Customer Reviews

In the Company of Men (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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!)

I usually do not review movies on Amazon unless it is a movie that is profound and left me pondering. This is one such movie. For those of you guys who are interested in watching/buying it, may I suggest that you do not watch it on a romantic "movie night out." This show will evaporate any romantic mood you may have. Trust me on this one. It can turn your girlfriend into a misandrist. For the ladies, if you want to watch it, please prepare yourself and keep an open mind...

As most reviewers already said, this is one heck of a disturbing movie. The premise is that 2 men (Chad and Howard) are out to "play" a woman, make her fall in love, and then rip her heart out, figuratively speaking. Since it isn't a Hollywood stylized movie, don't expect a happy and cozy ending. Some of the scenes are quite provocative yet realistic. I can see it happening in ordinary day-to-day living. You're more likely to see a scene in this movie than a scene in than cutesy "My Best Friend's Wedding." Because this is a dark comedy, most people will not be comfortable with it. It isn't something we expect to see, since it conflicts a lot with our own moral ethics.

The technicalities of the movie is quite poor, and I'm going to have to deduct 1 star for that. Video and sound quality is really awful, poorer than the average Indie movie. There are very few sound effects, hardly any musical, and the voice recordings have static. Video quality is grainy and low in saturation, it really look like playing from a VCR (even though I'm watching the DVD version).

Here's more extraneous info: my take on the moral of this story is that if you are a guy, don't be a jerk like Chad. But also, don't be a wishy-washy weakling like Howard; stand your ground, and don't get pushed around. Both characters have their strengths and weakness. But I think both end up being the losers, even though the movie victimizes Howard more since he is the "nice guy." I thought Howard would have more of a backbone, but I am disappointed that in the end, he never really stood up for himself.

Neil Labute's In The Company of Men is a misogynistic look at the way men has to conquer women in and out of the bedroom. The great Aaron Eckhart plays a womanizer who makes a bet with a fellow co-worker to seduce a young deaf woman, and dump her in order to feed their misogynistic egos. In their pursuit of this innocent woman, they wine and dine her, and ultimately humiliate her in such a way that can only be describes as inhuman, and evil. Neil Labute's psychological masterpiece is a very sobering look at the game both sexes play, and the cruelty that we can inflict on ourselves.

Prepare to be disturbed.

Whew,

When the director set out to make this film, he did not intend to make the kind of "feel good" movie where the bad guy(s) get what's coming to them and the heroes live happily ever after.

Handsome, suave, smile and shake your hand while putting a sharp knife in your back - Chad, (Aaron Eckhart) proposes a cruel contest where he and a more laid-back and non-threatening company type man, Howard set out to meet, romance, seduce, and ultimately dump without warning, an otherwise (as dictated by societal norms) un-datable woman, all in the name of striking a blow by the common, middle management and well-meaning man who has been wronged by the sterotypical gold-digging woman who will only use a man until he can no longer provide her an avenue to a better life.

Chad's plan seems to have only one victim, and that is the woman who the pair will use and abuse prior to leaving her high and dry and without anything left including her pride. As we can determine early on, Chad is the type who does not have any trouble meeting and obtaining the company of women, but his counterpart is the type who is not as comfortable or confident with his own ability to meet and please women, and therefore tends to date much less, but for longer periods of time, and he is the one who normally gets "dumped" per se.

This movie will have your jaw dropping on many occasions, especially if you have never met the Chad type in the work place or at social gatherings. Ladies, please know that this Chad person probably exists, but his character is truly the composite of every man who your parents and friends have warned you about and every woman who has ever had her heart savagely broken into pieces has a story about.

Let this film entertain you and let the characters repulse you, but don't look for any "Shawshank Redemption" type of endings, and when it ends, bask in the awe of being glad that you don't know any Chads, but that every back-stabbing weasel in the corporate office is a potential Chad if you put enough blood in the water. In real life, this would have been a text book case of sexual harassment and/or professional misconduct in the workplace!

Summary, a good movie to watch alone, with same-sex friends, or with someone whom you have dated for a long enough time so that you don't set off any early alarms as to "Could he/she be doing this to me?"

Happy Viewing,

Steve

Neil Labuteï¿s In The Company of Men is a misogynistic look at the way men has to conquer women in and out of the bedroom. Aaron Eckhart plays a womanizer who makes a bet with a fellow co-worker to seduce a young deaf woman, and dump her in order to feed their misogynistic egos. In their pursuit of this innocent woman, they wine and dine her, and ultimately humiliate her in such a way that can only be describes as inhuman. Neil Labuteï¿s psychological masterpiece is a very sobering look at the game both sexes play, and the cruelty that we can inflict on ourselves.

Prepare to be disturbed.

dark comedy about Eckhart and his buddies prank calling a deaf woman..they offer her a date and then they would dump her, because he hates upper class women but then Eckhart takes it deeper with his brilliant and outrageous performance..he makes this one hit the bullseye with a fire..Neil LaBoute who directed also has another good movie out there called Your friends and Neighbors..not better then this one but still its a good movie.

One of the most brutally subversive films of the 90s, and since its debut, I can still watch it time and time again. THAT'S the testament of a truly great film. Other people will say I'm nuts, but when you've been stuck watching 'Charlie's Angels" or "Armageddon" for the upteenth time, and a film of substance comes along, you grab it with both hands, and don't let go.

The production values are basically nil. It's a talky film with a mind to skewer both traditional roles of the antagonist/protagonist, and corporate America, and it succeeds brilliantly on both levels. Aaron Eckhart got an unbelieveable amount of hate mail following the release of this film, and I'm not suprised. Why this film didn't get the recognition it deserved is beyond me.

Neil Labute's subsequent film "Your Friends & Neighbours" is almost as good, and certainly worth owning, but this is the one the get. Absolutely essential.

There's a reason that "In the Company of Men", a low budget independent film, the first from writer-director Neil Labute, won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. The reason is not that it is an enjoyable film, but rather that LaBute demonstrates what so few filmmakers are willing to achieve: that film can be art, and not everybody is supposed to understand or like what you are saying.

LaBute captures the self-absorption and resulting cruelty that EVERY alpha male raised in a fraternal corporate environment ever subscribed to - all roled into the unforgettable character of Chad. Using his persuasive skills to get his boss, Howard (Matt Malloy) to go along in this exercise of cruelty, Chad plays the game to the max. Along the way the audience gets the feel for the impersonable, alien corporate environment and good old boy atmosphere so recognizable in the U.S. Chad is portrayed instinctively by young actor Aaron Eckhart, who has traveled with LaBute through this and all subsequent films, sometimes in minor character roles. Eckhart and LaBute obviously have their pacing and teamwork together - Eckhart portrays Chad effortlessly!

LaBute should be congratulated for not allowing "the happy ending", instead twisting his conclusion to find yet another villainous side of Chad.

The DVD is dark, with few special features, and since almost all of the film takes place indoors (an early LaBute signature), the darkness of the tale is heightened by the appearance of the film. Striking out as a writer/director with a "different voice" (ala John Sayles) LaBute made his mark with "In the Company of Men" - and it is a fascinating study for serious film watchers.

Never seen the movie when it was originally released and didn't know much about it. Strolling through the local rental video store shelves, I stumbled onto this priceless gem of a DVD. All I can say is what a picture. Very few movies have impacted me so much as this one. I must admit this is the only movie I've ever watched four times in a row. What's up with this movie, that made me go completely berserk? It is one of those movies, where you cant but help feel like one of the three main characters in the movie, you relate to them, you identify with them and you seeth with anger, envelope in cynicism. You know someone like Chad, Howard or Christine and you yourself are in one of the situations where you felt used, overcame with vengeance, denying your insecurities...'nuff said. See it for yourself. It is a shame that Aaron Eckhart didn't achieve his well deserved stardom, and reduced to doing pathetic side characters such as in 'Any given Sunday', he needs more recognition. After watching this movie, I raided the video store to see other films by director Neil LaBute, I watched 'Your friends and neighbors', 'Nurse Betty' and I'm sad to say, none of them match the deft and craftiness of 'In the company of men'. Hopefully, we see more of Neil LaBute's work in future similar to this movie.

To start, this is one of my all time favorite movies. The subject matter is gritty, raw, original, and dark. The script and acting are very strong. Best of all, the movie doesn't follow the traditional and trite storyline of creating conflict and then providing a solution and happy ending. The movie tends to ask more questions than it does provide answers.

I read a review that gave this film a bad review because it wasn't a comedy and that one "can't help but feel sorrow for the sweet, young girl; the end, in which Chad finally drops the bomb on her is very heartbreaking".

I would agree that the movie is not a traditional comedy; rather it is a very dark comedy and drama. And, if one feels sorrow and heartbreak for Stacy Edwards's character, the movie has succeeded. It is in this vein - eliciting a wide range of emotions and thoughts from its audience - that the movie is an original success.