American Job

American Job (1996) (Dir. Chris Smith) is playing at the Oriental Theatre, in Milwaukee, on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM, as part of the Bleak Week, “Cinema of Despair” festival. They asked me to do a Q & A after the film, so that’s exciting. Plus, just seeing it again, after many, many years, and at my favorite theater! Thanks to Mike Plante for setting it up, Milwaukee Film and the Oriental for programing as part of their Bleak Week schedule (which includes some great movies), and Chris Smith for providing a print, plus making the film in the first place!

I wanted to let people know about it, locally, who might like to attend, but I’m hesitant to send a mass email because I feel like they annoy people. Also, I’m not pressuring anyone to go, since I know it’s Friday and you might have other exciting things planned. Which might just be going home after work and sitting in quiet solitude (which is my usual choice on Friday). On the other hand, I’m sometimes critical of people not letting me know about things—and then I miss stuff—so it’s a dilemma.

Since this year is the 30th anniversary of American Job’s premiere (1996), I’m reminded of a few interesting things. We shot the film in fall of 1993, and I was exactly half the age, then, that I am now. This year, however, is my 50th anniversary of working—my first job was “hotel houseman”—at Cedar Point Hotel Breakers in 1976—$2.15 an hour (which was below minimum wage—allowed because it was seasonal) and 48 hours a week—which was required. The funniest thing, to me, however is that the first scene in the movie has “Randy Scott” reporting to a receptionist in an attractive modern building—the excitement being when a woman enters and asks the receptionist if it’s the post office. In my current job, as a receptionist at an attractive modern building, every day someone who’s lost comes in and asks me, not for the post office, but for some governmental office or another. The irony of this strikes me as, well—if it was fiction, it’d be a little much.

I think the movie holds up. The fact that its depiction of work is still accurate and relevant could be seen as depressing, but I don’t think the movie is depressing—I think it’s good art, which is never depressing, even if the subject matter is. The film doesn’t try to preach, solve anything, propose answers, or seek revenge, which are different goals entirely. It is, in parts, an expression of despair, and so, certainly can be considered bleak. But it’s also weird and funny, at times, and, I think, relatable, and therefore uplifting. I hope that’s how I feel after seeing it again!

Don’t let the hopper run dry!

Randy Russell 6.24.26