Customer Reviews:
The faithful portrayal of a real psychopath .......2008-02-07
It's difficult to put 5 stars to such a movie. Not because it's not a good film, but because the reasons are different from any other reason why you would rate a film high.
In the Company of Men is NOT pleasant to watch. It's cruel, blunt, dark and above all, spot on in its portrayal of a real psychopath, a man with no conscience and no deep feeling. The snake-in-suit /charming / confident / slick type. The kind many women would be fooled by.
In the Company of Men tells the disturbing story of 2 successful men -- One, the psychopath. The other, his more human, but weak "friend". These snakes-in-suit, disappointed with their relationships with women, decide to take a general revenge on them, by selecting the most naive and uncorrupted girl they can find in the company they work for. The objective is to date her, make her feel loved and special, and then drop her in the cruellest way possible, to destroy her emotionally. There is absolutely no sentimentality in the narrative nor in the male characters (ie, they are not modern Valmont's from Dangerous Liaisons, who at the last minute realise they have fallen in love with their "victim"). Even the alleged "good guy" is just a coward, a mysoginist who passively accepts to take part in the "game" and has no real empathy for their feminine victim.
This movie also portrays in a realistic manner the psychopathic corporate environment in all its splendor.
The story is disturbing in that it really is coldly and clinically told : the monster guy is shown for what he is : cold and cynical, and a woman hater, with no feeling or remorse. He is shown without the caricatural touch one can find in American Psycho and which gave a somewhat grotesque, even 'funny' touch to the main character Bateman.
Despite the fact that In the Company of Men is not enjoyable to watch, it's a good illustration of pure psychopaths, therefore it SHOULD be seen, for pedagogic reasons. Maybe it can help people getting in touch with this problem of psychopathy, this disease spreading in our world like plague. To watch in parallel with the reading of the Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout.
(NB : IMDB rates this movie as a "comedy". Clearly, this is NOT a comedy!)
In the Company of Men.......2005-04-07
A most interesting film, both in terms of the subject matter and its composition as well. It is certainly a very bleak film and will definitely not appeal to the wide masses of cinemagoers, but if you enjoy a film every once in a while that will challenge you as well as provide entertainment, then this is as good as any I've watched.
The film makes great use of long static camera shots in which the characters then perform their dialogue and it makes the viewer feel like an intruder into these people's private lives. The settings are also carefully chosen for their unappealing and unartistic qualities, for example there are numerous scenes in the office building's washrooms, which gives the film a "fly on the wall" type like quality.
The subject matter is very disturbing and will not be appreciated by all. But that said it is extremely realistic, there's a Chad and a Howard working in every office building in the land and that is one of the most disturbing factors with the film, is that you can identify with these two awful characters either from people you know or even more scary, from yourself.
The office life is so very truly depicted that it is at times even more accurate than the comedy series "The Office". In some respects this is what makes the film so alarming is that people must watch this film and so acutely identify with the action and realise this is what their day-to-day life is like. Hours after hours, days after days spent in tedious meetings and boardrooms.
The acting by the main three characters is some of the best I have seen in a while, Aaron Eckhart is pure evil as Chad, a more despicable character I would challenge anyone to find in film history. Matt Malloy as the whimpish Howard is more despised than despicable and Stacy Edwards as Christine is honestly and purity personified which makes her downfall at the hands of these appalling men all the more dreadful.
As I say, if you like a film that will have you thinking about it months after the glorious battle scenes and stunning special effects of other films have faded, then give this genuine "horror" movie a try.
One of my favourite films of the last 20 years.......2004-01-04
In the Company of Men is a truly amazing film. Overlooked in many quarters, this intelligent, provocative, mind blowing analysis of the modern human condition, and the role of gender in the power play of everyday life, is given all the more power by it's lack of mainstream appeal.
It's direction and writing is inspired, and since Neil LaBute has gained quite the reputation as a exceptional filmmaker. It's low budget is not revealed in what is a sharp and attractive looking picture, driven by character and featuring some of the most amazing acting performances in recent memory.
The whole premise of it's brilliance is the reality of the piece, it lacks a happy ending, and doesn't even begin to offer redemption. Therein lies it's ability to gobsmack, it is reality. The men who manipulate, compete, those who are ruthless, they are the ones who win. It's drives heavily into a debate on moral relativity. Do we naturally take on the values and conscience percieved in our culture?, or can we rsie above such simple notions and use this as sign of others weakness for self promotion.
Undoubtedly, some scenes are hard to watch, and it's by no means a politically correct exercise in concept or execution, but neither is life, or the true art which reflects it. Aaron Eckhart's performance is just blinding, he seems to revel in the malevolent, scheming, cruel nature of his character, but he is never dumbed down, or clarified as the inane idea of wrong or bad. He answers to himself, he rises above others petty thoughts and considerations, and seems always in control, and fundamentally the situations benefactor in every way. Doesn't that therefore inbue him with a sense of righteousness?
Granted it is not for the sensitive, as it highlights the cheap weakness of big budget hollywood movies, by revealing far more emotional pain on screen than we have seen for years. It is all the more effective and respectable for it's nature and while it has been accused of misogyny and cynicism, some may say modern cinema is desperate for a bold voice, which reflects life in its surest form.
Simply put it's a masterpice of independant cinema, provoking such discussion and thought, that it restores your faith in modern cinema. Buy it, watch it, and show it to all your friends, it will truly serve the divine purpose of art, all the more neccessary in light of modern media shallowness.
An unromatic treatment of the sub-criminal psychopath.......2001-06-20
Far better than Point Break; better than Pacific Heights; better than Bad Influence. This is a pitiless study of the sub-criminal or industrial psychopath. If you aren't offended by the relentless mysoginy and your jaded palate yearns for more rarified violence than the physical gore offered by mainstream Hollywood, then this is for you. Genuinely disturbing.
Customer Reviews:
The faithful portrayal of a real psychopath .......2008-02-07
It's difficult to put 5 stars to such a movie. Not because it's not a good film, but because the reasons are different from any other reason why you would rate a film high.
In the Company of Men is NOT pleasant to watch. It's cruel, blunt, dark and above all, spot on in its portrayal of a real psychopath, a man with no conscience and no deep feeling. The snake-in-suit /charming / confident / slick type. The kind many women would be fooled by.
In the Company of Men tells the disturbing story of 2 successful men -- One, the psychopath. The other, his more human, but weak "friend". These snakes-in-suit, disappointed with their relationships with women, decide to take a general revenge on them, by selecting the most naive and uncorrupted girl they can find in the company they work for. The objective is to date her, make her feel loved and special, and then drop her in the cruellest way possible, to destroy her emotionally. There is absolutely no sentimentality in the narrative nor in the male characters (ie, they are not modern Valmont's from Dangerous Liaisons, who at the last minute realise they have fallen in love with their "victim"). Even the alleged "good guy" is just a coward, a mysoginist who passively accepts to take part in the "game" and has no real empathy for their feminine victim.
This movie also portrays in a realistic manner the psychopathic corporate environment in all its splendor.
The story is disturbing in that it really is coldly and clinically told : the monster guy is shown for what he is : cold and cynical, and a woman hater, with no feeling or remorse. He is shown without the caricatural touch one can find in American Psycho and which gave a somewhat grotesque, even 'funny' touch to the main character Bateman.
Despite the fact that In the Company of Men is not enjoyable to watch, it's a good illustration of pure psychopaths, therefore it SHOULD be seen, for pedagogic reasons. Maybe it can help people getting in touch with this problem of psychopathy, this disease spreading in our world like plague. To watch in parallel with the reading of the Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout.
(NB : IMDB rates this movie as a "comedy". Clearly, this is NOT a comedy!)
In the Company of Men.......2005-04-07
A most interesting film, both in terms of the subject matter and its composition as well. It is certainly a very bleak film and will definitely not appeal to the wide masses of cinemagoers, but if you enjoy a film every once in a while that will challenge you as well as provide entertainment, then this is as good as any I've watched.
The film makes great use of long static camera shots in which the characters then perform their dialogue and it makes the viewer feel like an intruder into these people's private lives. The settings are also carefully chosen for their unappealing and unartistic qualities, for example there are numerous scenes in the office building's washrooms, which gives the film a "fly on the wall" type like quality.
The subject matter is very disturbing and will not be appreciated by all. But that said it is extremely realistic, there's a Chad and a Howard working in every office building in the land and that is one of the most disturbing factors with the film, is that you can identify with these two awful characters either from people you know or even more scary, from yourself.
The office life is so very truly depicted that it is at times even more accurate than the comedy series "The Office". In some respects this is what makes the film so alarming is that people must watch this film and so acutely identify with the action and realise this is what their day-to-day life is like. Hours after hours, days after days spent in tedious meetings and boardrooms.
The acting by the main three characters is some of the best I have seen in a while, Aaron Eckhart is pure evil as Chad, a more despicable character I would challenge anyone to find in film history. Matt Malloy as the whimpish Howard is more despised than despicable and Stacy Edwards as Christine is honestly and purity personified which makes her downfall at the hands of these appalling men all the more dreadful.
As I say, if you like a film that will have you thinking about it months after the glorious battle scenes and stunning special effects of other films have faded, then give this genuine "horror" movie a try.
One of my favourite films of the last 20 years.......2004-01-04
In the Company of Men is a truly amazing film. Overlooked in many quarters, this intelligent, provocative, mind blowing analysis of the modern human condition, and the role of gender in the power play of everyday life, is given all the more power by it's lack of mainstream appeal.
It's direction and writing is inspired, and since Neil LaBute has gained quite the reputation as a exceptional filmmaker. It's low budget is not revealed in what is a sharp and attractive looking picture, driven by character and featuring some of the most amazing acting performances in recent memory.
The whole premise of it's brilliance is the reality of the piece, it lacks a happy ending, and doesn't even begin to offer redemption. Therein lies it's ability to gobsmack, it is reality. The men who manipulate, compete, those who are ruthless, they are the ones who win. It's drives heavily into a debate on moral relativity. Do we naturally take on the values and conscience percieved in our culture?, or can we rsie above such simple notions and use this as sign of others weakness for self promotion.
Undoubtedly, some scenes are hard to watch, and it's by no means a politically correct exercise in concept or execution, but neither is life, or the true art which reflects it. Aaron Eckhart's performance is just blinding, he seems to revel in the malevolent, scheming, cruel nature of his character, but he is never dumbed down, or clarified as the inane idea of wrong or bad. He answers to himself, he rises above others petty thoughts and considerations, and seems always in control, and fundamentally the situations benefactor in every way. Doesn't that therefore inbue him with a sense of righteousness?
Granted it is not for the sensitive, as it highlights the cheap weakness of big budget hollywood movies, by revealing far more emotional pain on screen than we have seen for years. It is all the more effective and respectable for it's nature and while it has been accused of misogyny and cynicism, some may say modern cinema is desperate for a bold voice, which reflects life in its surest form.
Simply put it's a masterpice of independant cinema, provoking such discussion and thought, that it restores your faith in modern cinema. Buy it, watch it, and show it to all your friends, it will truly serve the divine purpose of art, all the more neccessary in light of modern media shallowness.
An unromatic treatment of the sub-criminal psychopath.......2001-06-20
Far better than Point Break; better than Pacific Heights; better than Bad Influence. This is a pitiless study of the sub-criminal or industrial psychopath. If you aren't offended by the relentless mysoginy and your jaded palate yearns for more rarified violence than the physical gore offered by mainstream Hollywood, then this is for you. Genuinely disturbing.
UK DVD:
- Jingle All The Way [1996]
- Josie And The Pussycats [2001]
- King Ralph [1991]
- Late Night Shopping [2001]
- Lilies [1996]
- Little Britain - Series 1-3
- Lucky Break [2001]
- Matilda / Madeline [1996]
- Moonlighting: Season 4 [1986] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- MTV: Beavis & Butt-head Collectors Edition
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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