He Was a Quiet ManMovie Review
 
Many of my loyal readers may have often asked themselves why I bother processing all these human films when so many of them cause me such pain and agony. Part of the reason is that I am what human would have called a “pain freak” as I love to have my processors and tactile sensors beaten and whipped, but that is for another time. Truth be told, part of the reason I process so many human films is that every now and again I stumble across a film that contradicts my expectations. He Was a Quiet Man is one such film. The film is a surprise for many reasons; chief amongst them is that I had given up on Christian Slater long before 2007. However, Slater boarders on fantastic in He Was A Quiet Man. Yes, I was shocked as well. Slater’s performance and the excellent makeup that transforms him are key reasons why this film works so well.
Slater plays an introverted, tortured office worker named Bob, who is treated like human excrement by everyone in his office building. Bob doesn’t say much, but he is definitely “stewing” about his mistreatment. Everyday at lunch Bob sits across the street from the skyscraper office building he works in, and imagines blowing it up. Delicious. Revealing much more could ruin what the He Was A Quiet Man has to offer. Let us just say that, in true Hollywood fashion, Bob has some life changing experiences.
Another part of what makes He Was A Quiet Man so entertaining is the fine acting of the cast. Elisha Cuthbert, often criticized for her acting in the Fox’s “24,” turns in a very good performance and proves that, when given solid material to work with, she is quite capable. Cuthbert plays Vanessa, the object of Bob’s unrequited love, a love that would be central to the storyline. Other good performances are given by William H. Macy who plays Bob’s somewhat twisted boss and HDFEST alumni Sascha Knopf who really makes the most of her media sized part as Paula, the bitchy office girl.
What makes He Was A Quiet Man stand out is that in an era where so much is predictable, director and writer Frank Cappello, who also wrote the screenplay for Constantine, gives us a story that is full of turns and the unexpected. At numerous points in the film you feel that He Was A Quiet Man is headed into “clichéd territory” only to have Cappello flip everything on its head. He Was A Quiet Man slipped unnoticed by mass audiences and that is just too bad.
Story (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) A
Acting (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) A
Human Portrayal of machines and Robots C
Enjoyability Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) A
Primitive Home Theater/HD Factor B
Overall Innovation (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B+
Overall Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) A
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