The Parking Lot Movie – Film Reel Review

Hilarious flick showing there’s more to business than just money. – Will

A documentary about a parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia that is less a business and more a course in life.

Directed by – Meghan Eckman, Christopher Hlad

Starring – Dan Moseley, Harper Hellems, Patrick Baran, Daniel Sebring, Tyler Magill, Chris Farina, Mark Schottinger, Corey Gross, Coleman Motley

I have now been sitting here for half an hour trying to figure out what to say about this movie. I just can’t begin to explain what it’s all about. I tried, believe me. I wrote and wrote and then erased, tried again and erased. What I can at least try to do is relate some of what was happening in the movie. I’ve given up on trying to explain it now! HAHA!

First of all, the movie is hilarious. Every attendant working in the lot is very intelligent and very funny. We hear about some of their experiences and what they learned by working at the parking lot. It’s not just a job but a place where each person has grown in some way. A stopping ground between wondering where you’re going and finding out where you are. I think that’s what surprised me the most about the movie. It’s not just about the funny stories these guys have, it’s also what they learned about life working in a parking lot. These guys have lots of free time on their hands and spend it contemplating the great mysteries of life as well as why someone would drive an SUV.

Chris Farina is the owner of the parking lot and the kind of boss everyone would like to have.

This is fast becoming the hardest post I’ve ever written and yet it should be the easiest. The movie is amazing but I can’t quite figure out what it is about it that makes it work so well. The attendants who work, or have worked, in the lot are some of the most interesting characters I’ve ever seen on the screen. I guess reality is always more interesting than fiction. They all make the movie such a great experience as we listen to each person explain how they deal with the ups and downs of the job.

There’s plenty of moments in the film where each attendant has to deal with a terrible customer. There’s no gate as you’re leaving the lot so people will just speed off without paying. A lot of the guys working there will race after the cars, sometimes catching them before they can make their escape and it’s hilarious to watch them as they interact with those customers. Stories of what’s been thrown at cars as they take off, dealing with irate people who seem to think that a couple of bucks is too much to pay and the drunken college kids that take great pleasure in breaking the entrance gate off are a blast to listen to. Each attendant has their own unique viewpoint on each topic but it all seems to end up in the same place. These guys love their job so much that it becomes a personal insult when something like this happens. They’re not just the employees of the parking lot, it’s as if it’s their own home and they must protect it at all costs.

The booth can be a lonely place.

I really can’t put into words just how great this film is. From hearing about that customer who wouldn’t pay to each attendants judgements of people based on the car they drive I was howling with laughter. This is one flick that just needs to be seen, plain and simple.

Under the marquee – Will