Chapter 27 (2007)

Director:

J.P. Schaefer

Writers:

J.P. Schaefer (written by)
Jack Jones (book)

Release Date:

15 December 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

No one can survive becoming a legend.

Plot:

A film about Mark David Chapman in the days leading up to the infamous murder of Beatle John Lennon. |

Plot Keywords:

Catcher In The Rye | John Lennon | Number In Title

Cast

Ursula Abbott	...	Jeri
George Bryant II	...	Limo driver
Kevin Cannon	...	Precision Driver / Street Hood
Mark Lindsay Chapman	...	John Lennon
Melissa Demyan	...	Lennon Groupie
Jeane Fournier	...	European Woman
Judah Friedlander	...	Paul
Molly Griffith	...	Covergirl / Centerfold
Matthew Humphreys	...	Frederic Seaman
Jared Leto	...	Mark David Chapman
Lindsay Lohan	...	Jude
Redman Maxfield	...	Maitre D'
Lauren Milberger	...	Gilda Radner
Matthew Nardozzi	...	Little Kid
Brian O'Neill	...	Patrick
Adam Scarimbolo	...	Clerk Riley
Michael Sirow	...	Joseph Many
Jeff Skowron	...	Waiter
Mariko Takai	...	Yoko Ono
Victor Verhaeghe	...	Spiro
Erik Wolfe	...	Lennon Band Member

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

84 min | USA:100 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group

Trivia:

To add the weight needed to play Chapman, Jared Leto told Jimmy Kimmel he put pints of chocolate Haagen Dazs ice cream in the microwave so he could drink them - with olive oil and soy sauce added "to get me bloated even more".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mark David Chapman: I believe in Holden Caulfield. And in the book, and what he was saying, what he was saying to a lost generation of phony people.

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Soundtrack:

Fall Into Place

Fair

Chapter 27 (2007)

** (out of 4)

Jared Leto gained 60-pounds to play Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon. The film takes place the three days leading up to the murder as we see Chapman battle his own demons in trying to make up his mind on whether or not to kill Lennon. The screenplay, by director Shaefer, tries very hard to be dark and disturbing like Taxi Driver but it ultimately fails because the screenplay is so paper thin that the only thing you learn is that Chapman went to NYC to kill Lennon. Without the credits the film runs under 80-minutes and the entire time we see Chapman talking to himself and when he isn't doing this we're greeted with voice-over narration that once again tries to say something deep yet nothing is ever said. The movie doesn't try to make us feel sorry for Chapman nor does it try to make us understand him. I'm really not sure what the point of the movie was because anyone going into the film is already going to know what happens so what exactly they were going for here is beyond me. Leto was certainly brave for gaining the weight and he's certainly trying hard but his performance really gets lost in the screenplay. Leto is fine in the role and he certainly has the voice down but in the end I think he went through all of this for no good reason. Lindsay Lohan steals the film in her few scenes as a woman, named Jude, who tries to befriend Chapman but soon realizes that the guy is nuts. When the murder finally takes place there isn't any suspense, drama and by the time it happens you're pretty much ready to leave the theater. The effort is certainly here because you can tell everyone involved was really trying to do something deep but with such a weak screenplay all hope is pretty much lost.