Amok - He Was a Quiet Man

Frankly I was shocked by just how good Christian Slater was in this film and trust me Christian Slater and good are definitely two words I never thought I would put in the same sentence. So yes you can say I was very presently surprised, I remember first hearing about this film and the quality reviews it had been getting and I was a bit reluctant when hearing just who was included in the cast. As much as I was surprised by Christian Slater I felt the exact opposite about Elisha Cuthbert, how she continues to get roles amazes me, I guess there are directors and producers that are just so mesmerized by they way she looks that they are fooled into thinking she is anything but god awful. Plus, was anyone really fooled by the obvious use of a body double in her nude scene. If she doesn't want to do the scene then just don't do it, or even be a little creative with you shot choices, instead we get one of the most unconvincing body double shots ever filmed. Anyway, enough on the cast, this film is very unique in it's story and the way it's director chooses to tell it, some very interesting special effects are used throughout and in some very unconventional ways. The films final act is by far it's weakest point, a cop out ending to a film that deserved better.

"He Was a Quiet Man" is perhaps the most original and unpredictable movie I've ever seen. If you're looking for something "normal", you should probably look elsewhere.

A story of an extremely lonely, put-upon, disturbed man who desperately wants to be Somebody. Christian Slater plays this man absolutely brilliantly. In watching his performance, I kept thinking "Where is Christian Slater?" ... Well, he's not even in the neighborhood. Well done, guy!

The direction is absolutely amazing: colorful, imaginative, darkly funny, and surreal. Cubicles, and hummingbirds, and talking fish, oh my!

While the film is not particularly emotionally satisfying (to say the least), on the cerebral and aesthetic level, it delivers big time.

"He Was a Quiet Man" answers the musical question: "Now maniacs will think twice before going crazy."

Yessiree.

I liked this movie. My wife saw it first and has been recommending that I see ever since.

I am a fan of Christian Slater and his portrayal of the lonesome loser is excellent. I could really feel the gut wrenching moments that he went through. The costume for him his excellent. I almost did recognize him.

Elisha Cuthbert, a Canadian beauty, while always a please to watch never has made it a reason for me to watch.

**** SPOILER ALERT**** The real issue I had here with this movie is the striking similarity in the way the plot unfolded as it does in the movie Boxing Helena (a personal favorite). While the characters, circumstances and personal relationships between the characters were different the end result is the same. The story teller takes you down one path only to bring you full circle in the end. The physical dependency on Elisha's character has on Christian is very similar and you just know that this is not on a level playing field.

Somewhere about the half way point I made the connection and knew where the movie would end up. I was truly hoping to be wrong and to see the love in the story conquer all.

The acting is fine, but the movie resorts to cheating the audience by pretending to be something it is not. The ending does not make me ponder anything, except why? Up to that point, the film was for the most part believable, and it was totally unnecessary to jazz up the ending. Reality plays far better than conjecture, so the confusing conclusion was out of place. You can watch "He Was a Quiet Man" as many times as you want, to speculate. I on the other hand would have preferred simple entertainment, which until the end, this movie was. My conclusion ...................................This movie is good for awhile, but the ending drags the whole thing down a couple notches. - MERK

"He Was a Quiet Man" is an incredibly frustrating film. I saw half of it one night and the next day, I was telling my friends all about it. However, when I later went back and finished the film, this wonderful film turned sour...very sour. I hate it when you are hooked by a film--only to have the ending completely fall apart. This is because, believe it or not, through much of the film it seems like a very, very dark romantic-comedy--an odd thing, I know, but it WORKED. However, later in the film, the comedy was gone and the film simply became a dark and depressing mess.

Christian Slater plays Bob--a psychotic who carries a gun to work in his briefcase. Regularly, he loads and unloads the gun--struggling within himself whether or not to murder his coworkers. Then, one day the unexpected happens. As he's loading his gun, he drops a bullet on the floor and bends down to pick it up--at which time ANOTHER crazed employee goes on a killing spree of his own!! When Bob gets off the floor, he's staring at the murderer. But instead of just shooting Bob, the two talk in a very weird and surreal manner. Ultimately, when the guy then talks of killing Bob, Bob shoots the guy first--and becomes an instant hero.

What happens next is very funny--in a dark and inappropriate manner. It also, oddly, becomes a romance, as a co-worker who was paralyzed in the shooting soon falls in love with Bob...and vice-versa. It's all very cute and soon you see Bob come out of his shell and become a much healthier person. It all sound strange but cute--sort of like a Bryan Fuller show like "Pushing Daisies" (it has very similar colors, sensitivities and style). Well, this is the case--until late in the film when this entire mood vanishes and the movie is just dark and unpleasant. Clearly, the ending, if done differently, could have made this a GREAT film. As it is, however, it's just maddeningly frustrating.