This video is must-viewing for anyone who has spent even a single day as a temporary employee in the corporate world. However, those of us who have spent weeks, months or even years in a dead-end, no-challenge job will find a wealth of truths in this gem of a film.
We begin with the first day of work for Iris at a nondescript corporate monster of a firm. She spends two hours simply waiting for someone to come tell her what to do. Finally, someone shows up and chastises her for not taking some initiative. This absolutely slayed me as my first day of work here in Atlanta was spent in an entirely similar fashion.
Toni Colette of Muriel’s Wedding effectively portrays Iris’s fear and desire to fit into her alien surroundings. Whether it’s typing unfamiliar forms or making friends with the other temps, Iris seems constantly struggling to overcome her insecurities. With this role, Colette has proven that Muriel’s Wedding was no fluke. She’s clearly a talent to watch.
Iris perseveres and soon finds her way in this limbo-like universe. She quickly befriends a group of fellow temps and even seems to win the respect of her boss, the always incredibly hot David James Elliot. Despite these strides, her father continues to pressure her into pursuing a permanent job with one of his business contacts. And yet, Iris would appear to prefer her comfortable sub-existence and the acquaintances that she has chanced upon.
Parker Posey portrays the ringleader of the temps with all her usual zeal and mania. One of the simple guarantees of life is that if you put Posey in your film, you’ll have at least one memorable character. And Margaret is no exception. Why hasn’t this master thespian received an Oscar nomination yet?
Jane, meanwhile, barely registers as a character in the film. However, it’s not so much a fault of the actress, Alanna Ubach, as it is an intentional flaw of the character she is portraying. You see, Jane is engaged and is merely doing time as a temp until her wedding. While pleasant and friendly to her fellow temps, her alliances are temporary and meaningless. She is the kind of coworker that you say hello to every day but who is forgotten a week after you leave that job.
Lisa Kudrow gives a surprisingly heartfelt performance as Paula, the man-hungry and materialistic actress of the office. Her pronouncement that she always knew she was meant for something special is at once endearing and desperate. It echoes the fears of all four women that they will spend the rest of their lives as nameless drones. It would appear that Kudrow may be the Friend most likely to make a successful transition to big-screen roles.
Of course, every movie needs a conflict, and this one revolves around the hiring of Cleo, a new permanent secretary. At the same time that she comes on board (much to Margaret’s chagrin) personal items begin disappearing from employee’s offices and desks. As the corporate orphans, the temps are naturally the primary suspects. In an attempt to catch the thief, pressure is forced upon these ladies until eventually friend turns on friend.
This film does a deft job of displaying the hierarchy of the modern office. The perms either ignore the temps or hold them in utter contempt….and the temps despise and reject the mailroom workers. There are those who show up for work just to kill some hours. And then there are the desperate, trying just to survive. It seems a miracle that they all get along as well as they do.
And so, what is eventually gleaned from this story is a reaffirmation of self-worth and the importance of loyalty to one’s true friends….not a corporation. The ending is intentionally oblique as if to allow each viewer to make their own conclusions as to the fate of our erstwhile protagonist, Iris. One thing is certain, though, she is no longer a clockwatcher. Iris blossoms into a confidant woman who will act and be heard.
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Clockwatchers - Official Site
