Movie Review: He Was A Quiet Man

A troubled loner (Christian Slater) imagines blowing up the building where he works. He takes a revolver to his office intent on killing colleagues, and then himself. As he's loading his gun he drops a bullet and while he's on the floor looking for it, another colleague does exactly what he's has been planning... who he then shoots and emerges a hero.

A very quirky, dark and witty comedy in which a man holds conversations with his fish (as they encourage him to go on a killing spree). It's sort of like Office Space meets Falling Down with just a touch of Boxing Helena thrown in for good measure. Sound odd? Well it is, but damned if it doesn't work and if you've seen those 3 movies you'll know exactly what to expect here.

Christian Slater is fantastic as the disturbed loner and his love interest, played Elisha Cuthbert, is sexy and sympathetic at the same time. Slater's character is no easy task to pull off, and he's nothing like the normal Christian Slater role (whatever that is) and perhaps that's what makes me think he's so good for it. You don't really notice it's him. William H Macy also has a good supporting role, and he's great as usual.

Perhaps at times the movie is a little predictable but it's still intriguing as all the office workers that Bob hates begin to cast him as their hero. It just feels like he's about to snap at any moment. The film keeps challenging the viewer to answer questions dealing with interactions with others, loneliness, humiliation, paranoia and even (I felt) what would you do if you were disabled. Putting yourself in the situations makes it an uncomfortable movie, yet still very satisfying.

The effects used to dramatize Bob's sense of isolation and loneliness were a neat touch as they're very well done and really put you in touch with the drudgery of his life.

The end is a bit of a twist, but not a shock, but is the only way the film could have ended and really put all the pieces hidden throughout the film in their proper places. There are a lot of hints hidden within, which I couldn't discuss without being a major spoiler, so I'll just say to pay attention.

As if you can't tell, I really enjoyed this movie. I wish it would have had a bigger audience when it was released (2007) but you should definitely seek it out now if you're looking for a bit of cerebral, quirky, dark humor with a (disturbing) message.

8/10