office space.
yes i know the movie came out in 1999, but i never really watched it all until sunday morning at 1AM. and per the discussion with Ms. Cali-Ass i somehow agreed (probably cause it's one of her favorite movies) to write a report on the major theme and relationship between the protagonist and antagonist of the movie. so i guess this is my report on office space. how'd i agree to this again?
office space is most widely known for its honest caricature of office life and cubicle wars. the clear defined lines of who is a worker and who is management has never been shown in a more brutally honest view. throughout the film there are a number of themes that are shown and different relationships that bud from these themes.
while there are many themes that come across in office space, ranging from dealing with the monotony and stresses of everyday work life to planning and carrying out plans of revenge. the theme that seemed prominent to me throughout the movie was actually the struggle that one goes through to balance their personal life with their work life. Peter, Samir (oh man an indian guy. she'll get why i wanna laugh), and Michael struggle through each day of work. each day there is too much asked of them, machines that don't work properly, and an overall detrimental work environment. their only solace and escape from work, is to literally escape work. whether escape is attained through visiting Chotchkie's or by trying to leave early undetected, there is no doubt that the three of them do not want to be at work. the theme runs rampant throughout the movie as even minor and supporting characters are shown stressing out due to the thought of having to deal with work. Joanna hates her job at Chotchkie's and having to deal with "pieces of flair." Tom is stressed at having to deal with customers even though he has people skills. and Milton was stressed out enough to actually take on one of the other themes that shows up in the movie, revenge.
besides Milton's climactic assault, revenge is shown throughout the movie in certain ways. in the first example of revenge, Peter, Samir, and Michael steal the office fax machine (which had been a bane in Michael's office life) and literally beat the shit outta it while the ghetto boys play in the background (nothing like appropriate music i guess). Tom gets his idea of revenge by not having to go the job anymore due to the fact that he was in a serious accident and has a huge settlement coming his way. the other main attempt at revenge is shown through the plan that is devised once Peter is moved into a management position by the Bobs. Samir and Michael have found out that they are going to be let go and Peter suggests a way to get back at the middle management that they hate so much. in a scheme that utilizes the talents of each member, a computer virus is made to skim a fraction of a penny from every account held by the company and those "earnings" are to be put in an account that Peter, Samir and Michael would have access to that would be used later on in life. though ultimately the virus doesn't work as expected and Peter has a conscience attack that would make him return the money, revenge was the idea that was played out, and it was played out best by Milton.
Milton was an employee of the company that was taken advantage of, not dealt with in a healthy way and had his most prized possession taken from him, his red stapler. after years of "abuse," Milton decides to take his stapler and show that he isn't one to be taken lightly (don't ever fuck with the crazy quiet guy). he gets his red stapler back (and the money that Peter had returned in the form of travelers checks) and sets fire to the company presumably killing the main antagonist of the movie, Lumbergh.
the relationship between the main antagonist, Lumbergh and the main protagonist, Peter is one that can be related to by a majority of the working population, the relationship of the worker and the supervisor. while many people are lucky that they have a supervisor that is cool, Peter did not have such luck. Lumbergh is a micro managing uncaring middle manager who would take credit for his employees work so he could afford gas for his porsche that was missing the rear bumper (well after a failed towing attempt. one should never park in a handicap spot). Peter's thirst for vengeance can be compared to Edmond Dantes from the Count of Monte Cristo. and once he is given the means for vengeance (a spot in middle management that he earned while chasing his dream of doing nothing, and maybe gutting a fish on his desk at work), Peter is able to take Lumbergh on at his own game. but with his vengeance, there comes a price. After hearing that his new girlfriend once slept with Lumbergh (apparently not the same Lumbergh), Peter becomes more enraged until eventually he sees the point that Joanna was trying to make and decides that he and his friends were wrong in trying to take revenge. while most relationships are complex, the relationship between Peter and Lumbergh is of a more simple cause and effect. Peter's undue stress is caused by Lumbergh and the resulting effect is one that eventually leads to the destruction of the company, Lumbergh's possible death, and a series of events that leads to Peter's redemption by finding a job that he truly likes and not following through As far as Lumbergh's role in the relationship, Lumbergh was definitely the cause, but what other role may have Lumbergh played in Peter's life? Perhaps Lumbergh can be also seen as a necessary evil in Peter's development as a character. if this character had not been around, where would have Peter been? perhaps happy with his job and not in a scheme to seek revenge.
there are other possibilities as to what the relationship of what Lumbergh and Peter could've been, but the clearest example is the one where Peter wishes to play avenger and take out Lumbergh and the company that has done him wrong. even though Peter is a good guy, his thirst for vengeance clouds his judgment until he realizes what he may have to lose. even though that may be the storyline for the prototypical redeemed avenger, Peter plays the role well until the fiery end when vengeance is quenched and his need for innocence and a clear conscience is absolved.
even though Peter is the chosen avenger, he's not the one who delivers justice. Milton is the big winner in the end when the theme of vengeance is brought to a close (of sorts. i wouldn't want to be the waiter who stiffed him on his drink in the end. who knows what kind of stuff he might try to do. i guess he should be glad that he didn't take his stapler).
in the end Office Space is a great comedy, but it also has societal commentary (i love how michael is listening to gangsta rap but still locks his door when the black guy walks up to his car) and can draw parallels to some modern classics in the themes and relationships that are presented. "fuckin A."
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