In the Company of Men (1997)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alice S

  
  I thought I would like this LaBute film since I usually dig his hold-a-mirror-up-to-society commentaries, but the evil machinations in this movie really have no exigence other than, as Chad states at the very end, "Because I could." This isn't some evil sociopathic… More
  I thought I would like this LaBute film since I usually dig his hold-a-mirror-up-to-society commentaries, but the evil machinations in this movie really have no exigence other than, as Chad states at the very end, "Because I could." This isn't some evil sociopathic genius who reveals societal hypocrises (like Evelyn does in <i>The Shape of Things</i>); hypocrises are nevertheless revealed but not through any action or intention on Chad's part. <i>In the Company of Men</i> is just two college dudes, thinking of how cool it'd be to write a totally depraved script and wait until one dude is sufficiently rich and famous enough as a playwright to produce this piece so that the other dude can star in it. The puns on "company" and the hierarchy of power are intriguing, but the company itself is such an underdeveloped entity. What is it? What do they do? Why are they here? It seems like LaBute didn't even know. It's too easy to say the anonymous nature of the company could represent <i>any</i> company. The LaBute I know is much too specific of a writer to cut corners like that, unless of course, he was too inexperienced to think it needed development.

• Steven C

  
  Neil LaBute's "In the Company of Men" is vicious look at misogyny. Aaron Eckhart totally nails his role here and it's a marvel to watch. The picture is cruel (though no where near as damaging as "Your Friends & Neighbors") and scathing. LaBute's… More
  Neil LaBute's "In the Company of Men" is vicious look at misogyny. Aaron Eckhart totally nails his role here and it's a marvel to watch. The picture is cruel (though no where near as damaging as "Your Friends & Neighbors") and scathing. LaBute's dialogue is also a treasure to behold. Something special always seems to happen when playwrights transition to film and "In the Company of Men" is one of those gems. It's a nasty piece of work, but well worth your time for it's biting deconstruction of masculinity, sexual politics and angst. If you are looking for an extremely violent film without any violence it in, you need to see "In the Company of Men."

• Leigh R

  
  UGH! This movie totally sucks. The storyline was horrible and what they set out to do is just cruel. It's no wonder I have a hard time trusting men... Did not keep my interest at all.

• Dan S

  
  An absorbing film concerning two yuppies who decide to "play a game" on an innocent woman, both pretending to fall for her, just to see what she feels once they pull the rug out from under her. They decide to do this just because they've been dealt so many vicious blows… More
  An absorbing film concerning two yuppies who decide to "play a game" on an innocent woman, both pretending to fall for her, just to see what she feels once they pull the rug out from under her. They decide to do this just because they've been dealt so many vicious blows by the female sex before in their lives, and they want revenge. This movie does a great job establishing a dark sense of humor, led by two completely opposite characters who are cruel and uncaring (except for the grand finale), and a dominant, confident lead performance from the very underrated Aaron Eckhart. It's certainly not for everyone, since it is probably the best example of the "anti-romantic/comedy", but once it turns ice cold, you can't help but be in awe of it.

• Michael G

  
  If In the Company of Men was a person, I'd break its nose but not before buying it a beer. This is possibly one of the meanest movies I've ever seen in my life. But its also damn good. Aaron Eckhart spews pure venom and Neil LaBute's debut showed he was a force to be… More
  If In the Company of Men was a person, I'd break its nose but not before buying it a beer. This is possibly one of the meanest movies I've ever seen in my life. But its also damn good. Aaron Eckhart spews pure venom and Neil LaBute's debut showed he was a force to be reckoned with. At least until Nurse Betty came out. The cinematography was a bit weak and the whole movie screams for a bigger budget, but other than that, no complaints. In the Company of Men--the stuff that protest groups are made for.

• Stefanie C

  
  viciously well done.

• Mark H

  
  Disturbing corporate tale of two men who decide to toy with a young woman's affections in an effort to vent their pent up rage against the female sex. An ugly psychological drama that is hard to watch but endlessly captivating. It's difficult to describe just how vile and… More
  Disturbing corporate tale of two men who decide to toy with a young woman's affections in an effort to vent their pent up rage against the female sex. An ugly psychological drama that is hard to watch but endlessly captivating. It's difficult to describe just how vile and depraved a man Chad is. He is a villain you won't soon forget. Astonishing first film by writer, director Neil LaBute.

• Arash X

  
  "Let's hurt somebody" I'm looking forward to see LaBute's other movies

• Lenny M

  
  I used to despise Aaron Eckhart for no reason but this movie changed my perception of him.

• Steve K

  
  Evil, unsettling.

• Antony S

  
  Love to watch this again, sadly unavailable on Region 2, but I'd recommend it to anyone who can see it. Eckhart is disturbing, cruel but ultimately honest, brutally so. Portrays the modern male as vicious unsympathetic predator, and the third act is bloody strong.

• Stephen E

  
  An intriguing anti-love story with a great performance from Aaron Eckhart (whom I'm usually not so fond of, but found him fantastic here). Next to Todd Solondz's Happiness, In the Company of Men is one of the most shockingly black comedies I've ever seen. It is… More
  An intriguing anti-love story with a great performance from Aaron Eckhart (whom I'm usually not so fond of, but found him fantastic here). Next to Todd Solondz's Happiness, In the Company of Men is one of the most shockingly black comedies I've ever seen. It is controversial in its topic and morals, and even more so in the way that it presents the two. Let me say that LaBute has some of the best writing I've seen here in a long time. It is clever, precise, and poignant, and is spoken by someone who knows the workplace well and the conversations that carry on in it. Sharp dialogue is the key to satire and LaBute hits all the right notes, however out of tune they may be. One thing that really got me was the budget that this film was made on. Twenty-five grand? That's all it takes to make a smart and thoughtful film? Then what does that say for half of Hollywood?

• Alec B

  
  Its not a story about the kind of monsters that exist in a fantasy realm, or even the kind of brutal serial killers not many of us will ever run into, but its about the kind of monsters we went to school with, who we work with, and who cause more damage than we can possible know. The… More
  Its not a story about the kind of monsters that exist in a fantasy realm, or even the kind of brutal serial killers not many of us will ever run into, but its about the kind of monsters we went to school with, who we work with, and who cause more damage than we can possible know. The character of 'Chad' as played by Aron Eckhart is one of the great villains in modern film.

• Mike T

  
  Neil Labute's controversial film is forceful and deliberate, but more importantly, it's intelligent. This isn't a misogynistic film; it's a film about misogynistic characters. Labute writes these people ruthlessly, but with enough texture and motivation to make it… More
  Neil Labute's controversial film is forceful and deliberate, but more importantly, it's intelligent. This isn't a misogynistic film; it's a film about misogynistic characters. Labute writes these people ruthlessly, but with enough texture and motivation to make it believable. Playing a vindictive sociopath, Aaron Eckhart is a revelation here in what may end up being the performance of his career. The dialogue is so strong, and the performances so keen, that we find ourselves being sucked into this merciless story before we can back out. The final scene is disturbing and will undoubtedly strike up some intense conversations. A brilliant movie.

• Stephen E

  
  What we have here is a rare kind of a movie. It relies solely upon dialogue for entertainment. The director/writer Neil LaBute shows off some of the best writing imaginable, going from scene to scene, one static shot after another. It's just the life of two employees and what… More
  What we have here is a rare kind of a movie. It relies solely upon dialogue for entertainment. The director/writer Neil LaBute shows off some of the best writing imaginable, going from scene to scene, one static shot after another. It's just the life of two employees and what happens at the workplace. Without a doubt, "In the Company of Men" portrays life so realistically that it manages to capture the interest of the audience. We're intrigued by what's happening, even though it's shocking, disturbing, and painful to watch, and we're drawn to it.

• Quinto W

  
  Say what you want about Neil Labute's blatant misoginy (something than runs so much through all of his movies, you start to wonder about the man himself), he knows how to write. He creates this very well-crafted assholes, both expertly played by Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy,… More
  Say what you want about Neil Labute's blatant misoginy (something than runs so much through all of his movies, you start to wonder about the man himself), he knows how to write. He creates this very well-crafted assholes, both expertly played by Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy, with excellent wit and dark humor.

• Ivan D

  
  What does "disturbing" means? In an automatic definition by one's mind, it pertains to thematic elements that leads to violence or sex, and sometimes, the two combined. Many filmmakers had experimented with it, but the conclusion of it all, whether he/she is an auteur… More
  What does "disturbing" means? In an automatic definition by one's mind, it pertains to thematic elements that leads to violence or sex, and sometimes, the two combined. Many filmmakers had experimented with it, but the conclusion of it all, whether he/she is an auteur or not, is that nobody has done justice to the word without ultimately submitting on using some of the elements mentioned above. Enter Neil Labute's "In the Company of Men", a film tightly written with dialogues(mostly conversational ones) that can be alienating to most people, but would certainly pass as mundane in the darker corners of the corporate world. But still, I have to say, it's one of the most emotionally unsettling films I have seen. It involves two yuppies in their ultimate plan for revenge on the opposite sex, an extreme contempt brought about by past relationships. But through the duration of the film, we laugh with them, but then a one word question arises, "Why?" Then suddenly we question their actions, and another "Why?" The next thing we know, it's the end of the film. Aaron Eckhart is unforgettable as Chad, maybe the most appalling of film characters, and with the most narcissistic("Because I could") of motives. He may not be in the extremes of Easton Ellis' Patrick Bateman, but with a misogynistic act that is just as unnerving. "In the Company of Men" was a film tailor-made for people to watch and ponder on, to re-evaluate one's thinking, and also a bitter commentary to the emotional vanity of most men.

• matt s

  
  In the Company of Men is a knockout.

• Eduardo C

  
  Harrowing portrait of the consequences of a violently patriarchal society naturally playing itself out in the ultra-competitive office culture. I would hesitate to label this a satire, since it is a very slight exageration. Aaron Eckhart gives a searing, pitch-perfect performance as a… More
  Harrowing portrait of the consequences of a violently patriarchal society naturally playing itself out in the ultra-competitive office culture. I would hesitate to label this a satire, since it is a very slight exageration. Aaron Eckhart gives a searing, pitch-perfect performance as a coorporate sociopath in a role that appears to have been written for him. The film's writing is brutally good and the cold, clinical way in which it goes about its business is frightening. A great film, most definitely not for all tastes. Keep an open mind (and be smart enough to understand that the film is not endorsing mysoginy, but is a portrait of unbridled hatred) and you will find yourself absorbed.

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