September 27, 2004
Haiku Tunnel
I wanted to see this when it came out, but it disappeared from theatres all too quickly. Finally Tivoed it last week. I started it intending to only watch the first half hour and then ended up staying up late until it was done.
Haiku Tunnel is about a guy named Josh who is a temp worker. He's always done well with this, but at one particular law firm, he is asked to go "perm" on his first day. He gives in because they offer to pay for his psychotherapy. On this first day of work, he is given one very important task to do: type up 17 letters and mail them out. He is very productive on his first day, with the exception of finishing hte letters. The rest of the week quickly spins out of control as he gets distracted by writing his novel, finding interest with a girl, and giving in to the temptations of his bed.
This movie cracked me up. First of all, it's got a lot of things I identify with as a secretary, such as always inserting the word "just" into the phrase, "I'm just a secretary." Second of all, it's just funny. Josh has all of these side stories and narrations going on throughout the movie.
Each day, Josh is a little bit later to work, and a little bit crazier than you thought he was at the beginning of the movie. His justifications for his actions are great, including showing a diagram of his brain to point out where his intentions broke off from his actions and made him lie to someone. He starts leaving long and revealing messages on the voicemail of the Head Secretary (who, by the way, is accompanied by a whirling-windy sound any time she walks by Josh's desk), telling the voicemail about his childhood, his fantasies, and anything else he can come up with.
Anyway, the story is pretty creative in how one little task can be procrastinated on for an entire week. And watching Josh go from calm to crazy is also pretty funny. I'd share my favorite moment with you, involving some papers that get printed in the wrong building, but that would ruin the joke for you...
I laughed a lot and even re-watched it with Ric, who laughed even harder. Fun movie.
Posted by wendytime at September 27, 2004 08:34 AM | TrackBack