Bartleby (2001)

I don't understand why this is considered a comedy. I don't think I laughed at all when I watched it. I actually found it very sad. But I think its inportant to remember this is based on Melvilles work and isn't going to be something like something about Mary. There is a huge amount of depth to the story, which I found took a few viewings to completely take everything that was worth taking out of the film. I suppose this film is funny in the way Hamlet is funny. Still, I thought the adaptation was done very well. But be warned, if you never read and analyzed Melville's version I think you might be strained to enjoy the movie. As always, I think Crispin Glover was amazing and no one could have been better cast for the part. The extra scenes with the cast commentary was not worth watching though. The music they use in the film is very weird and originally annoying, but then you start to get used to it, and after a while you want to hear it again. At least thats how it was for me. Another warning, the opening sequence makes you very dizzy.

OK modern-day version of the Melville classic. It's a sometimes amusing satire on office mores and stereotypes.It runs out of steam at the end. It likely would have been better as an hour comedy-drama.I sort of like it. Others may prefer not to view it. Crispin Glover is pretty well cast as the office slacker, however. I often wondered why his career stayed in neutral after Back to the Future. Overall, six stars out of 10.

Based on the classic novella `Bartleby the Scrivener' by Herman Melville, but updated to reflect our current era, Bartleby features the always esoteric Crispin Glover in the title role. Depending on how you view it, Bartleby is either a protagonist or antagonist; a man who answers an ad for a `boring job, no room for advancement and low wages' who decides one day that he doesn't want to work anymore. Not only does he not want to work anymore, but he insists on coming to the office every day, and answers every request made of him with `I would prefer not to.' Bartleby appears to be short on substance, but is actually quite thought provoking. Not having read the Melville story, I cannot make comparisons between it and the film, but standing alone, the film was quite entertaining. The sparse yet colorful set design was a perfect compliment to the eccentricities of the film, and the cast was both surprising and intriguing. Crispin Glover has never yet failed a role and seems perfectly suited as the lead. The supporting cast includes many character actors, among them, Joe Piscopo – an interesting but very appropriate choice in the role as the office blowhard.While this film will not entertain most, it is recommended for anyone looking for a quiet independent film that tells more of a story upon reflection than while actually experiencing it. --Shelly

Herman Melville's short story "Bartleby the Scrivener" gets a slightly surreal update in this offbeat comedy drama. The manager (David Paymer) of the city records department in a mid-sized California community decides that his staff of three - flirty chatterbox Vivian (Glenne Headly), sloppy Vietnam vet Ernie (Maury Chaykin), and slick-suited, Don Juan wannabe Rocky (Joe Piscopo) - could use some help, so he places an ad looking for a new employee. The boss ends up hiring the one and only applicant who wants the position, a quiet, pale young man named Bartleby (Crispin Glover). At first, Bartleby is a model of efficiency, but before long he loses enthusiasm for his job, much to the annoyance of his co-workers, and soon he's spending his days staring at an air conditioning vent. The Boss asks Bartleby to get back to work, but Bartleby's repeated reply to such requests is, "I prefer not to," and the Boss sees little recourse but to fire him. However, Bartleby refuses to leave his desk, and it soon becomes obvious that Bartleby has not only stopped doing his work - he's stopped going home and has moved into the office. Bartleby was the first feature film for producer/director Parker. He also wrote the screenplay, in collaboration with Catherine Di Napoli. There is really not enough material in Melville's story to warrant a feature length film. When "Bartleby" sticks to the text of the story it is interesting and fairly funny, but Parker is forced to add a lot of filler which is simply not very good. Worth a look, but in the end, a bit weak.