Clockwatchers (1997)

The relationship between four female temps all working for the same credit company is threatened with the arrival of a new hire, who lands a permanent position one of the women was vying for.

Director:

Jill Sprecher

Writers:

Jill Sprecher, Karen Sprecher

Stars:

Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toni Collette	...	Iris
Parker Posey	...	Margaret
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

Storyline

Iris can best be described as a wallflower. She begins her first day as a temp for the nondescript Global Credit Association by waiting in a chair for two hours. This sets the scene for her (mis)adventures with the other "corporate orphans", Margaret, Paula and Jane. Led by Margaret, they find subtle ways to lessen the ennui of corporate oppression. The tension escalates when the new permanent hire, Cleo, enters the picture.

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Plot Keywords:

office | office politics | temporary worker | pantyhose | black pantyhose | 

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Taglines:

Waiting for your life to change... can be a full time job.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lisa Kudrow, Parker Posey, Jaime Kennedy and Debra Jo Rupp have all worked with Courteney Cox.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Margaret: What happened?
Iris Chapman: I guess, I'm just not like you.
Margaret: Yah know it's sad, isn't it, how people always end up betraying each other? And for what?

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Pleasantville/The Alarmist/The Lion King II: Simba's Pride/Apt Pupil/Life is Beautiful (1998)

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Soundtracks

It's April Again
(Moulin Rouge)
Music by Georges Auric
French lyrics by Jacques Larue
English lyrics by William Engvick
Performed by Musette of Paris
Used by permission of Gems-EMI Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Laserlight Digital
By arrangement of Source/Q

User Reviews

The temps

Jill Sprecher, the enormous talent behind "Clockwatchers", needs to be seen more often. We saw this witty comedy in its original debut and it was a pleasure to watch it again on IFC. Ms. Sprecher and her sister Karen wrote a delicious movie that is on the one level a satire about the way "temps" are used in an office, and it's at the same time, a character study about these four souls at the center of the movie.

Each one of the young women in the film has a problem. They come together because they don't have a life on their own. Iris, Margaret, Paula and Jane, form a bond because they find safety in numbers. Iris is a clever girl whose shyness doesn't let her assert herself and is dragged along by the others that show stronger personalities. Margaret puts up a front, but deep down, she is just as vulnerable as the others. The most pathetic one is Paula, a woman who is pretending to be what she is not. Jane is waiting for the security of marriage to beat it out of being a temp.

When the sneaky Cleo is hired as a permanent employee, the problems in the office are magnified. As things begin disappearing from the office, all eyes point to the four temps. That is the beginning of the end of the clique, as they knew it. Iris is the one that stays the longer and she is the one that discovers the mystery of the missing things in the office, but alas, it's too late, because at that time she leaves the temp job.

Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow and Alana Ubach, are perfect as the four temps. Toni Collette has a better role where to shine as most of the story is seen through her eyes. Parker Posey is delightful as the free spirited Margaret. Lisa Kudrow also makes a good contribution with her pathetic Paula. Helen Firzgerald, who only has a few lines, cast a giant shadow as the creepy new employee that wants to make friends with Iris, only to be ignored.

The Sprecher sisters created a film that feels real a situation one has seen is prevalent in the office setting.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clockwatchers

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,838, 17 May 1998

Gross USA:

$537,948

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$537,948

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Films International, John Flock Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color