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Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 12:50 AM

Title: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 12:50 AM
Is this not one of the best movies ever made?  Everything about it is so true to real life, that it's not even funny.  I watch this as often as I possibly can.  I think I've seen it about 30 times now.


(http://www.bikkit.com/bikkit/images/officespacebig.jpg)  (http://www.thehollywoodstore.com/posters/o/images/12.jpg)  (http://www.bullshitjob.com/officespace/billlumbergh.jpg)

(http://www.virtualstapler.com/office_space/images/milton_grab_1.jpg)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Ben on September 19, 2003, 01:56 AM
I think this is the only movie besides ESB I can watch over and over again and never get tired of. True comic genius through and through.

"Gonna show her my Oh-face. Oh! Oh! Oh!" That Drew looks just like me, so that's why I get a kick out of it.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Darby on September 19, 2003, 04:39 AM
At first I didn't get it, I admit.  Then I worked in an office.  And now like Dustrho, I've seen it ad nauseum.   ;D  It is one of those films you never get tired of.  
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mikey D on September 19, 2003, 07:13 AM
Only one word to describe it:  Classic.  I never get tired of watching this movie.

"You don't need a million dollars to do nothing.  My cousin's broke and don't do ****"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Angry Ewok on September 19, 2003, 08:57 AM
Definately an awesome movie... I've been waiting for it to see a price drop on DVD, hasn't happened yet - BUT - the Comedy Channel plays it enough to where I can watch it maybe once a month.

Awesome movie.

"It's a 'Jump to Conclusions Mat'! You see, you have this mat, with different conclusions written on it that you could...Jump to!"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Brian on September 19, 2003, 09:28 AM
This is one of my all-time favorites as well.  One of my best friends and I have worked in an office/company quite similar to the one in this movie, so we get a kick out of it.  Its funny how true a lot of that stuff is.  "Looks like someone has a case of the Mondays..." :)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Jimmy on September 19, 2003, 09:50 AM
This movie is exactly the life of working in an office.
Judge just nailed everything about it.

What's funny is I watch this regularly and my 12 yr old son actually watches it w/ me and laughs himself.
We are constantly walking aroundthe house quoting lines... From my 12 yr old, to my wife, to myself...

Good stuff... Funny thing is I still laugh after all the times I have watched this one...

"Two chicks at the same time... Always wanted to do that"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Vator on September 19, 2003, 10:14 AM
This a great movie!I still enjoy watching it today!

''Gonna burn down the building,''
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mikey D on September 19, 2003, 10:17 AM
Quote from: Angry Ewok on September 19, 2003, 08:57 AM
Definately an awesome movie... I've been waiting for it to see a price drop on DVD, hasn't happened yet - BUT - the Comedy Channel plays it enough to where I can watch it maybe once a month.

Awesome movie.

"It's a 'Jump to Conclusions Mat'! You see, you have this mat, with different conclusions written on it that you could...Jump to!"

Dude, its only $15 at Target and tis well worth it.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 10:18 AM
"It's not that I'm lazy... I just don't care."  LMFAO!!!
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mikey D on September 19, 2003, 10:56 AM
"Accounts payable, Nina speaking.  Just a moment"

And you know its going to be in your head all day long now ;)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Jimmy on September 19, 2003, 11:32 AM
"Back up in your a$$ wit da resarection" (intentionally misspelled- said in best Middle Eastern voice)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Darth Broem on September 19, 2003, 12:04 PM
I love those scenes with the TSP reports or whatever they were called.  It's true if you mess up one measely detail it's like 30 people tell you about all day long.  LOL!  
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 12:16 PM
Quote from: Darth Broem on September 19, 2003, 12:04 PM
I love those scenes with the TSP reports or whatever they were called.  It's true if you mess up one measely detail it's like 30 people tell you about all day long.  LOL!  

They're called the TPS Reports... what do I have to do here?  Send you the memo about it?   ;)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: BigDumbWookiee on September 19, 2003, 02:11 PM
"Samir Naga.... Naga.... Nagunna work here anymore"


"Why dont you just go by Mike?

Why should I change my name? He's the one who sucks"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mikey D on September 19, 2003, 03:28 PM
Quote from: BigDumbWookiee on September 19, 2003, 02:11 PM

"Why dont you just go by Mike?

Why should I change my name? He's the one who sucks"

Adam, you forgot the set-up, which makes that scene all the much better.

"No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It's not that hard: Na-ee-ana-jad. Nayanajaad"

"Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton."
 
"You know there's nothing wrong with that name. "

"There was nothing wrong with it...until that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys."
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Nicklab on September 19, 2003, 06:36 PM
I think it's about as close to working in an office as you can get.  I can spto several of the personalities that inhabit my office, and that's what makes it so great.  I also happened to see it in the theater just after I'd been laid off from a job, and it rang VERY true.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 06:39 PM
Everything about that movie is a taste of reality in an office.  I've experienced much of what takes place in the movie.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 19, 2003, 09:12 PM
"PC Load Letter... what the **** does that mean!?!?"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Nicklab on September 20, 2003, 02:29 AM
What's sad about my job is that we had a supervisor JUST LIKE LUMBERGH!  And, we also have some paperwork referred to as TPS reports.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: dustrho on September 20, 2003, 01:27 PM
Quote from: Nicklab on September 20, 2003, 02:29 AM
What's sad about my job is that we had a supervisor JUST LIKE LUMBERGH!  And, we also have some paperwork referred to as TPS reports.

UNBELIEVABLE!   :o
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Nicklab on September 20, 2003, 04:56 PM
I should try scanning the TPS reports so you can see.

As for my Lumbergh-like supervisor?  Well, he's no longer my supervisor, but he still talks JUST LIKE LUMBERGH!  It's scary!

And if you ask me, I think I do a great Milton impression. ;D
Title: How well do you know your "Office Space"?
Post by: Matt on December 15, 2003, 07:41 PM
http://www.techcomedy.com/www.redswinglinestapler.com/quiz.php

Here's a hundred multiple-choice questions of Office Space trivia, running the gamut from "what magazine did Peter buy forty subscriptions to?", to "how many pieces of flair does Brian wear?", to "which record label released the soundtrack?"

Give it a shot, if you've got some time to kill.

I got 77 right, and 22 wrong.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mikey D on December 16, 2003, 07:30 AM
72 right, 28 wrong.  Not too bad.  Some of them were hard:  Peter's mom's name? and where Lumbergh got his degree?  Better cool quiz, though.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: apokolips on December 16, 2003, 02:44 PM
I totally love this movie.  Out of all my DVDs, this is the one that gets the most spin-time when guests come to the house.  

My previous job (of 8 years) was in an office.  The owner's seven sons ran the place with somewhat equal authority, giving me a total of eight bosses who wanted everything right away all the time.  The TPS report thing was a common echo down my hallowed halls.  One time a business directory called about our entry in their book.  

Dir:  Who's the President?  

me:  Dennis and David Stine.

Dir:  Which one is the Vice-President?

me:  There is no Vice-President.  They are both President.

Dir:  I have one blank for President and one blank for Vice-President.  Which do I put in which?

me:  Ma'am, they are identical twin brothers, both equal to one another.  One is not superior to the other.  To put one in the 'Vice' blank could start a war that would end in my getting fired.  Create two 'President' blanks and delete the 'Vice-President' blank or leave us out of your business directory completely.

Dir:  I'll just leave your company out then.  

me:  That would be preferable.  Bye!
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 03:35 AM
I really need to get my ass in gear and check this flick out finally.  I've been hearing such great things about it for the past year or two, but for whatever reason, I just haven't gotten around to watching it yet...  Is it too late to demand no spoilers?   :P

...and Burn, please don't go mixin' up the terminology.  We only "spin" CDs here.  You start talking about spinning DVDs and it's gonna completely mess Virex's "spinning" thread all up!   :-*

Of course, I might actually start participating in it if that was the case, since my musical tastes are a bit on the more mild side from most of the headbangin' hard rockers around here...   ;)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Jesse James on December 17, 2003, 09:17 AM
Ooh man, you're missing out by not watching this one Matt...  It's definitely funny.  It matches every office situation I've ever been in, and every office situation my friends work in too.  It's sad in its own way, but very funny.  :)  I'm surprised this is one you've not seen yet.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Dude, Matt, uh, get it.  

According to DVD Price Search (http://dvdpricesearch.com/cgi-bin/dvdsearch2), you can get the widescreen version for about thirteen bucks by itself, or you can get it in a two-pack with either Dude, Where's My Car? or Super Troopers for about $18 (haven't seen either of those flicks, myself, but for another five bucks, that's a pretty damn good deal).

Of course, there is a pan-and-scan version available as well, so watch out for that.

And also, a special edition has been rumored to be in the works for the past two or three years, but due to some circumstance between Mike Judge and Fox (that nobody seems to know the details of), it is still just that:  a rumor.  It'll come out eventually--this is a huge cult film by now, and would sell very well, but when exactly is anyone's guess.

What's interesting is that this movie lost money at the box office when it was released in 1999, but has since gone on to become one of Fox's biggest-selling DVDs of all time.

Great movie--just as funny the fifth or tenth or twentieth time as it was the first.  Great to just have on for atmosphere--it's fun while you're drinking with your buddies, or during a party.  Hell, I've even used it as "falling asleep noise" a few times.  Great stuff, and we're all pretty much in our mid-20's to mid-30's here, so we're the target audience here.  (Not so fast, Mainland05 and Morgbug. . .)   :P

(Hell, Matt--you wait too much longer, and you'll identify more with Lumbergh than you will with Peter.)   :o

Anyway--get it.  Put off buying three Star Wars figures for the next week or two, and pick up this DVD.

Mothershitter!
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 05:56 PM
Ok, ok...  You convinced me!  I'll see if I can pick it up right quick...

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Of course, there is a pan-and-scan version available as well, so watch out for that.

 ???   :-X   I'll pretend I didn't hear that Cory Matt...

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
(Hell, Matt--you wait too much longer, and you'll identify more with Lumbergh than you will with Peter.)   :o

I'll pretend I didn't hear that either...

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Put off buying three Star Wars figures for the next week or two...

Or that.

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Mothershitter!

And especially that!

Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 06:14 PM
Intentional double post, to avoid being the last reply on the page.

Apologies.  

 >:( :( ??? ::) :P :-[ :-X :-\ :'(
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 06:18 PM
Quote from: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 05:56 PM
Ok, ok...  You convinced me!  I'll see if I can pick it up right quick...

Yes.

Quote
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Of course, there is a pan-and-scan version available as well, so watch out for that.

 ???   :-X   I'll pretend I didn't hear that Cory Matt...

Now I will not pretend like I didn't hear that one.  How dare you.  How dare you, sir.  To this day, the only thing that Cory and I have ever agreed upon is that the other one sucks. . .   ;)  I wasn't saying "watch out" for the pan-and-scan version like "hey, wow, get that one".  It was more like "pan-and-scan is the devil, make sure you don't accidentally get that kind!   :o "

Quote
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
(Hell, Matt--you wait too much longer, and you'll identify more with Lumbergh than you will with Peter.)   :o

I'll pretend I didn't hear that either...

Now what the hell was wrong with that?!?!  That was kind of a funny joke, that really can't be appreciated until you've at least seen the film. . .  [CarnorJax] ::) ??? ::) ???[/CarnorJax]

Quote
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Put off buying three Star Wars figures for the next week or two...

Or that.

Now what?  Wasn't making any smart-ass comment, really--I'm sure you have a really nice collection, Matt.  Just saying that you can finally pick up this DVD for about as much as it would cost you to buy three Star Wars figures, that's all.

Quote
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Mothershitter!

And especially that!

(http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/images/smilies/crazy.gif)

Me and you, Matt, I think we don't exactly get each other all the time.   :-X
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 06:23 PM
By the way, here's:

Office Space (widescreen) for $12.97 shipped at Deep Discount DVD. . . (http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=FXD000845)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 08:00 PM
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 06:18 PM
Me and you, Matt, I think we don't exactly get each other all the time.   :-X

Damn, the internet's a tricky place...  Oh, I getchya just fine Matt, at least this time anyway!  I just didn't use enough (any) smileys for you to get me apparently...   ;)  I was going to throw some in there so you'd know I was just messin' with the whole thing, but I thought you'd figure that out with all of my silly repetitive response there!   :P  Guess not...   :-\

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 06:18 PM
Now I will not pretend like I didn't hear that one.  How dare you.  How dare you, sir.  To this day, the only thing that Cory and I have ever agreed upon is that the other one sucks. . .   ;)  I wasn't saying "watch out" for the pan-and-scan version like "hey, wow, get that one".  It was more like "pan-and-scan is the devil, make sure you don't accidentally get that kind!   :o "

Just a lighthearted jab at our resident DVD King  :-*, for even wasting your breath bringing up the ridiculous "pan-and-scan" format.  I know they're out there, as do most folks, and I think we're all well aware to keep our eyes open so as not to mistakenly scoop one up - especially since most movies are still available in both formats for some stupid reason.  Heck, even Cory's supposedly finally gotten with the Widescreen program...   :P  Guess I should stop in the DVD thread a little more often so you don't think I'm a total dope when it comes to these things...   ;)

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
(Hell, Matt--you wait too much longer, and you'll identify more with Lumbergh than you will with Peter.)   :o
----------------
I'll pretend I didn't hear that either...
----------------
Now what the hell was wrong with that?!?!  That was kind of a funny joke, that really can't be appreciated until you've at least seen the film. . .  [CarnorJax] ::) ??? ::) ???[/CarnorJax]

And again, I almost added the clarifying statement that "I'll assume that was an age crack on my old ass!  ;)", but didn't since I figured you'd figure that I figured that out!   :P  (which I obviously did)   Yes, I'll give you funny on that one!   :-*  And considering the plethora of age jokes that fly around JD (and that I'm one of the worst culprits), no offense taken...

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 06:18 PM
[CarnorJax] ::) ??? ::) ???[/CarnorJax]

That's another funny point for you BTW!   ;)
 
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Put off buying three Star Wars figures for the next week or two...
------------
Or that.
------------
Now what?  Wasn't making any smart-ass comment, really--I'm sure you have a really nice collection, Matt.  Just saying that you can finally pick up this DVD for about as much as it would cost you to buy three Star Wars figures, that's all.

Oh, c'mon now!  I was cracking a joke on myself there!  Suggesting that I not buy Star Wars figures for a couple weeks, is like telling an alcoholic to lay off the booze for a while...  Get it?  I was being funny at my own expense! (at least in my pea-sized noggin :P)  That barely even had anything to do with what you said really.

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Mothershitter!

And especially that!

(http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/images/smilies/crazy.gif)

That one's at least a little obvious though, isn't it?  Hopefully...?   :)

Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
Me and you, Matt, I think we don't exactly get each other all the time.   :-X

We'll have to work on that then.  This can be lesson one in our class of mutual understanding...   :-*

1.  Always use winking or kissy smileys when using sarcasm.

And just 'cause I know how much you love these - here's a few more so you can better understand where I'm coming from:

:-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*    :-*

And maybe a few of Scott's famous dancing chickens so that there's definitely no possibility of further confusion here...

(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)(http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/tagalog/Chicken.gif)

Granted last week's "Louise" response was a bit outta left field, but I figured a movie buff like yourself would catch on.  I'll work on it though!   :-*  (<------- last one for now, I swear!)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 08:57 PM
Quote from: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 08:00 PM
Granted last week's "Louise" response was a bit outta left field, but I figured a movie buff like yourself would catch on.

Well, I'll tell you.  I feel a little bad about not getting your reference, but I have a couple of good reasons:

First, I haven't seen that movie in about ten years, and even then, it was only just once, so I couldn't tell you one line from it.

And also, an old girlfriend's middle name was (and I'm assuming still is) "Louise", so I tend to kind of go into shell shock whenever I see or hear it.  Think of that opening scene in Saving Private Ryan, at Omaha Beach, when Tom Hanks' character just kind of spaces out for a few seconds, with that guy yelling "WHAT NOW, SIR!?!?" two feet in front of his face, and doesn't hear a damn word of it. . .  :-X
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Chris on December 17, 2003, 09:00 PM
Ummm yeah.... Matt.... if you could just get back to work, that would be greaaat. Yeah.... thanks....
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: JediMAC on December 17, 2003, 09:08 PM
Quote from: Virex on December 17, 2003, 08:57 PM
First, I haven't seen that movie in about ten years, and even then, it was only just once, so I couldn't tell you one line from it.

Sheesh.  Ain'tchya got TNT?!

Quote from: Chris Berry on December 17, 2003, 09:00 PM
Ummm yeah.... Matt.... if you could just get back to work, that would be greaaat. Yeah.... thanks....

I think he's talking to you Matt...  Don't know exactly what work it is that you should be attending to, but it sounds like you oughta hop to!

Me, I'm off to ROTK.  Save all the misunderstood sarcasm for me when I get back!   :-*
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on December 17, 2003, 09:17 PM
Quote from: Chris Berry on December 17, 2003, 09:00 PM
Ummm yeah.... Matt.... if you could just get back to work, that would be greaaat. Yeah.... thanks....

(http://www.steven-wright.com/sw.jpg)

(Again, I must steal borrow from Carrie. . .   :-\
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: FX-7 on March 5, 2004, 05:24 PM
This was on the ABC Family channel the other day...WTF were they thinking.  Seriously, every third word was bleeped out
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: smileyfaceguy on March 5, 2004, 06:30 PM
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/268293/jd3.jpg)

 :)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: DSJ™ on March 5, 2004, 06:35 PM
Were in the movie!  :D
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Mainland05 on March 5, 2004, 06:59 PM
I have never seen this film, but it does look really good! Funny, it looks hella funny.  Anyone care to tell me what the movie is about?
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Scott on March 5, 2004, 09:10 PM
Quote from: smileyfaceguy on March  5, 2004, 06:30 PM
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/268293/jd3.jpg)

 :)

This scene = My entire workday :P
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Famine on March 5, 2004, 09:18 PM
Quote from: Billy Corgan on December 17, 2003, 05:48 PM
(Not so fast, Mainland05 and Morgbug. . .)   :P

(Hell, Matt--you wait too much longer, and you'll identify more with Lumbergh than you will with Peter.)   :o

Haha, I get it, its because they are OLD!!!

 :-*


Kevin
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: paploo on March 6, 2004, 12:07 AM
i hate this movie...it reminds me way to much of my real life. I actually get annoyed and a little angry when he gets told about the TPS report for the 900th time...that is the kind of ass i get

(i figured i would use ass because we are allowed)
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Morgbug on March 6, 2004, 01:05 AM
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/268293/jd3.jpg)

Alt Tab.

Alt Tab

Damn it,

Alt Tab
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Ben on March 6, 2004, 11:48 AM
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/268293/jd3.jpg)

"Could ya come back another time, Lumbergh? I'm kinda busy here."
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: hansolo_506 on March 6, 2004, 12:16 PM
(http://www.virtualstapler.com/office_space/images/lumberg_nabs.jpg)
Pardon me, I belieb you hab my tapler.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Scott on April 14, 2004, 01:14 AM
Weird moment at work today, my boss was raving to me about this movie he just watched this weekend..."Office Space".  He loved it.  My boss is like 55 and lived in corporate America for most of the 80's and 90's so this movie connected a lot more with him than it does me.  I just thought it funny that two men with 25 years between them find humor in the same thing and to top it off, he's my boss.  Should I really laugh and say "Yeah, that's my work day here, Chief"
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: P'Dubs of the Sith on April 14, 2004, 10:50 AM
This movie is the official film of my workplace. We all know all the lines. Our Work motto is "Is this good for the company"  We must remember this motto before every major discission.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on May 26, 2004, 12:38 PM
So I think that JediMAC had said recently that his wife had rented this, so he could finally get a chance to watch it, so I figured I'd bump this up and ask the ultimate question:

Thoughts?
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: JediMAC on May 26, 2004, 06:49 PM
Funny, but I was wondering if anyone would notice that.  Yeah, I finally saw it a month or two ago, and never chimed my ass in here.

I liked it, and there were definitely some parts that were hysterical, and spot-on with my workplace.  But I think the years of hype got my expectations a tad too high, 'cause I wasn't quite as ecstatic about it as I thought I would be.  Definitely funny, and a good movie, but not quite as much as I was expecting/hoping for.  My favorite part (and the most closely related to my real life) was the commute at the beginning of the movie.  I was crying from laughing so hard at that part...   :P

I think I need to watch it again though, to catch the more subtle stuff I didn't notice the first time through.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on May 26, 2004, 06:54 PM
Yeah, the first half is great, but it gets less and less good as the whole "money-laundering" plot kicks in.

My opinion.

Still a great movie, though.

Glad you finally caught it.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Matt on November 7, 2005, 05:22 AM
An old Entertainment Weekly article on the cult of Office Space--interesting read:

---

The Fax Of Life

A box office loser gets promoted to cult classic. We're gonna need you to go ahead and rent Office Space, m'kay?

Have you ever wanted to punch your idiot boss in the face? Have you fought the urge to drop-kick a printer that's just sitting there, smirking ''PC Load Letter, PC Load Letter,'' out the window? Have you felt bullied into chipping in five hard-earned bucks toward your drip coworker's birthday present? If you've ever seen Office Space, you know you are not alone.

The freaks can have their Rocky Horror Picture Show. The geeks can get off on Spinal Tap. But we office drones depend on Mike Judge's 1999 cubicle comedy to carry us through the pay cycle.

In the four years since the movie's release, Office Space, a glorious send-up of 9-to-5 absurdities and humiliations, has evolved into a stealth blockbuster. The movie -- starring average-Joe actor Ron Livingston and not-so-average-Jane superstar Jennifer Aniston -- has sold more than 2.6 million copies on VHS and DVD and has become a most unlikely cult classic. And, more important, it ruined Michael Bolton's life. (The balladeer is memorably dismissed as a ''no-talent ass clown.'') ''They had to make that f -- -ing movie!'' Bolton complained to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. ''I was doing fine. Then they made this movie, and I can't go anywhere!''

And to think that Office Space initially seemed like a disaster. Remembers Judge: ''There was a while there where I just thought, 'Man, I made the hugest turd of a movie.'''

If there were ever an ideal place to while away a workday, it'd have to be Mike Judge's Austin office space. In place of time sheets and Styrofoam coffee cups are a pool table, a pile of guitars, and a pale pink sofa autographed by Cher. But even in this dream den of teenage cool, Judge, 40, looks miserable.

''Oh, God, this is awful,'' he says, chuckling. ''It just brings back all these horrible memories.'' The Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill creator's live-action debut flopped hard at the box office, barely recouping its $10 million budget. Hurt by weak buzz and mixed reviews, Office Space was a blip on the big screen. Reliving the experience stresses him out, but the dude's got a pool table, and probably breaks for margaritas at four. He can handle it.

Judge never really wanted to make the movie, based on his animated Saturday Night Live shorts about an oily automaton named Milton and his suspender-slick boss, but his producers and Twentieth Century Fox talked him into it. Flush from the success of There's Something About Mary, the studio was pushing for another big, broad comedy.

''My God,'' remembers Judge, ''when we were watching the dailies, the execs were like, 'More energy! More energy! We gotta reshoot it! You're failing! You're failing!''' His gangsta-rap soundtrack gave Fox heart palpitations until a focus group voted pro-hardcore. And he hated his ending. ''Coming out of the last test screening I had an epiphany of what the ending should be,'' he remembers. ''A complete rewrite of the third act. You could feel how it should have ended. So that was kind of a bummer.''

Judge blames himself for the film's flaws, but he thinks the studio's marketing plans didn't help matters. ''I hated the poster,'' says Judge. ''People were like, 'What is this? A big bird? A mummy? A beekeeper?' And the tag line 'Work Sucks'? It looked like an Office Depot ad. I just hated it. I hated the trailers, too, and the TV ads especially.'' Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman Tom Rothman agrees that ''the campaign failed to connect. But Office Space isn't like American Pie. It doesn't have the kind of jokes you put in a 15-second television spot of somebody getting hit on the head with a frying pan. It's sly. And let me tell you, sly is hard to sell.''

So nobody was surprised when Office Space limped into wide release on its opening weekend. ''As much as I was bummed out,'' says Judge, ''I was actually kind of looking forward to getting out of Hollywood and just relaxing.'' No more big-studio movies. No more test screenings. No more sleepless Friday nights waiting for the dreaded Saturday-morning call that confirms you did fail and your movie failed and you are one big fat failure. Who needs it?

On the Monday after the movie's release, Jim Carrey's manager called. Carrey loved the film and wanted to meet. Chris Rock called two weeks later.

The cult of Office Space has since gotten larger. A lot larger. Devotees skip happy hour in favor of Friday-night Office parties. They square off in quoting wars. They get sucked into heated eBay auctions for movie paraphernalia. Horn in on any Office Space chat room and a few things immediately become clear. Bosses blow. Mike Judge rules. And the fansite of choice is BullshitJob.com, which boasts an impressive tribute to the movie. Stuart Gaston, the site's 28-year-old Portland, Ore.-based webmaster, feels your paid-by-the-hour pain. ''I worked at this dreary computer job, and a colleague was like, 'You gotta see this movie,''' says Gaston. ''We were talking about how much our job sucked, and he said, 'Come over, we'll have some beers, and we'll watch Office Space.'''

Besides offering an altar before which fans can bow down, Gaston's site invites visitors to send in all the inane, insulting e-mails and memos bosses send out every day. ''You'd be surprised at the number of people who've worked in jobs like Office Space,'' says Gaston. ''At work, we can tell if somebody hasn't seen the movie. We'll recommend that they see it, and if they say 'I'm too busy' or they see it and don't get it, we don't like that person.''

Such communal bonding (or shunning) helped create a video-store sensation -- so much so that years later, the movie's performance continues to surprise the studio. After checking and rechecking sales figures, Fox Home Entertainment spokesperson Steve Feldstein murmurs, ''Huh, interesting, very interesting. [Deep pause of disbelief] Well, Office Space is in the top 30 best-sellers of what we've ever released on DVD. Wait, no. Top 25. Wait, top 20.''

Office Space now stands in the same ballpark as its onetime nemesis There's Something About Mary on the studio's best-seller list. ''I could tell you what it outsold, but I'd get shot for it,'' says a clearly stunned Feldstein. ''It sort of took the path like Austin Powers. Think about it. The first one was marginally successful but its amazing popularity on video is what spawned the sequel.'' Fox is now anxious to release a special-edition DVD with extras like the original ''Milton'' shorts, but Judge says the studio wants to stiff him on the deal, so he won't sign off. Rather tactfully, all a studio spokesperson will say is that ''discussions are ongoing.''

College kids and clock punchers started approaching Livingston when Office Space hit video stores. ''But I remember it really kicking off when it seemed like the movie was on Comedy Central around the clock,'' he says. ''All of a sudden I was getting stopped by jazz musicians and old ladies and junior high school kids.'' (The cable network premiered the movie on Aug. 5, 2001, to the tune of 1.4 million viewers, and has since broadcast it another 33 times.)

After 30 viewings, Dan, a 29-year-old carpenter from Hammond, Ind., was so enamored with the irreverent appeal of the movie's hero that he gave up his engineering career. ''I get a lot of people who say 'I quit my job because of you,''' says Livingston. ''That's kind of a heavy load to carry. You know, it's just a comedy.''

Fans soon started asking Stephen Root -- who gives Milton's queer attachment to his red Swingline a creepy, hilarious vibe -- to sign their staplers. ''The first time I said, 'Wha?! You're talking about Office Space, right?''' says Root. ''And they went, 'Dude! You were Milton, man!' I'd go to parties to promote King of the Hill [on which Root is the voice of Bill Dauterine] and people would be there with friggin' staplers until Swingline finally brought out the candy red stapler.'' In April 2002, the company released the 747 Rio Red stapler in honor of the numerous requests from Office Space fans.

Selling a few thousand staplers is one thing. But in January, the movie Super Bowl-sized its critical mass. The most popular commercial during the big game was Reebok's ''Terry Tate: Office Linebacker'' ad. In it, the football star clotheslines a colleague who forgot to put a cover sheet on his TPS report -- an unforgivable offense in Office Space. Rawson Thurber, the 27-year-old director of the ad, wasn't worried that his direct homage would go unnoticed. ''I knew the cool kids would get it,'' he says. ''It was sort of a comedy snob test. If you get the reference, then you're in the club.''

Austin-based Web-content manager Jenny Ferguson, 37, could run for club president. Ferguson, bless her fluorescent-lit heart, used to work at the office park where Judge filmed his movie. Her onetime dotcom digs, a glowing island of gray desks festooned with the occasional ''Reach for the Stars!'' banner, would have made anyone feel like a rat in a low-ceilinged cage. ''Knowing those halls and walls makes you some kind of geek celebrity,'' says Ferguson. ''A favorite quote of the cube-dwelling masses is 'God, I feel like I'm living Office Space.' But I always say, 'No, dude, I really did live Office Space.'''

When the dotcom bubble burst, Ferguson was forced to lay off a colleague. She sent her buddy home with a fat severance package and her extra copy of the movie. ''He thanks me to this day,'' she says.

Mike Judge takes deep pleasure in his movie's resurrection, but he still can't bring himself to watch the damn thing. ''I was channel-flipping once and Office Space was on,'' he says. ''I watched it for like a minute and a half. I was like, 'Yeah, I don't want to go through this again.' So I shut it off.''

Despite Judge's reservations, Fox is hot for him to make a sequel. ''You should tell him it's a good idea!'' says studio chief Rothman. ''Please encourage him because we want to do it. Although we'd have to come up with a better title. Ha! Office Space, Still Renting!'' Judge swears he'll remain immune to such franchise fever. A return to the corporate world could only disappoint. Right? ''It's weird,'' he says. ''Here's this movie that bombed. But now I think the expectations would be too high.'' In other words, Judge just might take the job offer and shove it.
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Darth_Anton on November 7, 2005, 10:06 AM
Great artical.

You know, I forget that people actually like this movie. When I saw it in the theater, everyone else I saw it with hated it. Took a long time for me to convince those people to see another movie I recomended. :P  I thought is was brilliant, especially with it's near perfect cast. (come on, Ron Livingston, Gary Cole, Stephen Root, Diedrich Bader and John C. McGinley all in one movie!) It also put Ajay Naidu on my radar.

I can really sympathize with Mike Judge on this. Office Space is the perfect example where the studio messes thing up in one way or the other and I respect Judge for not bending over and taking it. I think if the average Joe on the street knew all the behind the scenes, they would appretiate his work even more. 
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: blaster_e11 on November 7, 2005, 12:21 PM
never seen this movie, i don't hink it has been released in france (either theater or dvd)
gotta find a way to see it without buying it of course
Title: Re: "Office Space"
Post by: Nathan on November 7, 2005, 03:35 PM
That's an excellent article. Thanks for posting it.

Quote from: Bill Cosby on November  7, 2005, 05:22 AM
And, more important, it ruined Michael Bolton's life. (The balladeer is memorably dismissed as a ''no-talent ass clown.'') ''They had to make that f -- -ing movie!'' Bolton complained to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. ''I was doing fine. Then they made this movie, and I can't go anywhere!''

That's hilarious! Did he really say that? (http://cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/c040.gif)