Corner Office Review – It doesn’t matter if it’s real, what matters it what it stands for

[tabs slidertype=”top tabs”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext]Movie Synopsis[/tabtext] [tabtext]Directors & Writers[/tabtext] [tabtext]Cast[/tabtext] [tabtext]Cinematography, Editing & Music[/tabtext] [tabtext]Distribution & Release[/tabtext] [/tabcontainer] [tabcontent] [tab]As Orson, The Authority’s newest employee, finds himself trapped in the absurdities of corporate life, his alienation deepens when he discovers a room he’s told doesn’t exist.[/tab] [tab]Directors: Joachim Back

Writers: Ted Kipper, Jonas Karlsson[/tab] [tab]Jon Hamm, Danny Pudi, Sarah Gadon, Christopher Heyerdahl, Allison Riley, Bill Marchant, Kimberley Shoniker, Shawn Macdonald[/tab] [tab]Cinematographer: Pawel Edelman

Editing: James Norris

Music: Frans Bak, Keld Haaning Ibsen[/tab] [tab]Distributed by: Lionsgate

Release Date: May 8th 2024 Platform: Digital[/tab] [/tabcontent] [/tabs]

What’s most amusing to me about Jon Hamm is how he sort of re-created the 1960s to be very popular in Mad Men. He became something of an idolised figure in that character and look and has spent years since not resting on that image and often challenging it. Look no further than Corner Office for an example of that in which Hamm places the polar opposite of Don Draper.

Orson (Hamm) starts his employment at The Authority as the Corner Office begins. His inner monologue guided us through his thoughts on the first day, the work itself, and his impressions of fellow employees. His actual work and what he’s doing is primarily unknown, but it doesn’t matter. Similar to what’s happening in Apple TV’s Severance (something comparable to look and feel, but not direction), it’s unimportant. What matters is that Orsen sees himself as someone important to this business the moment he walks through the doors and quickly discovers a secret office in the back of the building. It is a large, relaxing room with colour, ornaments and personality. Something at odds with the grey and dull landscape of his actual workplace and the monotonous clicking and clattering of keyboards. But the thing about this corner office is that it might not be real.

As Osen enters the office and relaxes, he takes a breather or even does some work inside. His fellow employees, and even his boss, see him just standing and staring at the wall in which Orsen entered the room. So, is the room real, or is it all inside Orsen’s head? Corner Office, at one stage, appears to be heading in the direction of uncovering what is and isn’t reality, and if you get caught up in this questioning, you could find yourself quickly disappointed in what the film becomes more interested in exploring, which is Orsen himself.

There’s some very dry humour here, and Jon Hamm gives a fantastic performance that anchors this oddball film, but it’s going to be hard for people to get on board between a rather unlikable character and an apparent lack of proper narrative. I viewed it as a lens into the brain of someone seeking solitude and peace within the busywork of an office building or insights into a high-function autistic and the challenges they face. Either work, either a unique thesis to view the film under, but neither particularly a gripping box office quote.

(Screener provided to Explosion Network.
Read about our review and ethics policy here.)