Chapter 27

Name: Chapter 27
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: March 28, 2008
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 32

2008

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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Chapter 27

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Movie Details & Credits

Vitagraph Films | Release Date: March 28, 2008 | R

Summary: On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman shocked the world by murdering the beloved purveyor of peace, 40-year-old musician and activist John Lennon, outside The Dakota, his New York apartment building. Chapman's motives were fabricated from pure delusion, fueled by an obsession with the fictional character Holden Caulfield and his similarOn December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman shocked the world by murdering the beloved purveyor of peace, 40-year-old musician and activist John Lennon, outside The Dakota, his New York apartment building. Chapman's motives were fabricated from pure delusion, fueled by an obsession with the fictional character Holden Caulfield and his similar misadventures in J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. In one instant, an anonymous, mentally unstable 25-year-old, a socially awkward Beatles fan who had fluctuated between idealizing Lennon and being overcome with a desire to kill him, altered the course of history. Jared Leto, 60 pounds heavier for the role, bears an uncanny physical resemblance to the real Chapman, who remains incarcerated in Attica Correctional Facility on a guilty plea. Aside from a Larry King interview in 1992, he has never spoken with the media. However, Chapman did reveal the mechanics of his unraveling over three fateful days in New York City to crime journalist Jack Jones. Those interviews were published in 1992 as Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman, a book of Chapman's recollections of his unthinkable act of violence. From this text, the film Chapter 27 is based. (Peace Arch Entertainment)… Expand

Director: J.P. Schaefer

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 84 min

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Chapter 27 is far from flawless, but Leto disappears inside this angry, mouth-breathing psycho geek with a conviction that had me hanging on his every delusion. Read full review

Duane Byrge

High praise to the cast and crew. Jared Leto is mesmeric as the bloated, deranged Chapman. It's a brilliantly measured performance, evincing the tale of a madman through his own awful rhyme and reason. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

The film's 85 minutes drag by painfully slowly, because there's no respite from Chapman's tedious, self-pitying reveries. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Except for Judah Friedlander’s earthy, funny work as a paparazzo, most of the performances are vague and dull, including Lindsay Lohan’s supporting turn as a fictional Beatles fan who befriends Mr. Chapman. Read full review

Peter Travers

Don't hammer this film for trying to get inside the head of Mark David Chapman before he shot John Lennon outside the rock legend's New York apartment on December 8th, 1980. Hammer it instead for failing to do so with any depth or insight. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Jared Leto gained some 70 pounds. Seemingly following his lead, the pic itself is heavy, lethargic, and exasperating. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Perhaps the harshest criticism that can be directed at Chapter 27 is that it's awful even for a late-period Lindsay Lohan movie. It might even be bad enough to inspire "Catcher" author J.D. Salinger to break his decades of public silence to speak out against this high-camp fiasco. Read full review

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User Reviews

JasminS.

Apr 8, 2008

People should give this movie a chance! Brilliant performance by Jared Leto!

1 of 3 users found this helpful

LukazF.

Mar 28, 2008

It's a fantastic and "noir", movie!!! Lindsay e Leto shining!!!

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Robin

Jun 1, 2008

Jared Leto disappears into Chapman, and is pathetic and deranged without going too far over the top. Lohan is generally unconvincing, but stays in her place. As a film, it's well produced - direction, music, editing and photography. It's interesting, but I doubt if it can be Jared Leto disappears into Chapman, and is pathetic and deranged without going too far over the top. Lohan is generally unconvincing, but stays in her place. As a film, it's well produced - direction, music, editing and photography. It's interesting, but I doubt if it can be called entertaining.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

KartikS.

Aug 24, 2009

while in no means is this the best movie around, I think that people are being too harsh on this film. This accurately depicts what happened during those three days, and that's all he was trying to accomplish; recreate John Lennon's death and the events leading up to it. That is while in no means is this the best movie around, I think that people are being too harsh on this film. This accurately depicts what happened during those three days, and that's all he was trying to accomplish; recreate John Lennon's death and the events leading up to it. That is all he was trying to do.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

JayH.

Jun 26, 2008

Very very slow moving and Jared Leto's performance fails to convince. He did well looking the part though. It doesn't delve into the character of Mark David Chapman enough, only scratches the surface. It almost makes it.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

JayJ

Apr 9, 2008

Boring, awful and unnecessary. Leto is boring as Lennon's murderer and his performance is without substance. Jarrett P. Shaeffer strikes out in his film making debut. We learn nothing about why Chapman murdered Lennon and that is sad.A pathetic excuse for a movie that belongs in the trash bin.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

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