Cult figure Crispin Glover lends his eerie presence to Bartleby, a modern adaptation of the classic short story "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Herman Melville (author of Moby Dick). The unnamed manager of a public records firm (David Paymer), after receiving a commission from the city government, hires a new clerk--an inarticulate man named Bartleby (Glover), who proves to be an efficient filer. But gradually, Bartleby begins to withdraw from the world, first refusing to do additional tasks, then finally refusing to do any work at all--yet due to Bartleby's utterly passive means of refusal (he simply says, "I would prefer not to"), the manager feels incapable of firing him. The movie inconsistently captures the subtle tone of Melville's story, but at its best Bartleby becomes quietly mesmerizing and unsettling. Also featuring Glenne Headley, Seymour Cassel, Maury Chaykin, and Joe Piscopo. --Bret Fetzer
2.
Former musician Jonathan Parker makes his feature film directorial debut with a modern retelling of the Herman Melville classic, BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER. The off-kilter comedy follows the boss of a public records company (played by David Paymer), whose life slowly begins to unravel when he hires a new employee. The quiet and reserved clerk, Bartleby (Crispin Glover), is at first a welcome addition to the office, especially when compared to the distracting presences of sultry secretary Vivian (Glenne Headly), macho Rocky (Joe Piscopo), and whiny Ernie (Maury Chaykin). But when the boss's requests for Bartleby to perform any tasks other than filing, his enigmatic replies of, "I would prefer not to," begin to test everyone's patience. The situation becomes more troubling when the boss learns that Bartleby has, in fact, begun to sleep in the office. Fed up with his inability to perform the simplest of tasks, he fires Bartleby, who remains in the office nonetheless. Finally, the boss moves locations in order to break free from the mysterious void of a man, who has formed a strange attachment to the building. This doesn't provide a refuge from Bartleby's presence, however, which continues to haunt him at every waking moment. A colorful and quirky tale, BARTLEBY features another bizarre performance from the always-eccentric Glover.
This film screened as part of the 2001 New Directors/New Films series organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City.
3.
Bartleby, the eccentric new employee at a public records firm, inspires complete and utter chaos by preferring not to work.
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