RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Man in the Chair
Man in the Chair

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Showtimes & Tickets
  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
  • Bookmark and Share

Man in the Chair (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
50 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 32

Fresh: 16

Rotten:16

Average Rating: 5.3/10

Consensus: A committed performance from Christopher Plummer can't save Man in the Chair's troubled and cliched script.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language and thematic elements

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Dec 7, 2007 Limited

Synopsis: MAN IN THE CHAIR stars Christopher Plummer (A BEAUTIFUL MIND, THE SOUND OF MUSIC) as weathered curmudgeon Flash Madden. The former film gaffer is embittered about Hollywood's current regime that... MAN IN THE CHAIR stars Christopher Plummer (A BEAUTIFUL MIND, THE SOUND OF MUSIC) as weathered curmudgeon Flash Madden. The former film gaffer is embittered about Hollywood's current regime that perpetuates a throwaway society by neglecting and forgetting the crews and creators that helped crank out some of the most significant films in cinematic history. He catches the attention of high school delinquent Cameron (Michael Angarano, WILL & GRACE), who tries to convince Flash to mentor him in a filmmaking competition--the only thing that motivates Cameron to stay out of trouble. Impressed by Cameron's persistence, Flash obliges and recruits his fellow crew member friends who live with him at the Motion Picture retirement home to help out as well, celebrating their production specialties that have been dormant for decades. While filming, the crew hits their share of ups and downs, but they become invigorated by their work. Cameron and Flash develop an intense bond and understanding for each other's position in life, as they see the value of both youth and wisdom. The recipient of several film festival awards, MAN IN THE CHAIR is a unique feel-good film, intent on inspiring without glossing over the sadness and struggles of the characters. Although Plummer and Angarano are the clear leads, heart-wrenching supporting performances by character actors M. Emmet Walsh (CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING) as down-and-out screenwriter Mickey, and Margaret Blye (LAST GOODBYE) as a frisky aging starlet add just the right amount of seriousness and insight the film needs to get its poignant message across. [More]

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Michael Angarano, M. Emmet Walsh, Robert Wagner

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Michael Angarano, M. Emmet Walsh, Robert Wagner, Tracey Walter, Joshua Boyd, Mimi Kennedy, Mitch Pileggi, Taber Schroeder

Director: Michael Schroeder

Director: Michael Schroeder
Screenwriter: Michael Schroeder
Producer: Michael Schroeder, Randy Turrow, Sarah Schroeder
Composer: Laura Karpman
Studio: Outsider Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Man in the Chair

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/18/08
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/18/08
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Christopher Plummer taking on the role of Flash Madden.

Full Review Source: JWR | comment Comment
08/07/08
S. James Wegg
JWR

By the end it's lost any edge and is as soft and unappealing as a geriatric incontinence pad.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
01/24/08
Tim Evans
Sky Movies

Ambitious, heartfelt but, Plummer's excellent performance aside, dramatically lightweight and unconvincing.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
01/24/08
Leigh Singer
Channel 4 Film

A fair-to-middling contemporary fantasy drama that, despite its surfeit of flashy effects, is mildly charming in the way it addresses the injustice of old folk having to live out their final years in decrepit homes.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/24/08
Derek Adams
Time Out

Watchable drama with a strong performance from Christopher Plummer, though the script often feels simplistic and can't quite manage the emotional punch the story deserves.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
01/24/08
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

A movie about movies and the people who love them.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/23/08
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

This attempt to make a film is about a guy who is attempting to make a film.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
01/22/08
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Too slight and formulaic to amount to much.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
01/22/08
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Man In The Chair feels a bit like a high school movie project, which is appropriate since that's exactly what it's about.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/01/08
Paul Arendt
BBC

By salvaging a troubled script with deep, committed, touching portrayals, Plummer and Walsh help prove Schroeder's points about how Hollywood isn't just the province of the rich, young and pretty.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/21/07
Tasha Robinson
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The movie works so hard at juggling its clichés that it fails to generate interest in its story.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/21/07
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though they can't transcend writer-director Michael Schroeder's pointed contrivances, the actors tap into something achingly true in this valentine to Hollywood's below-the-line crafts people and society's castoffs.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/14/07
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[An] elegant documentary.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/14/07
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Overdirected and underwritten, this litany of Hallmark Channel tropes and button-pushing sentiment uses Tinseltown treacle to gussy up an otherwise forgettable message movie about humane treatment for the elderly.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
12/13/07
Stephen Garrett
Time Out New York

A film that probably never wouldn't have seen the light of a projector if it wasn't for some kind of "Let's get Actor X that long-deserved Oscar" grab.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
12/12/07
Edward Havens
FilmJerk.com

If you have to see this film for one reason, see it for Plummer...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
12/11/07
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Schroeder's heart is in the right place, but his cinematic taste is unfortunately elsewhere.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
12/10/07
David Noh
Film Journal International

A ramshackle but likeable story

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/10/07
Ray Bennett
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Man in the Chair

December 06, 2007: Critical Consensus: The Golden Compass Loses Its Way
This week at the movies, we've got the first installment of the His Dark Materials trilogy, The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, and Daniel Craig.... More...

See More Topics...

Related Forums for Man in the Chair

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More Movies

Close
Coming Soon
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date
91%
91%
Harry Potter and the H… 7/15
100%
100%
500 Days of Summer 7/17
—
G-Force 7/24
—
The Ugly Truth 7/24
—
Orphan 7/24

More…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

5 Favorite Films

5 Favorite Films

Director Kathryn Bigelow on Hurt Locker, more

Revisiting Hogwarts

Revisiting Hogwarts

Day 1: The Sorcerer's Stone

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

RT on Current TV!

RT on Current TV!

Check out the RT Show this Thursday!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
44
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
14
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
9
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
  • Brandon Routh Talks Superman's Future Source: Moviehole
98
  • Sony's Amy Pascal Explains Moneyball Balk Source: Los Angeles Times
6
  • Three Theaters Getting Harry Potter in IMAX Opening Day Source: Collider.com
18
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
66
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
46
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
38
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
17
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
16
  • Watch RT on Current TV
6
  • Win a Trip to the Premiere of Paper Heart!
2
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Man in the Chair at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Man in the Chair at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.