Review of Chapter 27

Introduction

It must be my lucky week, because I get not one, but two critically derided films placed in my lap for review. Following on the heels of Richard Kelly`s `Southland Tales`, `Chapter 27` is the highly controversial, somewhat sympathetic, examination of Mark David Chapman (played by Jared Leto), the man who murdered John Lennon, set during the three days he spent in New York prior to the killing. As was to be expected, it`s drawn little in the way of positive press, it`s been protested against since it was first announced, and its troubles finding a US distributor have been linked to the strong base of Lennon fans and their very public boycotting. It premiered at Sundance in 2007, and drew almost as much attention for star Leto`s 4½ stone weight gain to play Chapman as for the subject matter.

Inspired by the book (deep breath) `Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman, the Man Who Killed John Lennon` by Jack Jones, itself described as "repugnant" upon its release for the non-judgemental slant it takes in delving into Chapman`s psyche, `Chapter 27` also plays on (and takes its name from) the idea that Chapman modelled himself on the fictional protagonist from J.D Salinger`s `The Catcher in the Rye`, and in killing Lennon, was writing a final, untold chapter.

Video

A Momentum release, the 1.85:1 transfer is pretty much unproblematic, although there are issues with some of the darker scenes losing detail. Palette and colours are good, however, and it`s a generally solid release for a near-budget DVD.

Audio

A single Dolby Digital 2.0 track, more than adequate for a film which, in the audio stakes, boils down to little more than 80-minutes of talking.

Features

Just a rather redundant 10-minute `making of` featuring interviews with the now svelte and emo-flavoured Jared Leto, co-star Lindsay Lohan and director J.P Schaefer, and a trailer.

Conclusion

Lennon fans - at least the ones who can bring themselves to see it - call `Chapter 27` a highly fictionalised account of Mark David Chapman`s character, if not an outright lie. This is certainly justifiable when you consider Chapman`s confession that he murdered the Beatle for selfish gain - to become a somebody. But the state called him psychotic, delusional and borderline mentally ill, and this is the angle self-confessed Lennon fan J.P Schaefer chooses to take with his debut film, and it proves to be a rather compelling piece of filmmaking, regardless of the accuracy of its insight.

Leto`s portrayal of the childlike, social inept Chapman is faultless, including any opportunity to get out his carefully cultivated gut, and Schaefer`s direction - with nods to the discussed in-story Roman Polanski - is confident in the way it allows scenes to develop at a natural pace. Even notorious partyhard Lindsay Lohan, who plays a Lennon fan befriended by Chapman during the three days he spent stalking the superstar, turns in a decent performance. Whether the now infamous killer was an unstable sociopath or simply a psychopathic loser is a question that will continue to rage, but `Chapter 27` remains a quality piece of indie film-making regardless of any umbrage taken.