain that one. Anything he does is perfect. After seeing him in this film, I started to comb my hair over just like his, and even went out and bought a certain brand of crackers after watching him eat them. I have problems, I know. And the office they work in is a character on its own. I guarentee you'll laugh upon seeing it.
The picture quality isn't too good. I'd give it 3 stars. There's noticable grain and blurryness going on. Some scenes were hard on the eyes, but it's not unbearable or anything like that. I just wish it would've been cleaned up a little. Then again, I wasn't exactly expecting Once Upon A Time In Mexico-quality print here. The sound is good though, and though there are no captions or subtitles, you can hear everything clearly.
The special features are surprising for such a low-budget and unknown film, but they're not that great either. I was expecting just cast bios or a trailer, but we get interviews with all the key characters. Though, it's a little confusing, some of the interviews are actually with the characters, and one's with Crispin being himself. I couldn't tell at first if it was to be taken seriously or not regarding the movie. All of the interviews are nice though, and add a little bit more character bits on how they feel about eachother. I especially liked Rocky's on where he explains where he find the best women. Crispin's interview is great of course, and he tries to explain how he feels about the original story of Bartleby, but is kind enough to mention that he doesn't want us to take what he says into contex as if it's right or not, but it's just how he feels. Even more of a reason to adore the guy there. There's also a "mini-commentary" with the director, and it's meaningless. It lasts just under 12 minutes and he mostly goes on about how things were shot and how scenes were put together. I think I speak for all of us when I say a commentary with Crispin (even if he was by himself) and the others would've been better. Of course, there are cast bios, which are fairly up-to-date surprisingly. Crispin's even mentions Willard in there, a movie that came out a few years after this one. But it listed a few that I didn't even know about, and now have plans to buy. Aside from the obligatory trailer, there's also a cool little feature on the Theremin, a musical instrument used for most of the film's soundtrack.
Overall, this film isn't just a timeless Crispin movie, but it holds its own to be a solid comedy. But of course us Crispin fans will eat it up. I'm playing his role as Bartleby above his in Rubin & Ed. Yes, Bartleby the character is that much weirder. Staring at air vents in the ceiling and putting his clothes in filing cabinets. Do yourself a favor and pick this baby up when you see it. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 09, 2004 | | Summary | I was wrong... | Content
| Prior to seeing this movie I believed that any movie based on a written work; Inherit the Wind, A Clockwork Orange, My Left Foot, A Raisen in the Sun... ect. had to be good.
No!
Based on a work by Herman Melville, this movie was the worst piece of excrement I have ever subjected myself to! |
| Rating | | | Date | November 18, 2004 | | Summary | i would prefer not to. | Content
| Excellent casting and arresting visuals punctuate this 2001 adaptation of the otherwise boring Melleville short 'Bartleby the Scrivener'. Here, Jonathan Parker directs a quirky and intelligent vehicle for marvelous dark and absurdist comedy, somehow transforming the droll story into a modern and entertaining piece. He allows pushed, unique, and bright visuals in a truly intelligent story some will need a dictionary to comprehend.
Parker makes great choices with performances here, and the genius casting of the film allows it to succeed in its absurdity; other actors might not be able to balance such subtle eccentricities as these. In main and supporting roles, these actors make a very inconsistent script seem less so, illuminating the hilarious threads of the story and burying the more off-putting quirks. As the story drifts into absurd, the actors keep it subtle, and as it becomes banal, they rescue it with charisma.
Strong and jubilant design is a complement to the heightened reality of the film, with bright colors covering walls and gleefully mismatched ensembles. Wah Ho Chan lights the film effectively, and the combined imagination of he and Parker regarding silhouettes and smog sequences is a very pleasurable thing to witness.
With all the positive aspects of the film, it still remains somewhat incomplete, likely due to the very anticlimactic end. There is a certain something to its resolution that screams 'rushed', but any flaws are excusable when outshone by such an endlessly cool Crispin Glover performance. After adjusting to his very specific delivery, the audience soon finds themselves hardly paying mind to the plot, let alone the completeness of the resolution, as they become enraptured with giggles each time Glover enters the frame. |
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