Chapter 27 poster & wallpaper

George Bryant II, Jared Leto, Jeane Fournier

On December 8, 1980 Mark David Chapman shocked the world by murdering the beloved purveyor of peace, 40-year old musician and activist, John Lennon, outside The Dakota, his New York apartment building...( read more  read more... ). Chapman’s motives were fabricated from pure delusion, fueled by an obsession with the fictional character Holden Caulfield and his similar misadventures in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. In one instant, an anonymous, mentally unstable 25-year old, socially awkward Beatles fan who had fluctuated between idealizing Lennon and being overcome with a desire to kill him – altered the course of history.

Jared Leto, 60 pounds heavier for the role, bears an uncanny physical resemblance to the real Chapman, who to this day, is incarcerated in Attica Prison, on a guilty plea. Aside from a Larry King interview in 1992, he has not spoken with the media. However, Chapman did reveal the mechanics of his unraveling during those three fateful days in New York City, to crime journalist Jack Jones. The interviews were published in 1992 as Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman, a book of Chapman’s recollections of his unthinkable act of violence. From this text, the film CHAPTER 27 is based. The film takes its title from the idea that through his actions in New York, Chapman was attempting to "write" his own additional, 27th chapter to Catcher in the Rye (which ends with chapter 26).

Leto’s embodiment of a man whose painfully restless mind thrashes about uncontrollably between paranoia, socio-pathic lying and delusion is summed up in such character revealing comments as "I’m too vulnerable for a world full of pain and lies" and "Everyone is cracked and broken. You have to find something to fix you. To give you what you need. To make you whole again."

From his lies to cab drivers (identifying himself as the Beatles sound engineer) to his socially unacceptable behavior around Jude (Lindsay Lohan) a young fan he meets outside the Dakota -- to his argument with paparazzi photographer Paul (Judah Friedlander), Leto’s Chapman keeps the psychoses bubbling below the surface as his grasp on reality deteriorates into a completely misguided rage.

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44% liked it

7,039 ratings

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20% liked it

45 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Jarrett Schaeffer

Release Date: January 25, 2007

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DVD Release Date: September 30, 2008

Stats: 949 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (949)

  • mjgildea
    October 17, 2008
    mjgildea
    Chapter 27 had the potential to be a good movie but it got lost along the way. The movie seemed to be in the shadow of the fact that Jared Leto turned into a porker for the role and tried to act as weird as possible. Oh! And it's ripping off and trying to be Taxi Driver way too m...( read more)uch. Leto was okay even if he was pandering to the Academy. Lindsay Lohan wasn't bad and actually kind of cute. The strangest thing about this movie for me is the fact that the actor who briefly played John Lennon was named Mark Chapman. When Chapter 27 ends you'll probably ask yourself if that's it, but all you've got to lose is about 90 minutes.
  • rebvodka042099
    August 5, 2008
    rebvodka042099
    A very dark and inattentive film, that presents the facts from the killer's (Mark David Chapman) point of view rather than the victim's (John Lennon). Jared Leto was magnificent, I am honestly obeisant to his acting skills. I can't really say the same about Lindsay Lohan. Beyond ...( read more)that, it still needed a lot of work and agony in order to become a great and memorable movie.
  • freakyfriend2001
    May 17, 2008
    freakyfriend2001
    "Chapter 27 isn't the type of widely focused study of a real life event and man that we usually get. It is, instead, a fascinating study of the inner workings of the mind of an obsessive fan and psychopath. The film tells the story of Mark David Chapman, and the three days lea...( read more)ding up to the infamous killing of Beatle John Lennon."








    Full Review Here
  • IfeellikeGregorSamsa
    March 27, 2008
    IfeellikeGregorSamsa
    It's very hard to make a movie with a negative or extremely conflicted character at the center of the story if one doesn't know that it's a really double job because one have to provide much more insight to him. That is, first: to make him interesting and secondly, to let him evo...( read more)lve to the place where we can actually care about his actions, guessing his motivations etc. First time writer/director J.P. Schaefer doesn't know it. He doesn't know much at all, frankly, when it comes to filmmaking and the first the decision he made - that is, putting Chapman at the center of the script - was the mistake that made all what followed collapse with the speed of dominos.

    And, as we now acknowledge what's been said before, it's hard to write about a movie as bad as "Chapter 27", additionally when it touches a very difficult subject, which is the murderer of one of the greatest musical icons, John Lennon. It would be easy to say that the whole thing is just meaningless or that it's waste of 80 minutes of our life. That is, really, obvious. So let's get smart a bit.

    There was never any deep mystery regarding why Mark Chapman murdered John Lennon outside of Dakota in New York City. Chapman perfectly fits sociopathic profile with addition of a bag of complexes and great deal of self-loathe and, as a man who grew up in social and parental neglect, he - as usually in this case - wanted to do something which brings an echo, something that will put him out there so everyone would know that someone like him walked on this Earth, at the end not really knowing what it could bring him, except being jailed for life. There're thousands of Chapmans, I'm sure we pass them on our way every day. These little infantile people with great amount of hatred caused by fear of reality, misunderstanding words, gestures, not exactly capable to tell good from evil, tormented by their own insignificance.

    The killing was undoubtely a terrible tragedy, a powerful shock to the whole world, the loss of wise man and moving voice, charismatic, influential figure, but "Chapter 27" makes us question deeply whether three days prior to the shooting and the shooting itself with Chapman at the center in this form formed the material that was cinematic enough to be compelling, since it doesn't recreate anything that goes beyond what's been written or told in the TV already many years go. Shame. But he who is losing here the most is, of course, Jared Leto, who presents uncompromising sort of "Baleesque" dedication to the craft by making himself gain 60 pounds to fit the physical presence of Chapman. It's daring, especially because it truly adds up to his acting but it dissolves quickly since Chapman's character is flat, uncinematic, and film's tempo is slow, scene after scene consequently rising the most important question we pick from the film: Is this script tells us anything worthwhile about this man? Provoke us? Challenge us? No. Taking Champan, well, you can look into any encyclopedia and it will provide you much more insight into the character of our anti-hero than the movie.

    As far as biopics usually go, from mediocrity to decent ones, Chapter 27 is a work of a lousy prepared man who most likely was more attracted to the hot story than to its anti-hero, showing no true interest in Chapman himself whatsoever, making us wait till the end to see Chapman's face when he puts five into Lennon's chest. And so that way as the last frame fades out showing Chapman in all his ugliness and psychotic bland stare it simply cries to Heaven to get to sit on it like on a pig and give it a massive amount of pain for dulling our minds.
  • liquidstone14
    August 9, 2009
    liquidstone14
    One static, self-satisfied excuse for a film. Chapter 27 gives no answers and asks no questions, preferring to lull us into the mind of a psychopath with its shallow narration and a grim visual treatment. Built around Leto's impressive physical transformation but hardly affecting...( read more) performance, Jarrett Schaeffer's film eventually begs us to ask ourselves if there is any point to the proceedings. After 80 minutes of pure nothing, which finds no cinematic inventivy whatsoever to speak of and is sided with a performance by a Lohan in sleepwalking mode, you'll come to the conclusion that nope, there isn't any point to Chapter 27.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    I was really impressed with Jared Leto's performance. He played the character so well that I didn't even think it was him at any point, he was Mark David Chapman. The movie itself is very bizarre and fits the character perfectly. There was a great sense of insanity throughout the...( read more) film.
  • cosmo313
    November 12, 2009
    cosmo313
    It could have had a bit more substance or provided a bit more concrete reasons WHY MDC did what he did, but other than that, this is a really interesting and unnerving film, highlighted by a haunting performance by Jared Leto. She's only got a small part, buy Lindsay Lohan ialso ...( read more)does a pretty good job, as does Judah Friedlander. It's worth watching at least once.
  • blackeyedsurfer
    October 25, 2009
    blackeyedsurfer
    A very slow movie. Too many strange and indulgent filmmaking and editing techniques. But Jared Leto's portrayal of Mark David Chapman is excellent, vulnerable, and incredibly disturbing.
  • fluturash
    October 10, 2009
    fluturash
    boring. the most boring celebrity killer in any movie so far. hated the movie. hated the character.
  • COINRETURNSLOT
    October 6, 2009
    COINRETURNSLOT
    I found this movie to be an absolutely amazing look into the mind of the man who killed Lennon, also I believe Leto was the perfect person to play this troubled role. I was surprised to actually enjoy this movie, although there was a decent story there was just something missing,...( read more) that would have made it better.

View All Chapter 27 Reviews

Critic Reviews

March 28, 2008
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

If there is any good reason for an audience to spend an hour and a half wallowing in the psychotic reveries of this wayward young man, the filmmakers and their star have sadly failed to provide it. full review

March 28, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Leto, who gained poundage for the role, keeps taking his shirt off just to make it clear that he is the latest in a long line of actors to confuse daily patronage of the local doughnut shop with inten... full review

March 23, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

At one point, Chapman confesses that he doesn't enjoy the movies because they're "so goddamn phony," and with regard to the superficial, ugly-as-dirt Chapter 27, he's right on the money. full review

March 20, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Don't hammer this film for trying to get inside the head of Mark David Chapman before he shot John Lennon outside the rock legend's New York apartment on December 8th, 1980. Hammer it instead for fail... full review

View more Chapter 27 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • CiCiMeGee
    October 13, 2007
    CiCiMeGee
    It was relased decemeber 1
  • CiCiMeGee
    October 13, 2007
    CiCiMeGee
    Where can i find this movie?!?!... i want to watch it but all i heard is that its coming to the movies soon!!
    Can someone please help!!!!
    I ♥ Jared Leto
  • anasofialinda
    August 24, 2007
    anasofialinda
    I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!I LOVE JARED LETO!
  • patricklapietra1
    June 16, 2007
    patricklapietra1
    Lohan can act brilliantly , and that comment about Paris was just retarded , pointless , you are way too wrapped up in the media that u can actually let someones personal life actually affect their talents ha I spit on little girls likw you that are just ignorant
  • XxIxXLoveXxGeorgeXx
    January 22, 2007
    XxIxXLoveXxGeorgeXx
    is lohan gonna ruin this movie b/c right now shes been ruining alot movies. i'd rather see paris hilton in it besides her
  • robert100792
    January 6, 2007
    robert100792
    i am waiting for a trailer? is there one out there????
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Chapter 27 Trivia

  • What is the name of the movie about Mark David Chapman in the days leading up to the infamous murder of Beatle John Lennon?  Answer »
  • name the actress who in between 2007 and 2008 will star in the best time of our lives i know who killed me the loss of a teardrop diamond speachless a woman of no importance georgia rule chapter 27  Answer »
  • Which actor gained a lot of weight for the movie Chapter 27?  Answer »
  • Jared Leto gained 62 pounds fro his role in Chapter 27 ?  Answer »
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