- Actors: Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Tommy Chong, Linda Fiorentino
- Directors: Martin Scorsese
- Format: PAL, Colour, Widescreen
- Language English
- Subtitles: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, Italian, Romanian
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B002I9MJIW
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 27,200 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Reviews
Paul meets Marcy at a coffee shop after work, and gets her phone number. He calls her, she asks him to come over, and things take a turn for the bizarre. Paul spends the rest of the night trying to get home, dealing with angry cabbies, dead women (and their bartender husbands), clumsy catburglars, quirky sculptresses, unstable waitresses, condescending bouncers, and irate mobs led by ice cream truck drivers along the way.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is by far my favourite film. If I'd written the script for it, I'd die happy.
I love the symmetry of its structure. It starts as Paul leaves his tedious job at the end of the day and ends as he fetches up at the office again the morning. We are therefore given two glimpses of Paul's ordinary daily life, but in between the film plunges us into a weird dreamlike hinterland. This involves curious funny/sad encounters that make no sense on a rational level but are perfectly in keeping with the dream world - that might be a reflection of Paul's own subconscious desires as much as the reality of night-time New York - the film so stunningly creates.
It's also perfectly balanced on the divide between humour and the genuinely disturbing. It is a wildly funny film, with almost every scene based on some completely absurd premise. For instance, Paul unties Kiki, thinking that he is rescuing her, only to find that he's just interrupted a bondage session with her Teutonic lover, Horst ('That was rude, Paul. You really should be ashamed of yourself'). But this humour comes out of disturbed and alienated lives, and we're never allowed to forget that. The scene where Marcy tells Paul about her husband's Wizard of Oz fixation ('He just couldn't stop. He just couldn't stop. He just couldn't stop') is hilarious, but there's something about the manic intensity with which she tells the story that is quite unsettling - and this uncomfortable mix of humour and the genuinely disturbing is pursued mercilessly throughout the film.
Ultimately, it's a very Kafkaesque movie (one of the scenes even uses dialogue from a Kafka novel) - it creates a labyrinth in which Paul is thwarted at every turn by people whose motivations are never entirely clear and by situations that remain inscrutable.
Some have criticised After Hours on the basis that the sequence of encounters Paul is subjected to are not realistic - too contrived and coincidental. I think this is missing the point - it's a bit like saying that most court cases are not conducted in the way that the case against Josef K in Kafka's 'The Trial' is conducted. The point is that these encounters are not realistic within the context of ordinary life, but they are in keeping with the very defined frame of reference of the film & they are designed (i.e. exaggerated) in order to bring us face to face with the illogicality of the world and the illogicality of our subconscious desires. The hinterland Paul wanders through is as much a dreamscape as reality & the logic of the encounters he's involved in is largely dream-logic.
I love the symmetry of its structure. It starts as Paul leaves his tedious job at the end of the day and ends as he fetches up at the office again the morning. We are therefore given two glimpses of Paul's ordinary daily life, but in between the film plunges us into a weird dreamlike hinterland. This involves curious funny/sad encounters that make no sense on a rational level but are perfectly in keeping with the dream world - that might be a reflection of Paul's own subconscious desires as much as the reality of night-time New York - the film so stunningly creates.
It's also perfectly balanced on the divide between humour and the genuinely disturbing. It is a wildly funny film, with almost every scene based on some completely absurd premise. For instance, Paul unties Kiki, thinking that he is rescuing her, only to find that he's just interrupted a bondage session with her Teutonic lover, Horst ('That was rude, Paul. You really should be ashamed of yourself'). But this humour comes out of disturbed and alienated lives, and we're never allowed to forget that. The scene where Marcy tells Paul about her husband's Wizard of Oz fixation ('He just couldn't stop. He just couldn't stop. He just couldn't stop') is hilarious, but there's something about the manic intensity with which she tells the story that is quite unsettling - and this uncomfortable mix of humour and the genuinely disturbing is pursued mercilessly throughout the film.
Ultimately, it's a very Kafkaesque movie (one of the scenes even uses dialogue from a Kafka novel) - it creates a labyrinth in which Paul is thwarted at every turn by people whose motivations are never entirely clear and by situations that remain inscrutable.
Some have criticised After Hours on the basis that the sequence of encounters Paul is subjected to are not realistic - too contrived and coincidental. I think this is missing the point - it's a bit like saying that most court cases are not conducted in the way that the case against Josef K in Kafka's 'The Trial' is conducted. The point is that these encounters are not realistic within the context of ordinary life, but they are in keeping with the very defined frame of reference of the film & they are designed (i.e. exaggerated) in order to bring us face to face with the illogicality of the world and the illogicality of our subconscious desires. The hinterland Paul wanders through is as much a dreamscape as reality & the logic of the encounters he's involved in is largely dream-logic.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Sandwiched between DeNiro's 'King Of Comedy' and the Newman/Cruise 'Color Of Money', this somewhat overlooked and criminally underrated 1985 Martin Scorsese directed offbeat screwball comedy is a pure gem of a little movie, showing a weirder side of New York than we are usually accustomed to seeing.
Travelling downtown for a vaguely arranged date, a quiet computer programmer loses his taxi fare. This proves to be the first of the night's many increasingly bizarre situations, as our hapless hero strives desperately to get home (alive), coming across more and more neurotic and unhinged New Yorkers over the course of the ultimate bad night out on the town.
Scorsese directs with the polished style that we expect to see in all his films.
The script is tight and witty and the performances are exceptional throughout.
This is an inventive and deliciously dark little comedy from the world's greatest director.
After Hours: When anything can happen... and usually does.
This DVD also contains the following special features:
- Commentary by;
Director Martin Scorsese,
Lead Actor Griffin Dunne,
Producer Amy Robinson,
Editor Thelma Schoonmaker,
and Cinematographer Michael Ballham.
- Featurette;
Filming For Your Life - Making After Hours
- Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
A must see film if you're a fan of Scorsese films and haven't yet seen the full works of this director, who's more famous films include 'Mean Streets', 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', 'Gangs Of New York', 'The Aviator' and 'The Departed'.
A quick look at my watch tells me it's getting late... I'm off out... Downtown!!!!
Travelling downtown for a vaguely arranged date, a quiet computer programmer loses his taxi fare. This proves to be the first of the night's many increasingly bizarre situations, as our hapless hero strives desperately to get home (alive), coming across more and more neurotic and unhinged New Yorkers over the course of the ultimate bad night out on the town.
Scorsese directs with the polished style that we expect to see in all his films.
The script is tight and witty and the performances are exceptional throughout.
This is an inventive and deliciously dark little comedy from the world's greatest director.
After Hours: When anything can happen... and usually does.
This DVD also contains the following special features:
- Commentary by;
Director Martin Scorsese,
Lead Actor Griffin Dunne,
Producer Amy Robinson,
Editor Thelma Schoonmaker,
and Cinematographer Michael Ballham.
- Featurette;
Filming For Your Life - Making After Hours
- Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
A must see film if you're a fan of Scorsese films and haven't yet seen the full works of this director, who's more famous films include 'Mean Streets', 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', 'Gangs Of New York', 'The Aviator' and 'The Departed'.
A quick look at my watch tells me it's getting late... I'm off out... Downtown!!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is one of Martin Scorsese's underrated and underappreciated movies, about Paul, a quiet computer programmer who goes out on a date with a girl he meets in a coffee shop, only for the date to turn into an endless night of lunacy. As he is forced to wander the streets, Paul witnesses the different lives of the residents of New York - a bizarre artist, a neuroic Monkees fan, a couple of thieves, and an irritating ice cream-van owner being a handful of the characters. He is an outsider peering in, much like when he sees a couple making love through a window, and witnesses a murder through another. Paul becomes strangled by the city - everywhere he turns he runs into trouble.
The script is piled up with quirky confrontations, conversations, and bizarre events. The script works well, with all the events interconnecting perfectly. It is also very witty, with numerous lines of dialogue resulting in a smirk, or laughter. Martin Scorsese's direction is brilliant - he sets up the suffocating tension, the comedy, and craziness with perfect stride. This is one of his - or perhaps his - most surreal movies; the first thirty minutes leaving the viewer unsure, yet in perfectly good hands. We're watching a man trapped, a man stuck in a city with a pulse - much like Travis Bickle in 'Taxi Driver'. With it's lesser known status, this will prove to be more of a gem than a classic - as it's a pleasently surprising movie, compelling and highly watchable.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Griffin Dunne's out all night.
After Taxi Driver this is Scorseses best film. Even though it's a dark comedy it's laugh out loud and could be put on your shelf next to any comedy classic rather than another... Read more
Published 11 months ago by j.r
Great film, reliable delivery
One of the great unsung films of Martin Scorsese's career. Surreal, funny and edgy, it captures the spirit of bohemian New York before zero-tollerance policies 'cleaned up the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by John Schofield
A weird world
After midnight we are "after hours" and our protagonist is trpapped in a weird adventure, he tries everething he can to get home safely and to excape a mob who chase him,having... Read more
Published 15 months ago by I. Piccirilli
Brilliant and Original Black Comedy
This film, for me, is great film making. It stands completely on its brilliant, original story plus great acting from all. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2008 by Fritz
Scorcese's Most Underrated Work.
It's a shame this DVD is only available at a high price or as part of a Martin Scorcese box set in the UK as it is a superb and underrated film. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2008 by nm1270
I wanted to like this, but.........
After the failure of the King of Comedy, Scorsese needed to become inventive and became part of the 80s parade, which was his only way of encouraging people to look at his often... Read more
Published on 13 April 2007 by I. Thomson
So Surreal
I agree with the previous reviewers. The first time I watched this film (and the best)was in the wee small hours one night when, as it happens, I couldnt sleep. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2006 by LorenzoStDubois
BEWARE OF STRANGE WOMEN IN LATE NIGHT CAFES...
The most important thing I can say to you about After Hours is - BUY THIS NOW! Probably Martin Scorceses' most underrated film and arguably his best. Read more
Published on 6 July 2005 by Red Rob
After Hours
So glad to see that many others have enjoyed this dark, surreal Scorcese masterpiece. Every turn our hero takes leads him to yet another dilemma. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2005 by Mr J Rowand
After Hours
After Hours is maybe one of the strangest films I have ever seen. It begins extremely extremely slowly and I almost gave up on it after half an hour or so, all I can say having... Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2005 by Rich Milligan
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
