RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Boss of it All
The Boss of it All

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Boss of it All (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
74 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:61

Fresh:45

Rotten:16

Average Rating:6.6/10

Consensus: Director Lars von Trier ditches the pretensions but keeps his misanthropy in The Boss of it All, a surprisingly sharp and witty comedy about office life gone haywire.

Rated: 15

Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:29-02-2008

Synopsis: Controversial yet always-interesting filmmaker Lars von Trier takes a surprising turn with THE BOSS OF IT ALL. Von Trier shackles his film to a traditional narrative structure, hitting cinematic... Controversial yet always-interesting filmmaker Lars von Trier takes a surprising turn with THE BOSS OF IT ALL. Von Trier shackles his film to a traditional narrative structure, hitting cinematic heights he's been unable to reach since early efforts such as THE IDIOTS and BREAKING THE WAVES. Indeed, moviegoers who felt alienated by esoteric works such as DOGVILLE and MANDERLAY should find themselves on more comfortable ground here. THE BOSS OF IT ALL is set in Denmark, and revolves around Ravn (Peter Gantzler), the unassertive founder of a popular technology company. Ravn has invented a fictional, svengali-like boss ("Svend") of the company, whom he claims is pulling the strings from America. In fact, Svend is a front that the lily-livered Ravn uses whenever he has to make an unpopular decision. But when Ravn decides to sell the company, he has to corral an unemployed actor, Kristoffer (Jens Albinus), into playing Svend, thus introducing him to a group of co-workers who all have wildly different expectations of what this shadowy figure will be like. The strength in von Trier's film lies in the subtle interplay between Gantzler and Albinus. Albinus's "Svend" gets into a mind-boggling array of tangled and complicated situations with Ravn's co-workers, and his woeful yet hilariously overwrought acting really hits some comic high points as the movie unravels. Von Trier shoots in a "mockumentary" style which is sure to draw comparisons to both the British and U.S. versions of THE OFFICE, but THE BOSS OF IT ALL is really a work that inhabits its own peculiar universe, standing as a fine testament to a director who is not afraid to confound, surprise, and even alienate his own audience. [More]

Starring: Peter Gantzler, Jens Albinus, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Iben Hjejle

Starring: Peter Gantzler, Jens Albinus, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Iben Hjejle, Henrik Prip

Director: Lars von Trier

Director: Lars von Trier
Screenwriter: Lars von Trier
Producer: Meta Louise Foldager, Vibeke Windelov
Studio: IFC Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Boss of it All

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A bit of a shambles, but perhaps in its lack of von Trier's usual pretensions will lie the charm of this film for some.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
02/29/08
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

Full of in-jokes for Von Trier fans and oddly shot, the quirkiness will probably be lost on those unfamiliar with the Dogme 95 man’s work.

Full Review Source: thelondonpaper | comment Comment
02/29/08
thelondonpaper

Von Trier has evidently been watching The Office, and replicates both its soulless setting and fly-on-the-desk camera-style, not to mention the Brentian fear of being unpopular.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
02/29/08
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

The script and story are what matter. They are as neat and interlocked as nail scissors. They are also grimly funny.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
02/29/08
Nigel Andrews
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times

Von Trier may be commenting on the mechanical, dehumanised nature of corporate decision-making, or of Hollywood filmmaking. Maybe he's just being whimsical. It's always hard to tell with this joker-provocateur. And always completely fascinating.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
02/29/08
Sukhdev Sandhu
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In some ways, I enjoyed this movie more than any of his features, and yet it's sad that he has drawn in his horns so much.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
02/29/08
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite roguish interventions from Von Trier himself (in voiceover, and on screen), the movie has more in common with Working Girl and Trading Places than anything from Europe's leading auteur. Which, it seems, is a lucky, liberating thing.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
02/29/08
Kevin Maher
Kevin Maher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Light, frothy and bitingly funny with a pleasingly dark underside.

Full Review Source: Little White Lies | comment Comment
02/29/08
Little White Lies

Less contentious than typical Von Trier but also less satisfying; fun but perhaps too stiflingly clever to allow the comedy room to breathe.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
02/29/08
Leigh Singer
Leigh Singer
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A movie that manages to be both brilliantly witty and delightfully subversive - not least for reportedly entrusting all its cinematography to a computer.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/28/08
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

For all the sleights of hand its director conjures up, this is an undeniably slight affair. But it’s still a sublimely entertaining one from a maverick confident enough in his abilities to make fun of his previous work and his agent provocateur persona.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
02/28/08
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
Total Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unpolished, but winning.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
02/28/08
Sky Movies

Von Trier's deconstructionist streak stymies this admirable attempt at a comedy.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
02/28/08
Sam Toy
Sam Toy
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Witty and sharp from start to finish

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/23/07
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

The film works well both as a comedy of misidentity and as an allegory of the relationship between directors and actors ...

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/30/06
Dave Calhoun
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lars von Trier must be mellowing in his old age - this is a delightful farce with a frequently hilarious script strong comic performances.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/30/06
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

An appealing low-budget quirky spoof on corporations.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/27/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Peter Keough
Peter Keough
Boston Phoenix
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

In the humor department, The Boss of It All elicits few belly laughs but lots of thoughtful chuckles.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
09/14/07
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Boss of it All

September 18, 2007: RT on DVD: It's Death Proof Time!
If you've been itching for a good rental, you're in luck -- even the gambles this week are near Fresh on the Tomatometer! Tarantino fans already know to look for his Death Proof... More...

June 12, 2007: european-films.net's preview & trailer Opens in new window
More...

May 24, 2007: Critical Consensus: "Pirates" is Adrift, "Bug" Creepy and Crawly
This week at the movies, it's the pirates ("Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley) versus the bugs ("Bug,"... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
67% 67% Public Enemies
75% 75% Julie & Julia
95% 95% The Cove
85% 85% World's Greatest Dad

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
6
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
12
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
32
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
31
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
54
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Headed for IMAX Source: Collider.com
48
  • James Cameron Developing Sci-Fi Film for Fox Source: ComingSoon.net
10
  • Peter Jackson Reveals Which LotR Characters Will Return for The Hobbit Source: MTV
26
  • Josh Brolin Rumored for Men in Black 3 Source: Los Angeles Times
26
  • Malkovich and Hathaway Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Movieline
90
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
65
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
41
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
37
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
34
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead
29
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and more!
24
  • Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
22
  • Awards Tour: D.C. Film Critics Name Up in the Air as Year's Best
18
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
18
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
18
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Boss of it All at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Boss of it All at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.