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Clockwatchers
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Clockwatchers (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Clockwatchers (1997) -- Open-ended Trailer from Bmg

Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   3,016 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jill Sprecher
Writers:
Jill Sprecher (written by) and
Karen Sprecher (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Clockwatchers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 May 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
FOUR GIRLS. FOUR DREAMS. ONE OFFICE. more
Plot:
Iris can best be described as a wallflower. She begins her first day as a temp for the nondescript Global... more | full synopsis
Awards:
2 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Accuracy is never boring. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Toni Collette ... Iris Chapman

Parker Posey ... Margaret Burre

Lisa Kudrow ... Paula

Alanna Ubach ... Jane
Helen FitzGerald ... Cleo

Stanley DeSantis ... Art

Jamie Kennedy ... Eddie

David James Elliott ... Mr. MacNamee

Debra Jo Rupp ... Barbara

Kevin Cooney ... Mr. Kilmer
Bob Balaban ... Milton Lasky
Paul Dooley ... Bud Chapman
Scott Mosenson ... Jack Shoberg
Irene Olga López ... Coffee Lady (as Irene Olga Lopez)

Joshua Malina ... Global Credit Receptionist
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief language.
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Continuity: When Iris attempts to retrieve the bag Paula drops on the bus, the small child who was sitting immediately in front of Paula vanishes. Iris immediately sits where the missing child was last seen. more
Quotes:
Dianne: I keep a pair of shoes in my desk, and now *one* of them is missing. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in New Guy (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Magenta Mountain more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
17 out of 19 people found the following comment useful:-
Accuracy is never boring., 27 March 2001
9/10
Author: alvoalvo from San Francisco, CA

I suppose the viewers who label Clockwatchers "boring" simply don't understand that dramas are MEANT to be slower than your garden-variety Indiana Jones or Die Hard. These "action" flicks are ten-times as dull as the corporate setting for this astonishing study on class, friendship, and inner-awareness. Or maybe it is the female perspective or "chick-flick" factor that turn certain people off. Or maybe temporary status in modern American business isn't relevant to everyone. Or the subtle, less gimmicky observations of reality.

Clockwatchers is all of these things at once. Toni Collette plays the ultra-shy newcomer to Global Credit, the ultimate transnational corporation, who slowly comes to realize that the doomed bond she makes with three other temps is an extremely sacred event in her life. Iris slowly gains confidence through such comradery and at one point she doesn't want to leave, even though her father has higher career expectations for his daughter. Iris comes full circle at the end of the film, confronts one of her many bosses whom plot against her, and atones for not standing with Parker Posey, who is the life of the party as Margaret.

The creators of this film are SO incredibly accurate in revealing what worklife is actually like (the boredom, sharing someone else's space, not knowing someone's name or them not knowing yours), that I felt almost honored to know I wasn't alone. (Movies that are this honest about despair are never depressing.) This is combined by the subtle observations of Iris, which I suppose aren't as exciting as blowing someone's head off or toilet humor, but intriguing nonetheless. It is finally layered with political analysis as the female temps organize a strike.

Suffice it to say, Clockwatchers covers a lot of ground, but the layers are folded well together in a way that makes you care about what happens to these characters and their station in life. A must-see sleeper for those who prefer (for example) Merchant & Ivory over Van Damme & Seagal. 9 out of 10.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Clockwatchers (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Any temp 'horror' stories you'd like to share? jumpingjoe821
The Ending was very sad..... wakkadakka
The letter Iris receives in the mail (SPOILER) ohlou326
Complaints and Questions kayeanna77
What happens to characters at end of movie? ronaldsnelgrove
region 1 - dvd sarxphagein
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Related Links

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