Spitball Army

– In the Company of Men  (1997)
I can’t believe I missed this one when it was new, over a decade ago. Such a disturbing conceit, such a truly disturbing film – that said, it was hard to turn away from the wreckage (humans) on the screen. Aaron Eckhart, usually an incredibly likable person on screen, was a walking horrorshow here…and, sadly, I think I’ve known a couple of guys like him. This would make a great triple bill with Office Space and Up in the Air, covering practically every aspect of American office culture between them.

“Have you got the balls for it?”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKAzm4u-4wg

–  The Verdict  (1982)
I hadn’t seen this Sidney Lumet film since about the time it came out in theaters, around 1982. The acting is naturalistic, the David Mamet script is typically thoughtful and spare, and the widescreen compositions – something I don’t think I would have noticed 28 years ago – are painterly and, at times, heavily symbolic. Could be the best Paul Newman performance.

Frank Galvin’s (Paul Newman) summation:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZFlBJftgg