Office Space

Year: 1999

Grade: A+

Country: USA

Director: Judge

Review

a modern classic, especially for guys in their 20s and 30s. it’s not only a brilliantly told comedy, it’s also comedic telling of the modern condition. there really is a lot of brilliant observations and truisms within this film. from the opening scene which shows michael bolton listening to scarface while locking his door as a homeless black man walks by his car to the electric shock ron livingston’s character gets as he opens the metal door leading to his cubicle. the film is full of small observations which often get overshadowed by the brilliant discussions of flair and tps reports.

one wouldn’t think a film like this, done by the creator of beavis and butt-head, to be technically noteworthy, but office space certainly is. judge’s use of music, for example, not only elevates the film, but the music as well. tracks like the aforementioned “no tears” by scarface go from relative unknowns to perfectly placed near classics. the same goes for tracks by the geto boys, ice cube and perez prado. judge’s direction during montage sequences like the copier destruction and the virus implant is excellent. it’s funny, well-executed, and dynamic, yet not showy or out of his depth. i am looking forward to his next live action effort: idiocracy, starring luke wilson.