Could this type of situation happen even happen now a days?
With ATMs at every corner store, cell phones, debit cards, etc. Not sure about NYC but I know the cabs here accept credit cards.
I mean unless you just completely lost your wallet and cell phone, I just don't see how this could happen in this time period.
The quick answer is 'no', at least not without a whole lot of contrivance and deux ex machina.
An interesting - and annoying - dilemma of creative writing nowadays is find new and imaginative ways to rid characters of their phones. Let's face it, practically everyone has a phone with them at all times now, and so many stories could be significantly shortened with a simple phone call.
I was writing a story recently and had to find a way to rob four characters of their phones. I managed it, and one of the loss of one of the phones was used to embellish character, and another was used as a constant source of tension.
However, in the case of After Hours, Paul experiences so much bad luck that it's almost a theme of the story, so having him lose his wallet and phone wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
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That's a great way to explain it. Obviously on the surface, this film couldn't work today... However, in the scope of the film, it really wouldn't be all that hard to rid him of a phone or bank card etc, whatever would be needed to progress the story. Everything becomes plausible here. That's why this film has become sort of a Cult Classic... The years have been good to it. While we may have far more access to anything we need, thematically, this all holds up.
shareIt could be possible to get stuck that bad even now, if your luck is bad enough.
shareThis couldn't have happened then....
1) he could have walked a few blocks out of there....to NYU...or an avenue...the Village is big...but its not THAT big
2) He didn't need to tell the taxi driver that he lost his last 20...he could have taken the ride and screwed the driver.
3) There are subways all over the place and he could have jumped the turnstyle
But as for the technology question changing things in 2016....You cant even get lost anywhere with cell tower location and GPS on a phone.
But there have been more recent movies with the im stuck far away premise....saw once somewhat recently which involved an LA News Reporter has a one night stand in Walk of Shame and has to get home....She tried calling the tv station...but they didn't believe it was her...You can make the im stuck and have to get home premise work..they've done it for thousands of years...The Warriors was based on Anabasis....its always a good tale now matter what the decade.
Yeah.
shareMuch of what you mentioned has to do with the Character rather than what was possible. So you combine the outside elements with the personality of the character and it works. I know plenty of people who would just stiff the Cab Driver, I agree with that, however, HE wouldn't have.
shareHe DID jump the turnstile, ashert. A cop stopped him.
What he did NOT need to do was take his mine out of his pocket before reaching his destination!
Scorsese's only comedy. A shame, because it's a GREAT dark comedy, up there with To Die For and The War Of The Roses and Ruthless People--and that's hard to do.
Well it wouldn't be that hard to lose your wallet and cell phone. Say your jacket gets stolen ...
shareYour phone is out or power or you left it somewhere inaccessible.
I'm sorry the Coen brothers don't direct the porn I watch. They're hard to get ahold of, okay?
With ATMs at every corner store
cell phones, debit cards, etc.
i'd say it can be, if you're having a very unlucky day and people won't just listen and bad its likely to happen. there's a movie called "walk of shame" that's pretty much like this it's not as good but the storyline is relatable
shareSome ATMs you swipe and get your card back. Some keep your card to the end of the transaction. A couple times when I was upset over some psycho gf, I left my card in the machine. And some machines will gobble up your card if you don't take it soon enough.
I'm not a woman much less Deanna Durbin, but the old-time glam-shot appeals to me.
If they made the movie now, just have him lose his wallet and ATM card - and smart phone!