I will admit to leaning toward more mainstream fare, but this comes
down to a personal consideration — I primarily watch movies to be
entertained. But even more so, I appreciate the movies that can
communicate a difficult point or tackle hard to swallow subject matter
in an entertaining way, in a sense, subversively tricking the audience.

Two movies that I felt expertly walked the fine line between
entertainment and cynical observations were Todd Solondz’s Happiness
and Welcome To The Dollhouse, both of which I consider five stars.

I describe this film, which I recommend to every movie buff I know, as follows: There are no guns, no bombs, not a single act of violence, and yet this is the most purely evil film I believe I have ever seen. Yes, there is not much in the way of changes of scenery. Yes, the dialogue carries the film. Unlike the reviewer, however, I found the payoff to be well worth the wait.

To me, the poor review this brilliant film received says more about today’s film industry than anything else. I suppose I would put it like this: If you are into they typical blockbuster-type film that Hollywood churns out en masse these days, this is not a film for you. If the idea of sitting through a play, which generally has to rely on dialogue to hold the audience’s interest, sounds like torture, this is not a film for you. But if the idea that a film can conjure up pure evil without even an ounce of violence, do yourself a favor and catch this one.

I have made several friends watch this film with me, and it ilicits the same response every time:

“Wow.”

“In The Company of Men” is a brilliant psychological thriller that will leave an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach by the time you get to the end. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s well worth it.