Simply A Masterpiece

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Mark David Chapman had very little self worth or reason to live in his mind. After traveling the world and ending up in a paradise (Hawaii), he experiences joy only in small rushes, and can only remark on a short period of meaningful moments in his life, when he helped Vietnamese children. Now he's grabbing at old obsessions, becoming Holden Caulfield, out to kill the most famous "phony" that he knows because his existence has to change drastically in some way. As for the film, I feel it succeeds in what it tries to do, make you feel anxious, awkward, lonely and somewhat sick to the stomach as Chapman certainly was. I feel it's helpful to relive sad stories once in a while and to grieve for your own losses in those moments of reflection. That's how I felt when I watched this and I ended up revisiting Lennon's great solo work, tearing up and telling myself, his peaceful, loving messages must live on some way in my life.

Chapter 27 stars Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman, the murderer of John Lennon. Recently, I've gotten more into the Beatles, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon himself. Everyone knows about the murder, but not the story behind it. Chapter 27 does a terrific job telling the story. The only Jared Leto movie I've ever really seen was Suicide Squad and, hate me as you will, I was pretty impressed. Jared does NOT disappoint in this movie. I've seen interviews with Chapman, and Leto completely nailed it. I never thought I'd say this, but Lindsay Lohan was really good! This movie is a true masterpiece. It may not be the complete truth, but it gives you the story. Jared Leto's Mark David Chapman feels like a real person, not a character. This is one of the best biopics I've ever seen. Chapter 27 isn't supposed to be fun or a good time...it's putting you into the mind of the sick-man that is Mark David Chapman. You listen to the tortured, obsessive, thoughts as he rambles on and on. The script is written terrifically. The editing really fits the story.John Lennon's murder is one of the saddest things I've ever heard, and I'll run you through it briefly: Mark David Chapman was abused as a kid. He turned to music to seek refuge from the real world. Who'd he listen to? The Beatles. He began to fantasize about having king-like power over a group of imaginary "little people" who lived in the walls of his bedroom. Over time, Chapman developed a series of obsessions, including the novel: The Catcher in the Rye, and the Beatles' front-man, John Lennon. Though Chapman idolized Lennon, he turned against The Beatles after becoming a Christian. He was angered at Lennon's comment saying that they were "more popular than Jesus.", a comment Lennon apologized for a few days later. Chapman also said that he had a hit list of people in mind, including David Bowie, Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor, and more, but John Lennon seemed to be the easiest to find. Mark flew into New York in December 1980, intending to kill Lennon. Around 10:50 p.m., the Lennons' limousine returned to the Dakota, where they were staying. Lennon and Ono got out, passed Chapman and walked toward the entrance of the building. He softly called out "Mr. Lennon.", Chapman fired, and dropped into a crouched position. Five shots were fired from a .38 special revolver, four of which hit Lennon in the back and left shoulder, puncturing the left lung and left subclass artery. Chapman remained at the scene, reading The Catcher in the Rye, until the police arrived. John Winston Lennon was pronounced dead 11:07 p.m. at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.The movie in no way glorifies Chapman. He is presented as the pathetic loser, as he actually was. Coincidentally, Mark Chapman plays John Lennon. No, this is not a joke. Chapter 27 won't meet everyone's taste. It accomplishes its job, a disturbing look into the life of Mark David Chapman.

Reviewers say this could have been "so much better" but they don't say how. Probably with an entrance of the Doors at the end playing "Soul Kitchen". It's like the movie The Seventh Seal. It's a great movie because of the subject and the way it is presented. I read as much as I could about Chapman including Let Me Drag You Down but this movie ,in a way, is more informative about why he was killed. It won't give you all the answers but it will show you what goes on inside the mind of a killer who wants to be a celebrity. I enjoyed the part where the photographer and the doorman Jose have a conversation with Chapman just before he stays for the final shooting. Jared Leto does a tremendous job of acting. When Mark Chapman reads the Playboy interview with Lennon you can feel that this is the point where he decides to go all the way. I read that interview at the time it came out and thought what an asshole, but so what? I knew the Beatles couldn't be what they were because they would have stayed together if that was all it took. I liked Lennon and thought he was the cool one when he was with the Beatles but that kind of success when your young is not easy to shake off when your older. I wish he was still around though because he was so outspoken it would have been interesting to see what he would have been saying today. Of course he didn't want be a radical anymore so he wouldn't have turned into the Dude.

Warning: I didn't see this film. I refuse to see this film. This is a review about the fact that this film exists.This is one of those cases where filmmakers go too far with their craft. I'm a huge John Lennon and Beatles fan, and Lennon's murder was one of the saddest things to ever happen to humanity in general, let alone the musical community. I don't want to see a film about the man that killed him. What are the producers trying to prove? That Mark David Chapman had good reasons for his actions? No! He was a psychopath obsessed with killing John Lennon who unfortunately got to do his ultimate deed. Enough said. Why do you have to make a movie about it?Were you not considering the feelings of Yoko, Julian, and Sean? Who wants to see a movie, let alone know that a film exists, about the guy who killed your husband or father? Famous or not. It would be the worst thing in the world to me. In that sense, I empathize with Sean when he was upset by knowing that Lindsey Lohan, whom he considers a friend, was partially responsible for getting this film green-lighted. What's worse about this is that this is EXACTLY what Chapman wanted. He wanted to be famous, and this is damning evidence to prove it!I usually try to be a pragmatist and give filmmakers the benefit of the doubt, but this is one subject that didn't need to and shouldn't have been explored beyond the usual historical media, such as news, documentaries, books, etc. But a dramatic feature film? It's just too much. Unfortunately, there really isn't much anybody can do now though, seeing as how the film has been out for nearly 4 years already, except just to urge film buffs and Lennon/Beatles fans to not give this film or any other film regarding Mark David Chapman any consideration, and instead consider the feelings of Lennon's relatives and pay tribute to John by simply listening to and enjoying the greatest thing he could have left behind, his music.