In The Company Of Men is playwright Neil LaBute`s screen debut as writer/director and it`s one of the more interesting American independent films of late. It charts the sociopathic behavior of a couple of corporate guys, Chad - Aaron Eckhart - and Howard - Matt Malloy as they wreak vengeance on women in general by targetting one in particular. On assignment for their company in a regional city for six weeks, Chad hatches his plan for both of them to woo some vulnerable creature and then dump her. The victim turns out to be Christine - Stacy Edwards - who`s deaf. As they both pursue her the politics of relationships kick in. Christine starts falling for Chad and feeling sorry for Howard.
This extraordinarily provocative first feature is more than just a tale of calculated cruelty. You`re mesmerised by the venality of Chad and contemptuous of Howard`s weakness. And you`re laughing, guiltily, because you are being entertained by these men. LaBute says he was attracted by the theme of betrayal and used as his template restoration comedy with its gamesmanship and verbal wit. Chad, whose surname is Piercewell, says the most mysogynistic line of the film that he never trusts anything that bleeds for a week and doesn`t die.
Stunningly good performances from both Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy make Chad and Howard frighteningly recognisable. Stacy Edwards is achingly convincing as Christine. LaBute made his film on a minimal budget, he keeps his distance from these predators, but even so it`s a most discomforting film. Brilliantly discomforting.
