In the Company of Men (1997)

Another movie from the recorder was this inky black comedy-drama about a couple of misogynists played by Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy. The pair have recently had their fingers burnt by women in relationships that have ended not on their terms. After an opening sequence of stagey scenes with Eckhart being horribly sexist and Malloy listening, the pair decide to embark on a scheme to hurt a woman they way they’ve been hurt. They agree to choose an unsuspecting victim and then both will date her, before both leave her crushed as they return back home, after 6 weeks on a work placement.

The unfortunate woman they choose is played by Stacy Edwards, and the character turns out to be deaf (I’ve not been able to work out if the actress herself is deaf, I’ve not seen her in anything else), which makes what they’re doing seem even more cruel. Malloy, the more amiable of the two men, begins to fall in love with Edwards for real, and it appears Eckhart may be too, but it turns out he’s just a massive prick who was always going along with the plan. When Edwards learns about the deception she’s been put through, the effect is heartbreaking, especially as she’d fallen for Eckhart. The final scenes add another sadistic twist to Eckhart’s character.

It was never going to have a happy ending, but In the Company of Men had a great script and a trio of genuinely compelling characters, even though Eckhart in particular was a complete bastard. Edwards’ performance was sweet and heart-wrenching, especially as you knew she was being set up for a fall. It shouldn’t make it more evil because she was deaf, but it added an extra layer of sympathy, since Eckhart made fun of her handicap. The abrupt ending of the movie was a bit jarring, and I especially liked the music that accompanied the title cards that told you which week it was, and overall it was a decent film about some indecent characters, who unfortunately were all too believable.