The Operator (2000) User Reviews

I expected more

[Lupercali · 5/10 · 14 June 2004]

Disappointing morality tale disguised as a thriller. Concerns upwardly mobile 31 year-old womanizing, gambling, amoral lawyer who has a bad day, abuses a telephone operator for giving him a wrong number, and then cops hell from her as she uses her access to technology to turn his life upside down (actually I think that's almost word for word from the video cover, come to think of it.)

This film was recommended to me, and although I can't say the topic seemed startlingly original to me, I still expected a bit more from the film. Instead the plot and acting are mediocre, the idea of a karmic telephone operator who wants to free a yuppie lawyer 'from attachment', and the tired way it unravels is just too predictable and drab. I felt sure I'd seen this movie at least twice before with other titles, though I can't for the life of me think which films I'm thinking of. 'Phonebooth'?

In any case, it's not wretched, but it's pretty ordinary. 5.5 out of 10.

Funny and Entertaining

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 3 May 2017]

In Dallas, the thirty-one year old arrogant lawyer Gary Wheelan (Michael Laurence) is a wolf, unfaithful husband and gambler. He works at a law firm and presently he is defending the scum Vernon Woods (Brion James), who has embezzled a large amount from retired people, and Mr. Sloan (Spencer Prokop), who wants to declare his mother senile to administrate her money. Gary wins one bet and when his bookie Doc (Stephen Tobolowsky) pays the amount, he decides to buy a Jaguar betting again. Gary offends a telephone operator and later she returns to him telling that she is Shiva (the destroyer and transformer Deity from the Hinduism) and she will destroy his life. From the next day on, Shiva interferes in Gary's life that turns upside-down and he loses his wife, his car, his credit rating and his reputation. What will happen to Gary?

"The Operator" is a funny and entertaining moralist film with a good but totally unrealistic story. Michael Laurence is excellent in the role of a lawyer so full of himself that leaves his arrogance behind and changes his moral values in the end. The omnipresence of the operator in Gary's life is comical and implausible, but forget the reasonable and have fun. See "The Operator" with low expectation and you may be surprised with an amusing film. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Ligação de Alto Risco" ("High Risk Call")

Worst acting I've ever seen!

[leparrain5 · 1/10 · 2 May 2002]

Please save your money on this one, this film is maybe one of the worst things I've ever seen. The acting is terrible, the story is lame and goes nowhere fast. Whoever did the casting must be insane because this film has no chemistry between the actors and it's not even good enough for cable t.v. WHAT A BOMB!

Somewhat predictable but some nice touches

[Alan-40 · 8/10 · 29 March 2003]

It isn't hard to see where this farce is going right off the bat. Gary-the-lawyer-on-the-make is such an SOB you just know he is ready to take a fall. Just how big and how it happens can't be described without spoiling the movie, but the character manages an interesting mix of savvy and desperation as it is revealed to him what kind of hell he is sliding into. He is utterly no match for his antagonist, but the telling point is when he finally realizes that it doesn't matter.

One scene that deserves attention because it elevates this movie above what it otherwise would have been was when Gary, who has gone as low as he can go, turns to a minister for advice. The minister and he know each other because Gary recently had the minister rejected from the jury pool of a case he was defending because his client objected to the fact the man is African. The conversation they have turns out to be meaningful, and comes off as quite genuine.

It is also interesting that "the Operator" is never seen except the briefest of flashes. This shows more restraint than directors usually exercise (or are permitted) in this kind of movie.

The overall result is entertaining, so go see it.

Thriller with strong spiritual overtones....

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 18 November 2004]

Disgusting, married yuppie who cheats on his Wife and gambles, discovers true happiness when confronted with his own demons that currently destroy his Life. This all being done by an anonymous telephone operator whom he has cursed out because of his short temper (read: one of his demons). She effectively causes both his financial ruin (absolution of all material things) and his spiritual regrowth singlehandly. A true expose on the human desire paradox (will what I buy satisfy or destroy me?) Not to be missed for those who have the big questions. Not a generally well liked movie by some of the comments I read, but don't let that stop you from experimenting with this one. Have a good time this plays more comedic than thriller. Rated: 8 of 10.

Great movie for anyone who answers phones for a living!!

[bennysfan · 10/10 · 10 September 2008]

I have been answering phones for a living for the past 5 years, and the abuse that my co-workers and I take on a daily basis is unbelievable. When I saw this movie, I got a warm feeling inside!! This is how the operators feel when we get abused by customers. I don't like violent movies, but this one was done with good taste, and I would have loved to be in that operator's place. Next time you decide to get abusive to a customer service rep, please watch this movie!! I watch it every time I have a bad day and it instantly makes me feel better! As for the content of the movie, everything was very well done. I never felt any sorrow for the caller, and felt that the operator was justified in everything she did.

Exciting, comedic film, with a lesson for all.

[Vic-28 · 8/10 · 27 June 2000]

I was pleasured to attend the Dallas Film Festival and saw this film. I did not know what to expect, having been a minor character in the cast. My wife and I completely enjoyed it. Jon Dichter did a great job in putting together a sensitive subject of infidelity and values, mixing it with comedy. It is fast paced and keeps the audience interested.

Morality tale

[ville-5 · 30 June 2007]

High-flying yuppie lawyer is terrorized by a phone operator to surrender his material and sex filled lifestyle and find 'zen' solace from the traditional family values.

The film is rather weak and the plot not even remotely plausible. Of course the clichéd screenplay instructs his wife to believe the anonymous letters, throwing him to the streets. She won't listen a word from him because that's the easiest way to make the viewer feel frustrated in the situation. On another occasion the lawyer mistakes a wad of money inside an envelope in a situation that is there for a few weak laughs at most. Of course that's just a 'MacGuffin' on a side plot that could have been left out in the editing - at 100+ minutes the film feels tad lengthy, mostly due slow pacing at times.

How the female operator could listen to any calls (from her home) or access the bank details and so forth from her office computer? Is she something more...divine? Later, the lawyer has to confront a black pastor whom he earlier dismissed from jury work because of his skin color. Moved by the sermon the lawyer cries, and starts to change his life for the better. Oh please...! The producers agenda is at most visible in these moments.

Aside from all that stuff I must credit Mr. Laurence whose portrayal of the slimy lawyer is quite good and he's not uncharismatic on the screen. With a worse actor this reviewer wouldn't have granted all those 3 stars to this film. All the other actors including Tobolowsky and Brion James haven't got much to do and play their parts unspectacularly.

Why this film isn't marked as straight-to-video or TV movie is puzzling, as it certainly doesn't warrant cinema screenings!