Tribeca Film Fest 2022

Jon Hamm stars in this absurdist office drama about a new hire that finds a secret corner office that no one else seems to see. Hamm is cast to be an almost anti-Don Draper type here as he doesn't connect with his co-workers (like his desk mate, played by Danny Pudi) and can only fully function when he can escape to this secret office. The production values are reminiscent of “Severance” on AppleTV+ (I know this was shot first). It features a drab corporate office setting bathed in washed-out greens, while the corner office features a luxurious mid-century modern feel. While I was watching this, I was taken with the feeling that Hamm's character was possibly autistic or perhaps some other form of high-functioning neuro-divergent. The film features a running voice-over narration from Hamm describing his thoughts, which don't always connect with what's happening around him. He spills coffee on his pant leg, then simultaneously wonders why his leg is warm and wet. Anytime he goes into this secret office, the other employees experience is that they see him simply staring blankly at a wall. Though it makes his co-workers uncomfortable, his work produced in the "corner office" is the best the company has seen. This interpretation completely works as a commentary on how we handle neurodiversity in the workplace. After finishing the film, I'm uncertain if that was the intended interpretation. I'll be curious to know how others will interpret it. While “Corner Office” feels a little one-note in its absurdist structure, it provides ample material for exploring potentially more profound significance in the story. 

— 3/ 5 ⭐