bob the moo With its Hollywood setting, this film focuses on the disposal culture we live in as it applies to people – in this instance, those in Hollywood who no longer fit the "young and beautiful" mould or don't serve a purpose any more. We see this through the relationship between a troubled student (Cameron) seeking to make a short film and a bitter old man (Flash) who he meets in the cinema who was once a lighting man for one of the main studios. As the film progresses, Cameron learns about abuses in retirement homes and comes to appreciate the value of those that society puts to one side while they wait to quietly die.This film was suggested to me by another IMDb user and, while I have seen bad and good films off such suggestions, I will nearly always end up watching something I wouldn't have otherwise done – which in itself is a good thing I think. Man in the Chair interested me from the start thanks to the link to classic films, the main character being a film fan and of course the cast names in the credits. The plot offers potential to be something genuinely touching and smart and there is no denying that the subject matter is particularly worth your attention. I presume this must have also been a rather personal project for writer/director Schroeder given that his resume features performing these same functions on several films in the Cyborg "franchise" – a series of films very different from the one I was watching from him today! So all of this offered me hope that the film could be smart, pointed and moving. Such a shame then to see that the writing and directing are the weakest parts of this film because it is here (the material particularly) where the film is allowed to slip into sentimentality and cliché in a way that really prevents the potential and the real emotional connection come through to the viewer. The warning signs are there early on because there are things in the script that just don't work and one sort of accepts them in order to get past them and into the rest of the film. Cameron's character is odd and his "troubled" nature is a bit excess for the person we see in all other scenes. The way he gets into a relationship with Flash (and the way that develops) also doesn't really work. These little warning signs are shown for what they are as the film progresses and where one hopes for originality and insight, what we get is mostly easy sentiment, easy characters, easy scenarios and obvious plot development.It is a real shame because even with these the film still just about works – albeit at a level below what it could have been. Part of this is that the film is still a warming and slightly touching experience – it is loaded with weakness perhaps but it comes with a truth and a "makes you think" quality that will still strike a chord with many viewers – perhaps helping the film to some degree. A much better part of the film working is that Plummer is really good and he works very well in the scenes he shares with Angarano; again, with these two and a very starry cast of older names playing their roles well, the potential just continues to sit there. Certainly a lot of the charm that the film does have comes from the cast. In terms of direction it feels like Schroeder has left them to it to a point and they could have done with more. Schroeder may also be responsible for the terribly unnecessary blurry/edit effects that are frequently used – they seem gimmicky, add nothing and ultimately started to grate on me with their sheer unwarranted presence.Man in the Chair is a solid little film if you can accept the abundance of cliché and heavy sentiment and ignore the potential that the cast and subject matter gave it. It has a slight warmth to it and it is a worthy film but Schroeder just can't make it what it should be – if there is a cliché trap he falls into it; if there is emotion he finds sentiment. The cast and the idea carry it and make it reasonably engaging, but I'll be honest and say that the near-misses and problems with it really limited my enjoyment of it.

buginajarstudios I would like to tell everyone out there, the director and everyone that words on this film did a superb job! I have waited over almost 1 year to see this film, and I was able to view a consideration version... I can't wait until it is available as a full version to purchase in stores. Christopher Plummer was superb in this part. I just cant get over how well put together this was... If only all films were this good. It was fantastic! Quodos to all involved... one of the best films I have seen in a long time... This movie is going on my top 3 list of films I have seen in my lifetime. Great story, great actors, I cant say anymore! 10 Oscars for you! Cheers!

tollini I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2007. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit organization that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."This is a story of two unusual and non-conformist people. The first is a curmudgeon or surly old man, played by Christopher Plummer, and the second is a troubled high school junior. What they have in common is that they live in the same neighborhood in L.A. and they love movies, especially old classics. The old man used to be a gaffer or electrician and made many movies at Hollywood studios, but now he is alone in the Motion Picture Residence of the Elderly. He is scruffy, a drunk, cynical, sarcastic and loudly and proudly acts badly. After he gets into an argument with patrons at a movie theater proclaiming, "I made more movies than you've been to", the junior follows him to his old age home.The junior wants to submit a short film to a contest that hopefully can get him a college scholarship. So he begins his quest to get help from the old man. The junior has serious adjustment problems. He challenges a high school gang leader and continually gets in trouble with the law for fighting and stealing. At home, he has a terrible relationship with his stepfather.However, there is a goodness and decency in these two people and they slowly and painfully bring out the best in each other. For them, the journey is more important than a successful outcome. They simply both need a purpose to their lives. The acting is remarkable and not just from Christopher Plummer, who dominates the movie. M. Emmet Walsh and Robert Wagner are particularly convincing. There are unusual, funky visuals and a hip sound track throughout the movie. They really work to hold your attention because they are such a contrast to the many elderly characters. This is a very different and very good movie. FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

ceruleanskies29 This is an unfortunate film. One of its biggest problems is its lack of direction. Many of Schroeder's ideas are only half developed, and this lack of decisiveness shows. In a Q&A after the screening, Schroeder said that he did not want his film to be full of "Hollywood" clichés; unfortunately this is exactly what happens. As previously mentioned by my fellow critics, the hand-crank technique is used incorrectly and lends the film a music video tone. Add several non sequitur contrivances (e.g. the whole dog pound sequence(s) with its obvious use of stock footage, the way that Cameron receives funding for his film, the sabotage vignette, etc.) and you have a film that is chock full of holes. It also has a problem finding a true voice, which is something a film of this nature hinges on. It never sticks to one subject for long, and when it veers off in another direction, it fails to solidify into anything worthwhile. The one good thing it has going for it is Christopher Plummer. His performance is admirable in the way that he carefully delivers fairly pedantic dialogue. Although many characters were one-dimensional, the cast members did an adequate job. In brief, this is a forgettable film that will wow many people with its "heart." However, if you look more closely, you will see that it is shallow and mediocre at best.