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Bartleby

Play trailer Poster for Bartleby PG-13 2002 1h 22m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
36% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A manager (David Paymer) hires a strange employee (Crispin Glover) who, at first, is exceptionally efficient but then refuses to work.
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Bartleby

Bartleby

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Critics Consensus

Bartleby is a rather dull affair, stretched over a too-long running time.

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Critics Reviews

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Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/04/2002
D
What was subtle and mystifying in the novella is now broad and farcical. Go to Full Review Moira MacDonald Seattle Times 06/21/2002
2.5/4
An intriguing near-miss. Go to Full Review Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer 06/21/2002
2/4
Except for Paymer as the boss who ultimately expresses empathy for Bartleby's pain, the performances are so stylized as to be drained of human emotion. Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 03/06/2024
3.5/4
It turns into a bone-dry comedy with enough weird touches to earn it a deserved cult status. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/02/2020
2.5/4.0
Glover carries the film but ultimately his performance is for naught. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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bryan b @heybryan 09/27/2020 I would have preferred not to have wasted time with this garbage. See more 07/11/2020 Odd, awkward, funny and yet tragic look at the way society deals with people who just can't seem to fit in. Piscopo is hilarious, as usual: "What the hell are you complaining about? . . .I do love you, baby . . . Well yeah, I love her too . . . But it's two completely different types of of love - - equally beautiful. . ." See more 07/05/2020 This is the type of art film that requires some patience and a desire to discern message. Having read the original story and seen the short film in high school, this modern adaptation takes some creative license, yet sticks to the general plot. It's about mental health and how Bartleby draws a successful and well-aligned businessman into the world of mania. But no matter how he attmpts to help, it is for not. And this is the sad commetary on mental illness in general, but at the same time, the businessman becomes obsessed with Bartleby's trauma, so enraptured he becomes Bartleby. Great film See more 06/15/2013 I'd prefer not to leave a comment. See more 04/28/2013 85% I prefer not to...write a detailed account of what I thought of the film. See more 04/28/2013 Fans of crisp in clover will enjoy it. See more Read all reviews
Bartleby

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Parker

Director

David Paymer

The Boss

Crispin Glover

Bartleby

Glenne Headly

Vivian

Joe Piscopo

Rocky

Maury Chaykin

Ernie

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Bartleby

Bartleby (2001) Bartleby (2001) Bartleby (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A manager (David Paymer) hires a strange employee (Crispin Glover) who, at first, is exceptionally efficient but then refuses to work.
Director
Jonathan Parker
Producer
Jonathan Parker
Screenwriter
Jonathan Parker, Catherine DiNapoli, Herman Melville
Production Co
Parker Film Company
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 24, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$141.4K
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround
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