After Hours

After Hours is so unique and interwoven that repeat viewings are almost required. The film is completely over the top in every respect, but that is part of what makes it so compelling. Funny, smart, and imaginative. Scorsese's genius move here is that as Paul progresses onwards into the night, the film slowly loses its balance and topples over into a distinct category of weirdness. The beginning is fairly standard and realistic. It is typical Scorsese with exterior shots of New York City, character-driven dialogue and so on and so forth. About 1/3 of the way through it becomes a bizarre hell ride and Scorsese lets loose on everything. It's brilliant film-making and a devastating satire of New York's late-night underbelly. Scorsese is at the top of his game here. Many techniques would be used five years later in Goodfellas. Note the ringing phone and the abrupt lunge forward; the keys being tossed out of the window in first-person perspective; the rotating camera as it pans around Paul's head in a diner; and so on and so forth. The film is thoroughly engaging and it works like a dream, it has no intention of explaining itself, and as the title suggests; it is meant to be watched after midnight. Need to upgrade this to the Criterion 4k.