Over the years Mark Chapman has changed his reasoning for his actions. These range from being obsessed with a book (The Catcher In The Rye) so much that he thought himself as the main character who saw phoneys everywhere whom he had to kill without choice; to the classic "voices in the head" syndrome; even right down to just wanting some attention and recognition for something he had done. Well the phrase "be careful what you wish for" could only be applied so righteously to few other men.
This relatively short film (a mere 80 minutes) incorporates two of the above reasons, and as we see Chapman (Jared Leto, almost unrecognisable under waves of body fat and a Georgia accent) in the three days leading up to Lennon's death, it becomes clear pretty early on that this guy did not have all his marbles upon arriving State-side from Hawaii. He has a distinct and direct distaste for many of the people he comes across laughing in their faces at things they say, becoming hostile or just plain ignoring them while an unnerving voice over provides a retrospective look back at the events as Chapman recalls them from his cell. Amidst rants about homosexuals, perverts and other undesirables as well as the phoneys of Hollywood, he waltzes around his room practicing gun drawing and concealment while he goes on about being "a normal guy, not like these lot".
The slow decay of Chapman's mind builds toward a reminiscence of Robert DeNiro's incredible turn in Taxi Driver, but this is so much more gruelling and engaging and, essentially, terrifying. Because this is the man who killed John Lennon. He is not an actor playing in front of the camera. He is planning out how to do it and the anxiety of what is to come becomes nigh on unbearable.
So you can see that Chapter 27 captures a twisted, tortured mind artistically and fully, and tries to make sense of the actions it took; Leto's acting is impeccable (and no doubt a hard choice to play it considering the internet controversy the film caused) but you can't help but feel it was made solely for Lennon fans who want to see Chapman for more than the human being he is, they want to see a monster and that's what this film gives us, a man who got wrapped up in psychological troubles and made a mistake. A huge one, agreed. But Lennon is dead, and no amount of dehumanisation of his killer can change that. The finale is what people want to see this film for, the moment where the trigger is pulled; the reasons behind it are a secondary want. It's heartbreaking and depressing and enraging all in one, but if you ask Chapman now he'll tell you he doesn't know why he did it; and this film tells you the same: John Lennon was needlessly, pointlessly slaughtered and no one has a reason for it.
Read the full review and more at www.wrawreviews.co.uk
This relatively short film (a mere 80 minutes) incorporates two of the above reasons, and as we see Chapman (Jared Leto, almost unrecognisable under waves of body fat and a Georgia accent) in the three days leading up to Lennon's death, it becomes clear pretty early on that this guy did not have all his marbles upon arriving State-side from Hawaii. He has a distinct and direct distaste for many of the people he comes across laughing in their faces at things they say, becoming hostile or just plain ignoring them while an unnerving voice over provides a retrospective look back at the events as Chapman recalls them from his cell. Amidst rants about homosexuals, perverts and other undesirables as well as the phoneys of Hollywood, he waltzes around his room practicing gun drawing and concealment while he goes on about being "a normal guy, not like these lot".
The slow decay of Chapman's mind builds toward a reminiscence of Robert DeNiro's incredible turn in Taxi Driver, but this is so much more gruelling and engaging and, essentially, terrifying. Because this is the man who killed John Lennon. He is not an actor playing in front of the camera. He is planning out how to do it and the anxiety of what is to come becomes nigh on unbearable.
So you can see that Chapter 27 captures a twisted, tortured mind artistically and fully, and tries to make sense of the actions it took; Leto's acting is impeccable (and no doubt a hard choice to play it considering the internet controversy the film caused) but you can't help but feel it was made solely for Lennon fans who want to see Chapman for more than the human being he is, they want to see a monster and that's what this film gives us, a man who got wrapped up in psychological troubles and made a mistake. A huge one, agreed. But Lennon is dead, and no amount of dehumanisation of his killer can change that. The finale is what people want to see this film for, the moment where the trigger is pulled; the reasons behind it are a secondary want. It's heartbreaking and depressing and enraging all in one, but if you ask Chapman now he'll tell you he doesn't know why he did it; and this film tells you the same: John Lennon was needlessly, pointlessly slaughtered and no one has a reason for it.
Read the full review and more at www.wrawreviews.co.uk