After Hours (1985)

dir Martin Scorcese

Getting irritated at the drop of a hat? Obsessing over nonsensical food-shaped paperweights? Making sweeping judgements about the quality of weed whilst continuing to smoke it? Yeah, I connected with this one right away.

There’s a lot of Marty Scorcese I just don’t care about. Maybe I need to try harder. I mean I like Italians. The mob is cool. And Taxi Driver was fine. I actually really love Marty’s 1967 short film The Big Shave. It might be my favorite short. You get to spend an intimate 6 minutes with a guy in the bathroom. It’s great. But there’s really something about After Hours.

There’s so many great moments of quick comedy. Every time the Plaster of Paris bagel and cream cheese paperweights come up in conversation. The shark drawing on the wall of the bar bathroom. When Paul tries to save Kiki from her consensual Shibari restraints, thinking she’s been tied up by burglars. “What are these guys, sailors? It must have taken them hours!”

But there’s also a lot of heavy to counter those lighthearted moments. Rosanna Arquette (my beloved) carries out a fabulous performance as Marcy, a woman who’s faced torment from various men, including leading man Paul. I hate Paul’s dumb little speech over Marcy’s lifeless body about not being able to handle the fact that she’s been married, raped, and burned (literally) in the past. This guy has no clue how to read a room. Constantly saying and doing the weirdest and most insensitive thing he can seem to drum up at any moment. Ok! This is indeed a Scorcese feature.

And it’s a great one. Thoroughly enjoyed everything being so circular and interconnected. C’est belle.  Thanks Marty!