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In the Company of Men
Sony Pictures Classics


8.5

based on 25 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 8 votes
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FILM:

Internet Movie Database

MPAA RATING: R for language and emotional abuse

Starring Aaron Eckhart, Stacy Edwards, Matt Malloy, and Emily Cline

A psychological love triangle set within 90's corporate culture. (Sony Picture Classics)

GENRE(S):	Drama
WRITTEN BY:	Neil LaBute
DIRECTED BY:	Neil LaBute
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 17, 1998 Video: March 16, 1999 Theatrical: August 1, 1997
RUNNING TIME:	97 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	Canada / USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Stunning, unsettling, beautifully written drama.

100

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

As disturbing as it is well-made, this low-budget indie is a thoroughly original piece of work.

100

The Onion (A.V. Club) John Krewson

Writer/director Neil LaBute has taken the gender-issues film into uncharted, almost inhuman territory with this malevolently perfect exploration of male cruelty.

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

What is remarkable is how realistic the story is.

100

ReelViews James Berardinelli

In the Company of Men is anything but entertaining. It's virtually impossible to sit through this film without suffering bouts of intense discomfort, and therein lies its power.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

It's virtually guaranteed to make us squirm.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

This is a fully realized movie, whose intelligence -- despite its grim findings -- dwarfs any Hollywood production.

Film.com Robert Horton

One of the best films of the year, a polished, contained piece of provocation.

The New Republic Stanley Kauffmann

An unusually fine screenplay, then, yet LaBute's accomplishment goes further. He has envisioned a cinematic style for his film that harmonizes exactly with its theme and mood. [Sept 1, 1997]

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

In the end, like any satire worth the name, In the Company of Men spins around to fire its biggest salvo at its ultimate target -- the audience.

Slate David Edelstein

A dazzling, repellent exercise in which the case against men is closed before it's opened.

Newsweek Jeff Giles

A brutal black comedy. It asks real questions and takes real chances.

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

A provocative, timely script full of gasp-inducing lines and scenes.

Time Richard Corliss

Cool, shiny, handsomely made and, in its compelling-repelling way, mordantly funny.

Variety Dennis Harvey

Pics greatest achievement is its sharply poignant dialogue which, despite the horrible consequences of the contest it describes, is also darkly amusing.

Film.com John Hartl

As a writer, LaBute is capable of creating long dialogue scenes that never seem stagey or artificial. As a director, he has the confidence to stay with those words.

USA Today Mike Clark

A provocative dissection of human dynamics.

San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein

Tersely written and compellingly acted. But its controversial subject matter may make a lot of viewers so angry that the film's strong points will be disregarded.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

The movie sticks with you, thanks to LaBute's observational powers and the three impressive lead performances. [15 August 1997, Friday, p.C]

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

It exaggerates real, recognizable attitudes in a manner that intends to be disturbing.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

A one-trick pony, a movie that has a gift only for making audiences squirm.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

This is a film worth seeing, and LaBute is a filmmaker well worth watching.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

A singularly unpleasant movie.

New Times (L.A.) Peter Rainer

It's Mamet without the rich slanginess and heat of which he's capable at his best.

San Francisco Examiner G. Allen Johnson

An independent film so enamored of itself it refuses to have any fun.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Clyde gave it a4:
An excellent storyline with a sophmoric script and poor execution by the director. Poorly cast as well, younger protagonists would have been more believable. Not recommeded.

Yoon Min C. gave it a 9:
It's like a whit stillman movie made in hell. a nietzschean yuppie exploits his 'friend' and a deaf woman to get what he wants. he's one real sumfabitch, but in a perverse way, the only TRUE person in the movie. he knows what he wants and ruthlessly goes after it. his spineless associate betrays his own conscience for acceptance into jockdom, and the deaf woman, though conventionally a sympathetic figure, wants to give herself to the alpha male of the tribe rather than mate with a dorky and contrite twerp, a symbol of crippled manhood. of course, even the twerp's apology isn't entirely honest since he's attracted to her handicap for it props up his sense of power; bestowing sympathy--as a form of condescension--is also an exercise of power and superiority. the movie says you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. whther winner or loser, hardheaded or sappy, we're all wolves of a tribe. animals.

D. Rock gave it a 10:
The best movie of the 1990's. Overrated? Please.

T. K. gave it a 5:
This movie is extremely overrated. To get to where this movie really gets interesting, one must get through the first 75 minutes. Yes, it is an original story. Yes, it is compelling, but only really in the final act. It's also very low budget, which is NOT bad, but they shot it in only 11 days, so when you're watching it and want more coverage, or to see another actor's reaction and they don't cut back to this other actor....this is why. They didn't have time to get all they really needed in 11 shooting days. I don't begrudge the director the success this movie brought him -- good for him! It's just that this movie could have been SO MUCH better.

Gilbert gave it a 10:
What's most disturbing is the ending. Look away now if you don't want it spoiled... [Ed: sorry G.M., you're giving away too much, but nice observations....] A great, great movie.

Blanco A. gave it a 10:
One of the all-time best. Aaron Eckhart's performance is one for the ages. Legendary.

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In the Company of Men Sony Pictures Classics

In the Company of Men
Sony Pictures Classics