Review of Chapter 27 (2007) by Meeza (Lobsterman) — 13 Feb 2009

OK, I am going to write twenty-seven chapters on my viewpoints of the John Lennon assassination flick "Chapter 27". Wait! Come back! Come back! To where you must belong! Do not assassinate the writer of this critique by his pompous comment.

It will be short! "Chapter 27" stars Jared Leto playing Mark David Chapman, the mentally-disturbed killer of John Lennon. "Chapter 27" does not unravel itself on all Chapman's life chapters; just that frightful chapter of Chapman's "Madman in New York" to assassinate John Lennon experience.

Leto gained more than 50 lbs. to portray Chapman, and also gained weight in acting proficiency with his killer performance. Leto's only past strong performance was in "Requiem For A Dream"; but he can add another one to his acting resume with his stupendous work in "Chapter 27".

Lindsay Lohan co-stars as Jude, a bohemian Beatles fan who Chapman befriends outside of Lennon's The Dakota apartment building. Somebody should have told her "Hey Jude, stay away from Chapman".

I guess Jude will always have that misfortune to state "I Know Who Killed John Lennon". Sorry Linds for disrespecting your masterpiece "I Know Who Killed Me". OK, moving right along before Samantha Roson goes after me with mad lesbian rage.

Actually, Lohan was not half bad as Jude; so there is no need for Samantha to be a "mean girl who likes girls" and come after me. Another performance that caught my eye was Judah Friedlander as Paul, the photographer who was chatting with Chapman on the ill-fated night of Lennon's assassination.

Paul should have called for "help" in seeing all those red flags that Chapman was a disturbed soul. Writer-Director J.P. Schaefer did a commendable job in showing us Chapman's deranged psyche, but I think J.

P. had too many Schaefer beers by overexposing that fact. Moreover, there was no striking impact during the actual assassination scene. I do not imagine all the people liking "Chapter 27", but it is good enough to be a "catcher in the isle" at your local video store.

*** Average.