Men of the Hour: A dusty look at newsroom ego

Is it worth your time?

If you have a thing for black-and-white era newsroom dramas or just like watching underdogs fumble through life, you might get a kick out of this. It is definitely not for the people who need constant action or high-stakes drama every five seconds.

It is pretty dated, and honestly, the pacing feels like it was put together by someone who just really wanted to get home for dinner. Still, there is a weird charm to it.

The dynamic

The whole conflict between Dave and Andy is the kind of thing you see in every workplace. Andy is that guy who talks loud and keeps his hands clean. Dave is the one hauling the equipment and getting ignored by the boss.

There is this one scene where Dave tries to show off his own footage, and you can just feel the air leave the room. It is *painfully* relatable. You just want to reach into the screen and tell him to stop trying so hard.

Notes from the couch

• The camerawork in the newsreel scenes is surprisingly clunky, which I guess is the point, but it still makes you squint.
• Ann Jordan is basically just there to be the prize at the end of the race, which is a bummer.
• Some of the extras in the background look like they are just waiting for the bus.
• The dialogue has that snappy 1930s rhythm that sounds like everyone is constantly trying to finish their sentences before the clock runs out.

It is not as polished as Madame X, and it definitely lacks the bite of some other films from that decade. It just feels like a smaller story that needed a bit more room to breathe.

Sometimes, the movie just stops caring about the plot for a few minutes. Characters disappear into hallways and you’re left wondering if they’re coming back. They usually don’t.

I found myself distracted by the way the suits fit in this movie. They are all so big! Everyone looks like they are wearing their dad's clothes. It is a weird thing to fixate on, but that is what happens when the plot starts to drag.

If you go in expecting a deep character study, you will be disappointed. If you want a quick, slightly messy look at the misery of being an assistant, it hits the mark just fine. It is an honest little movie, even if it is not a great one.