In the Company of Men (1997)

Director:

Neil LaBute

Writer:

Neil LaBute (writer)

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Are all men bastards...or just misunderstood?

Plot:

Two business executives--one an avowed misogynist, the other recently emotionally wounded by his love interest--set out to exact revenge on the female gender by seeking out the most innocent, uncorrupted girl they can find and ruining her life.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Misogynist | Office | Business Trip | Secretary

Awards:

10 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Aaron Eckhart	...	Chad
Stacy Edwards	...	Christine
Matt Malloy	...	Howard
Michael Martin	...	Co-worker #1
Mark Rector	...	John
Chris Hayes	...	Co-worker #2
Jason Dixie	...	Intern
Emily Cline	...	Suzanne
Roxanne Butler	...	Flight attendant
Tahira Essix	...	Traveler
Julia Henkel	...	Traveler
Sara Pauley	...	Traveler
Cheryl Russell	...	Traveler
Jasen Savage	...	Traveler / Bank patron
Lynette Smith	...	Traveler

Also Known As:

En compagnie des hommes (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and emotional abuse.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:7 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

Stacy Edwards (Christine) originally could not star because she was getting married at the time the movie was scheduled to start shooting. The producers pushed back the schedule to accommodate her.

Quotes:

Howard: I get so used to saying what people want to hear I forget sometimes they might just want the truth.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Just Shoot Me!: In the Company of Maya (#2.12)" (1998)

A portrait of the Alpha Male and how he got that way

This is a riveting movie, but also an unexpected one. I didn't see this until it came out on video, and I had heard a lot about it of course, but luckily I was in the dark on the twist LaBute throws in at the end. Most people got that this was a study of male-female relationships from a wildly off-kilter view, and that was powerfully done. But I think most people missed this is also about the workplace, specifically the Alpha Male in the workplace, and how he got that way. Is it any wonder that Chad and Howard decide to make a game of their seduction of Katherine when it's clear they've had to plan their whole careers as if they were competing in a game of some kind?

I think I agree with an interview I saw with LaBute where he said he thought Howard was actually the more despicable character, because Chad is only in it for the game, where Howard starts to take those feelings seriously. Nevertheless, Eckhart's performance makes Chad one of the most chilling characters I've ever seen in movies. Where a lot of movie villains "indicate" to let you know they're just acting (which does work when it's done right), Eckhart gives away nothing, so you never know what he's thinking, even if he tells you what he's thinking. I hope he goes on to bigger things.