Late Night Shopping (2001) User Reviews

Best Brit film in years!

[statto4ever · 8/10 · 26 February 2002]

My faith is slowly but surely being restored in the British film industry. It would seem that the steady tirade of shoddy Lock, Stock & Bridget Jones rip-off's is being offset by some nice low budget character driven pieces that are begging to be seen by a larger audience.

Late Night Shopping is one such film. Yet to secure a release in the US, this is definitely a film to keep an eye out for.

Saul Metzstein's debut feature is a glorious exploration of friendship and how we choose to spend our lives. The four main characters all work nightshifts and spend the time before and after work drinking coffee and talking about how they hate their jobs and lives in general.

Lenny works in a directory enquiries call centre and has trouble speaking to women. Sean is a hospital porter who's girlfriend works a day shift, consequently he never sees her and wonders if she still stays with him. Vincent works in a supermarket and is a self-confessed womaniser who has a three strike rule. He will only sleep with a woman three times before he dumps them. Jody works for a computer components company and constantly feels left out by the three boys.

The four talk and go about their dull, mundane existence. The film however is anything but mundane. The tight script from Jack Lothian sparkles with wit and charm and you grow attached to the characters and genuinely feel for them. The story doesn't fall into cheap clichés and keeps the viewer on it's toes, not rushing into any obvious or cheesy climaxes.

In a welcome change of pace for recent British movie the film contains no violence and no drug-use. Sex is hinted at rather than shown and swearing is kept to a minimum.

The movie was filmed in Glasgow and director Saul Metzstein does a bang up job off making the grey, gloomy city that I know look like a bustling, lively metropolis. In-fact If I didn't know it was filmed in Glasgow I would have a hard job recognising it, although I did spot a few places that I know.

I'm not familiar with any of the actors from the film, but I was very impressed with the performances that they give. They really made me feel for them and I saw I bit of myself in each one (being a twentysomething loser in a dead-end job myself).

Late Night Shopping is easily one of the best films to come out of Britain in a long time and demands to be seen by as many people as possible.

4/5

Nice story, some good jokes, surprising plot.

[Lex23 · 7/10 · 13 December 2003]

I never heard about the movie when I decided to watch it. Wanted to know if I was in for a nice surprise. And i really was. I won't say the movie is a must-see, but it's a nice comedy with some original jokes. It's also an interesting look on the world that normal people always miss because they're asleep.

The persons in the movie have a nice character and there will definitely be someone you can identify yourself with. Nice story, some good jokes, surprising plot. In short: 85 minutes of your life you absolutely could have spend worse.

enjoyable

[Magnakai · 8/10 · 24 January 2002]

I just watched Late Night Shopping, and I have to say that it's one of the most refreshing and enjoyable films that I've watched in a long time. And, working in a video shop, I guess that's saying something. This film shows a situation that could only possibly arise in the late 20th century, with our 24 hour consumer driven world. Not that that's the point of the film, I just thought that it was intresting. Anyway, the film is funny, the script's fairly intelligent, and the acting, while not excellent, is fairly good. I should note that this is the kind of film that you'd almost only ever see made in Britain. There are plenty of nice little touches in the film. The way that the city that they live in is never named, and just appears completely bog-standard, compared to the specific location of the town at the end shows how their life has fallen into such a routine.

This film might not go onto the 100 greatest films of all time, but it was certainly enjoyable, and what more can you ask than that?

A damn sight better than this page would have you believe

[DCT-2 · 21 January 2002]

I really enjoyed this film. It was much better than I was expecting from the box, which suggested both (i) another pointless Trainspotting knock-off and (ii) a laugh out loud pant-wetting comedy, of which this is neither (although there are some hilarious moments).

In fact this is a subtle comedy about a group of acquaintances becoming friends. The 'stupid coincidences' others have criticized here (the two girls knowing each other, Vince inadvertently pulling Sean's girlfriend) are indeed coincidences, but that is exactly the point. Because they ever only interact in the rather bleak nothingness of their nocturnal world, and superficially know so little about one another, they have no idea how interconnected their lives really are and how much they share.

A theme running through the film is the distinction between acquaintances, 'people you pass the time with', and friends. Which category do this group fall into? The unwitting and unrealised intersections between their lives initially indicate the former. However, their actions in helping Sean recover his girlfriend as the story goes suggest otherwise. Only Vince, the superficially shallow womaniser (and probably the best character), insists consistently that they *are* friends, that it is their actions towards one another that define their relationship, not the facts they can remember. By the film's (somewhat open) ending, the core group have moved firmly into the 'friends' category, not by learning that many more facts about each other, but by developing an understanding of each other's needs.

It's worth pointing out that this is all achieved without sentimental gushing at any point, something of a relief, and the films cynical tone rarely wavers. It's a credit to the young cast that they can express so much with barely a single heartfelt monologue.

There is also an underlying theme about the twenty-four hour society and the mundane, prospect-free jobs the group have. During the night, nothing changes - no-one really grows or develops, nothing is resolved, there is an air of helplessness at a bleak future doing the same pointless job for the rest of your life. (As Vince says, `And then what?'). It is only when they emerge into the daylight that anything can, and does, happen - things finally start to change.

In addition, the film is well directed and the production style is modern and distinctive without being intrusive. It's a relief to see a film with a young cast which has a bit of texture and depth, and which has not been designed around it's soundtrack.

All-in-all a very enjoyable watch, which is thought-provoking if you want it to be, and still very funny if you don't.

PS I feel obliged to answer at least some of the rather churlish and unfair criticisms which the film has received here:

1. `Why doesn't Sean just phone his girlfriend to see if she's still there?' Well, the other characters ask him this too, so it's not a plot hole. Instead it is establishing his character - he is incapable of facing up to the possibility she has gone, and paralysed by his fear of being alone. He's a bit neurotic, a bit paranoid, and he's stuck in his night-time world where nothing happens.

2. `How does Vince know where they are going?' BECAUSE LENNY TOLD HIM! This is established in the very next shot, when Jody realises the fact in the car and thumps Lenny. If you won't pay attention..

3. `Why are they all English when it's filmed in Glasgow? Why do the stop at a service station not on the route from Glasgow to Saltcoats?' Duh.. Just because it was filmed in Glasgow and Saltcoats, and therefore *looks* like Glasgow and Saltcoats, it is never confirmed to *be* these places. (In fact the seaside town was explicitly called something else). The city isn't supposed to be Glasgow, it's a fictitious AnyCity, UK. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT IS! It's not supposed to be anywhere *real*, because it's a story!

Can ordinary life entertain?

[stamper · 7/10 · 16 December 2002]

These days, the majority of people on earth watch American films, which are quite often filled with action and / or effects. There are of course films about ordinary life, like American Beauty, which attract major attention, but are there any else? Does the film industry consist of films full of action and effects and a few simple made, though qualitatively good films? Are all good films made in America? The answer to those questions are No and No!!! There are films, that do manage to entertain without big effects and explosions. Some of them are made in America and remain virtually unknown like Finding Forrester. But there are also a number of good and simply made European films, that never get the attention they deserve. Hereby I must add that the level of attention European films get is even lower than the attention that is given to simply made American films (unless it is some sort of HIT film). Late Night Shopping is one of those European films that deals with ordinary life, but does it manage to entertain? Before I get to that though, I must tell you, that this movie is targeted at a late teen / young adult audience, which is not a bad thing, but Since I've seen the film I must tell you, that this film will not be enjoyed by many persons not belonging to the target audience.

Late night shopping, is about four youngsters Jody, Vincent, Sean and Lenny who all work graveyard shifts. After work these ‘acquaintances' meet in a café to talk about their daily hassles. There it is, that we meet those four persons that will dictate the next 91 minutes of our life. In the course of the film, a lot becomes clear, about the personalities of the characters, but this film is more than a character study. It also shows the development and of true friendship. I'd like to quote Vincent here, standing on a miniature golf course with Lenny, but I do not want to spoil your viewing experience. Of course I realized, that nothing much happens in this film. I noticed that it contains a lot of pointless behavior, like sitting in a café, talking or riding around in the car with no particular place to go, but aren't those pointless routines, what make life enjoyable? Isn't it great to be able to do nothing special with your friends and having fun at the same time?

By know, I might have you thinking, that this is the best film of all times, well it is entertaining, but it isn't that good. I mean, the actors, the story and the music are all good, without any ground breaking achievements, but what really made the difference between this being a pretty good film and a good film, was the director I think. I feel, that if he had paced and directed this movie just a notch better, it would have done the trick and this film would have been good. Now it is just pretty good. I know some people might argue that the ‘soap scenes' are idiotic, but they didn't bother me at all. As far as pointless films go this one holds up pretty well, despite not being able to match itself with Mallrats or Chasing Amy (which are both American films by the way).

7 out of 10

Being 25 in Glasgow

[stensson · 7/10 · 11 November 2001]

Funny, all right. Well played, certainly. Distinct characters and lots of kind irony towards their generation and towards grown-ups in different shapes. There might be a future for British comedy, but if one is comparing (and one always is), one thinks of British comedy of the 50s, that had a broader view in people and had a love for the "small" ones in the British society that one can't find in Late Night Shopping. There is some bitterness here. We laugh at people but not always with them.

After all this however is not a cynical movie. The dialogue is intelligent and so do our laughing become. This is about ordinary life, which might be exciting indeed.

Much better than most comments indicate

[stephen-114 · 9/10 · 13 September 2001]

Most of the votes for this film are 7-10 yet most of the comments are lukewarm to hostile, which baffles me as I found it consistently enjoyable, intelligently scripted and very well acted. The only disappointment was that, although recognisably filmed in Glasgow, it appears to be set in some non-specific English city in which none-the-less all the minor characters have Scots accents. Despite this I gave it a 9.

Great.

[The_Triad · 7/10 · 6 December 2006]

Late Night Shopping is a fairly imaginative character film based around a group of people who work night shifts.

The film succeeds in it's subject matter, thanks to a good script containing all sorts of musing dialogue about life, philosophy and relationships that never feels overwritten, enabling the reality of the piece to flourish. The characters are all well drawn, on the surface, there's the shy one, the one with girlfriend problems, the mysterious one and the ladies man, but thankfully over the course of the film thanks to it's character based nature the characters become real and interesting.

The plot largely takes a back seat to allow us to spend time with these characters until it develops into a more conventional romantic drama sort of thing towards the end. I'd liken it to the film Swingers (one scene in particular is identical) due to the "mates hanging out" theme of the film, with a subtle hint of beat culture (the film contains a few Kerouac and Salinger references).

A good film to watch, and an achievement in solid, decent film-making.

warm, funny, and well worth a visit

[jack-310 · 9/10 · 28 June 2001]

I had a lot of trepidation about going to see Late Night Shopping, especially as most UK films are unfortunately terrible. Late Night Shopping stood out from the crowd though, as a stylish, amusing and very likeable picture. There's something nicely old fashioned about the film, it reminded me of times as being Billy Wilder-esque. It doesn't insult the audiences intelligence, rather it builds slowly, so by the time you are in the third act, without even realising it, you've developed a real affection for these characters. The jokes are amusing- especially the car radio gag, which you'd have to be made of stone not to chuckle at- and the performances are uniformly good, especially Kate Ashfield as the cast-out Jody, and James Lance as lothario Vincent. He manages the feat of being slimy, charming and entertaining all at once.

It's not the perfect picture, but it's so good natured and fast moving that minor quibbles about the plot seem pointless. Yes, the premise is a little rocky if you think about it, but it's a very British thing to concentrate on these things and seem them as faults. Like good American cinema, Late Night Shopping grabs you by the collar, takes you on a ride, and doesn't let you worry about the details. For once, UK cinema has produced something contemporary, relative and FUN.

Some of the dialogue is overwritten, and for the first 20 minutes the film seems to hesitate about putting it's cojones on the line. There is a convenient plot coincidence 60 minutes in, although this is totally forgiveable as a) This is the movies and b) It leads to the film's funniest sequence, on a freezing cold crazy golf course. All around me the cinema was erupting in laughter. The direction was fluid, the script (in most) worked, and the cinematography was excellent, giving the picture a refreshing gloss. As for the music... what can you say about 80's Power Ballads? They rock. Late Night Shopping is a funky, hip little movie that provides 90-odd minutes of entertainment before kicking you out with a smile on your face.

CHECKERED MASONIC SYMBOLISM

[essenceprince · 5/10 · 13 August 2022]

WOW I CAN'T HELP BUT TO NOTICE THE GIRL WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE CHECKERED (MASONIC SYMBOLISM) SKIRT. I NOTICE THEY ALMOST ALWAYS INCLUDE SOME SORT OF SYMBOLISM IN ALL OF THESE MOVIES. WOW IT'S EITHER A MASONIC BLACK & WHITE OR JUST (CHECKERED FLOOR) OR THE CLOTHING IS PLAID OR MASONIC TYPE CHECKRED PATTERNS. WOW! THEY REALLY MAKE SURE THEY ALWAYS PUT THE SYMBOLISM IN THESE MOVIES, SO CRAZY AND INTERESTING!

Much better than American romantic movies

[ben-152 · 10/10 · 14 October 2005]

After eying this movie at the local library, I thought I'd rent it. The set up sounded interesting, and My cousin lives in Glasgow. It was very well done, the acting believable so the workers who watch this movie will relate, the set ups are funny like when one person car has a bad radio station playing only bad 80's love songs, which in the end is works like normal. And it's also got some sad moments like when a senior worker gets a heart attack, and the pain of being cheated on. Plus it has wit and sarcasm.And Each of the friends managing their jobs is just painful but fun, and makes you maybe want a night shift job. Definitely a film not to miss. So check this movie out at a video store. You will love it. Ben

Awful

[Robin Kelly · 1/10 · 23 June 2001]

The idea is to have something interesting happening in the first ten minutes to keep the audience hooked. Late Night Shopping manages to avoid interest for much longer than that. When we do get to a point, it is so monumentally moronic that I kept thinking I must have misunderstood it. But I didn't.

Sean tells the story of an Osaka landlord who rented the same apartment to two people at the same time who worked different shifts and so didn't realise they were sharing. His friend asks "But what about the weekends?" Sean doesn't have an adequate explanation. Sean then tells the story of his own similar problem, which is that he isn't sure his girlfriend is still living at home as he works during the night and she works during the day so they never see each other. This has been going on for three weeks. But his friend doesn't ask: "Yes, but as I said before, what about the weekends? You must see her then. It doesn't make sense. What are you going on about, Sean? Are you on medication or something?" But let's be generous and assume that they both work seven days a week.

We see Sean checking to see if the soap and towels have been used. (In fact, bizarrely, he starts to carry the soap around with him.) But what about his girlfriend's conditioner and shampoo, sanpro and moisturiser, toothpaste and toothbrush. Let's go to the kitchen. What about food and drink? Is any missing? Has any been bought? In the bedroom, has the shared bed been made or not? Are her clothes being used and exchanged for clean ones? Is the laundry basket fuller? In the toilet, is the seat up or down? I mean, good grief!

And to cap it all Paul arranges to leave work early to see if his girlfriend is still living at home. Why doesn't he just phone her?

But it gets worse. In the last act although no-one told Vincent where the rest of the group are going he manages to find them. Lenny's love interest and Sean's girlfriend conveniently appear to be best friends and also manage to find the group. There isn't even the slightest attempt to explain any of these extraordinarily unlikely coincidences.

To be fair the dialogue is OK but not nearly good enough to make up for the weak characters or annoyingly lame story.

I heard one of actors interviewed and he promised "no guns, no drugs, no corsets." I thought, "great". But after half-an-hour of tedium I was yelling at the screen: "I want guns! I want drugs! I want corsets!"

It wouldn't have taken much to sort these problems out but on the official website the director boasts that the film wasn't script-edited. That's all you need to know.

not just for slackers

[emmagenekrebs · 9 February 2003]

I rented this film from a local shop on a whim, not expecting much. My housemates and I watched and loved it, every one of us. Maybe it's because we can relate as late-working, unambitious slackers; however I think that it was the spot-on acting, funny and likeable characters, great writing, and unique freshness of this film that made it so good.

If you like a good, intelligent comedy, check this out.

enjoy =)

[dianaejewell · 9/10 · 16 March 2005]

I watched "Late Night Shopping" one night, then put it on the next night, and the next. Ridiculous plot lines and endearing characters make for quite a funny film. I love the idea that you could be living with someone and never see them. I love the questions posed (which happen to be quite pertinent to twenty-somethings, or anyone working a dead-end job): "And then what?" "So, what now?" Well, if you don't know the answer to those questions, you can at least put on this film and have a laugh. If you liked 'Garden State' you will most likely enjoy this film. The classic 80's songs only add to the hilarity. An entertaining way to spend a few hours. Just watch it. You'll see what I mean. Highly recommended. Enjoy.

Late Night Shopping is a Pleasant Surprise

[lexibear21 · 9/10 · 22 February 2005]

"Late Night Shopping" is done in the style of movies such as "Swingers," "Clerk's," and other sorts of generally chatty films, except these people have great British accents. However, there is most certainly a plot, and a charming one at that. The scenes in the film all connect somehow, bringing together the lives of the characters in a very fun, and smooth, way. The four main characters are friends who initially bonded over the fact that they all work graveyard shifts at thankless jobs. However, a deep friendship has blossomed between the four, which is even more evident by the end of the film. One of the characters, Sean, is trying to save his relationship with his girlfriend -- a storyline that ends up entangling the entire group. The film is funny, bright and delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed "Late Night Shopping," and I recommend it highly.

A wee flick

[=G= · 5/10 · 17 November 2004]

"Late Night Shopping" is a little, lukewarm Brit friends comedy which follows the lives and loves of a trio of young Glasgow guys who spend most of their time trying to figure out their lives and loves. The film wanders from pillar to post seemingly searching for its story until it settles on one couple and the reconciliation of some relationship-busting indiscretions. There's probably more right with "Late Night Shopping" than there is wrong with it, but it is not sufficient to warrant a trip to the video store. Unengaging, monotonous at times, but with a solid cast and an occasionally pang of poignancy or heart, this flick may have some appeal for young adults, Scots or Brits, fans of the players, etc. All else pass. (C)

Highly imaginative, brilliantly written, excellent film.

[crashed_car · 10/10 · 20 July 2002]

It's unfortunate that the only other review of this film on IMDB has the headline "Awful". I really hope that this won't make anyone think twice about checking out this brilliant film. I don't want to give away any MORE of the plot... but I will say that I saw 'Late Night Shopping' last night at the BritPics film festival in Toronto, Canada, and a completely packed theatre was thoroughly entertained for the full duration of the movie. The characters are somewhat classic, but each one has a unique twist... the cinematography is great... the dialogue is witty and original... It does require a bit of an imagination. As "Birmingham" points out in the other review, if you decide to over-analyze all of the details, then there are things that don't make sense. But really... lighten up a bit... it's a little on the silly side, but that's why it's so hilarious. If you can handle something a little offbeat and quirky... check it out.

the worse movie I have ever seen

[ArtemisDW · 1/10 · 30 April 2006]

Such a pretentious and lame attempt to hipness. Diabolical script and dialogue and truly embarrassing acting. Really the worse movie I have ever seen(at the cinema). Nothing in my opinion saves this movie from being a total disaster. I saw it when it came out in a cinema in Brighton. People were walking out and there were more people chatting outside the toilets than in the auditorium! At the end there were boos and scorn from the meagre crowd left, which was quite sad as relatives of one of the main actors were present and looked really sheepish. However the movie was that bad that I really could not feel like that sympathetic with them. Everybody has to start from somewhere and their son started off his acting career with this truly awful attempt at 'Tarantinism made in the UK'. 5 years have gone bye, but sometimes I still cringe at the memory of that sad night at the movies! This is a movie with no redeeming features whatsoever! I gave it a 1 as 0 was not available. They should invent a 'shameometer' for everybody involved in this sorry mess of a movie. I know some of them have moved on to better things, the positive thing is that none of them could have sank any lower than this.

Great

[lillurr · 17 November 2001]

I saw the film at the Stockholm filmfestival and i absolutely loved it. The director was there to present the film, and appologised for the misuse of music in the film, in the hilarious scene when foreiginers is on the radio in the car and impossible to shut off. The story is thin but the excellent dialog is the best thing about it. The irony and british humour is splendid, and the actor are doing a good job. + for the beautiful Sienna Guillory. To be disturbed by small things as how Vincent could know where his friends were going is a sign of a person not feeling well. Ever heard of fiction?

Eminently quotable.

[md82111 · 8/10 · 8 July 2003]

Marvellous. I ask you: where else can you hear the immortal phrase "I only f****d your girlfriend; that watch belonged to Errol Flynn!"? Great soundtrack, too. One of those movies that works well as wallpaper, if you know what I mean, to be delved into during lulls in the conversation.

A view from the other side

[craigjclark · 8/10 · 16 April 2002]

I believe I'm the first American to comment on this film, so here's an impression from someone who lives on the other side of the Atlantic.

I just saw this film in the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, so it's starting to make the rounds of the festival circuit over here. It really deserves a general release because it is quite a well-made film, especially for a debut feature. All four leads were great and their dialogue was funny and clever. As a comedy, it is very observant. As a study of the desperation that can set in when you work in a meaningless job, it is spot on.

In retrospect, I realize that some of the plot points could have been cleared up without all that much fuss (e.g. if Sean had called his girlfriend), but this is how real people act. Sometimes they do stupid things or play avoidance games. It's called life. And if other things seemed contrived (e.g. the fact that the two other girls turned out to be best friends), that's why there's this disclaimer at the end that states it is a work of fiction. Personally, I had no problem with going along for the ride, even with the bad '80s station on the radio.

There are times when I find it hard to understand why people get so riled up about things that they dislike. This is one of those times.

Boring, bad, awful, miss miss miss!

[bakerjp · 1/10 · 22 July 2001]

Filmfour are going to have to do a lot better than this little snot of a film if they're going to get the right sort of reputation for themselves.

This film is set in Glasgow (although only a couple of secondary characters have anything approaching a Scottish accent). The premise, about people who's lives are going nowhere, who all meet up in the same cafe in the early hours of the morning as they have night jobs, COULD have made for a really funny, insightful, quirky, cultish film. Instead we have a group of self-obsessed saddos and a plot which has been so done to bits I'm suprised it hasn't been banned. X and Y are friends. X is sleeping with Z. Y sleeps with Z as well. Oh you figure it out.

A total waste of time. Painful dialogue - it sounded like something that a group of 16 year olds would have written for a GCSE drama project. The female character was completely superfluous - just written in as a token female in the hope that women would be cajoled into seeing it.

If you're the sort of thicko lad who laughs at beer adverts and can usually be found wandering round in packs shouting on Saturday nights in nondescript town centres then you will love this film and find it "a right laff". Everyone else, run, don't walk away from this sorry little misfit.

And one question, when the group left the "boring" seaside town (Saltcoats incidentally although they changed the name on the film), to go back to Glasgow, WHY did they do it via the Forton motorway services at LANCASTER which is in England?

pretty good

[czechlucka · 8/10 · 23 July 2001]

i like it. it's funny and i saw movie like this before and it has good involution but sometimes it's little more drag. is there a few really good scenes like in the hospital and on the mini golf. some jokes or scenes are on "continuance" and this is good. if you'll go on it so you won't be disappointed.

awful acting!

[bichelaroux · 2/10 · 4 December 2006]

OK I caught this film halfway through, but.oh.dear.god.it.sounds.like.they're.all.reading.from.scripts.

Especially that guy who is now in Teachers and the Book Group, although at least he has proved that he can act if he wants to! (the part where someone has a heart attack stands out as a bastion of bad film making both in terms of acting, scripting and general plausibility) It quite clearly appears to be a cash-in on Human Traffic, but whilst that is not the best film ever, it is at least original and had actors whose delivery did not resemble that of earnest-yet-hopeless GCSE students trying to get a pass grade. Not so much as Human Traffic as a bit of a car crash!

a good night out for the boys.

[LisaFlett · 10 July 2001]

I've seen some pretty unfair reviews of this film and I don't think they're justified at all. There seems to be a lot of fixation around the credibility of relationships and plots blah, blah but I found my brain negotiated it's way around that because the dialogue sort of sweeps you along. It was a bit of a guys movie, and if you liked Swingers then you'll love this and it has to be said there was much laughing in the cinema where I watched it, I was actually sitting in front an entire half row of blokes and they loved every second of it, definitely a good night out for the boys. If I had any real criticism of this film I'd say the female characters were a bit weak and any observations made about the female experience only bordered on insightful but then again that didn't bother me that much because I was fairly engaged with the rest of the film. It's got flaws, find me a film that hasn't but as I understand it this was the writer and the directors first feature and with that in mind I thought Late Night Shopping was an excellent debut for both of them and I look forward to seeing whatever they do next.