Slaves to the grind

Office SpaceFrom the creator the whacky and scatological Beavis and Butthead' cartoon series, Mike Judge, comes this uncomplicated and hi...

Office Space
From the creator the whacky and scatological Beavis and Butthead’ cartoon series, Mike Judge, comes this uncomplicated and hilarious tale of white collar corporate slavery.

Ron Livingston is the computer programmer on the verge of a nervous breakdown thanks to his dull office routine. Attending a hypnotherapy session one day, Livingston is cured of his frustration after the doctor has a heart attack and doesn’t wake him up. In his new confident avatar, he dates pretty waitress Jennifer Aniston while plotting revenge on his company through an elaborate embezzlement scheme. He’s helped by laid-off co-workers David Herman and Ajay Naidu. The trio’s cathartic destruction of a stolen office copier is a classic.

Office Space is for anyone who’s ever worked in an office and subjected to memos and post-it notes. Gary Cole as the oppressive and procedure-obsessed coffee-sipping boss is over the top. The film features a punchy gangsta rap soundtrack and competent performances from a largely unknown cast.A refreshing change from some of the mind-numbing films that Hollywood has subjected us to lately.

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Brokedown Palace
Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale are the two American college girls in this fairly gripping Bangkok Hilton-esque drama of the fate of two innocent drug couriers.

Backpacking across Thailand, the two girls run into crafty smooth-talker Australian Daniel Lapaine who romances them and later cons them with the promise of a holiday in Hong Kong. The duo are discovered with drugs in their baggage at Bangkok airport and thrown into a dingy clanger. In steps run-down American lawyer Bill Pullman who attempts to save them from the prospect of a thirty-year prison sentence.

The investigation and expose of the drug smuggling underworld fades away as the film focuses on the human element of the desperation and loneliness of the girls in the hellish prison, which culminates in a heroic sacrifice. Good background score and visuals and compelling performances by the whole cast including Pullman, Beckinsale and Claire Danes.

Director Jonathan Kaplan who’s helmed such rivetting dramas as The Accused and Unlawful Entry makes an engrossing drama here.

– SANDEEP UNNITHAN