I was tempted to give this an 8. I loved the film but the ending...I just didn't get it. Then I read some other reviews and agreed that it was a common plot device and therefore was okay. But that is incorrect as well. To not appreciate the ending is to have not understood the film. The "what really happened" summary (available on the main page) is very telling. This film is a lot cleverer than it appears and it is very clever whether you fully grasp it all or not. And very entertaining in a dark comedy way. And in a romantic drama kind of way. And in a violence kind of way.Christian Slater (who many of us want to hate) is just outstanding and so physically unattractive in this film that you can scarcely believe it is the same person; though clearly it is.I will say no more. Just don't miss this one. Pay attention to the details. Spread the word.

The movie opens with and ends with the same scene, of police arriving at and investigating the contents of a residence. That residence belongs to the protagonist, and neighbors are recorded by news media saying "he was a quiet man", thus the origin of the movie's title.At first glance it seems to be a dark movie about an employee saving the day, as it were, when he shoots and kills a deranged man who has shot up the office space already. But that is only a ruse, after SPOILERS below I discuss what really happened. It reminded me of the story in "Boxing Helena". In a quite different role for him Christian Slater is the meek, perhaps deranged cubicle employee Bob Maconel with a menial job, checking lists and reporting to his disrespectful younger boss. Bob clearly despises the office environment and brings a revolver to work, along with six bullets. We hear him think of the five he will "pop", perhaps saving the sixth for himself. When he gets home he talks to his goldfish about it, and we hear the goldfish talking to him.One fateful day while Bob is loading his revolver yet again, one of the bullets drops and rolls under the partition and into the carpeted office path. While he is bending down to try to retrieve it without being noticed black shoes walk up, stand on the bullet, and begins firing, killing several and badly wounding the pretty lady that Bob admired from afar. Bob stands to talk to the gunman, who then threatens him, and Bob fires the 5 shots through the partition killing the gunman. He becomes a hero at the office, is promoted to "VP of Creative Thinking", and given a nice office on the top floor. He is finally appreciated.The pretty lady who was badly wounded, in fact paralyzed, was Elisha Cuthbert as Venessa Parks . Even though at the hospital she is first angry with him for not letting her be killed, eventually they develop a relationship. Now I want to say, all is not as it seems to be and as the movie concludes it all becomes clear. It is a good movie, if quite different, and takes some patience but it pays off in the end. Christian Slater is superb in a role quite different from his usual roles.SPOILERS: When Bob returns later to his office it seems that he isn't recognized on the "top floor." Also back at his cubicle when he is in the hallway he steps on the bullet that had slipped away from him. It could not have been there all that time, everything that happened, the other man shooting, the promotion, the relationship had been imagined by him. Little time had actually passed, Venessa was not crippled, there had been no shooting. Realizing all this and his twisted state of mind he put the gun to his own head and ended his life.

Although, I say this movie was rather sad, the sad element, which is a major element in this movies plot, is to me completely overshadowed by the beauty the story contains at times. I am a 21 year old male, needless to say, I don't always appreciate a romantic gesture. However, this movie honestly moved me. The relationship depicted in this individuals mind is overwhelmingly deep and wonderful. Sadly, this gentleman the story follows simplistic lifestyle attributes to his complex state of mind, and this is portrayed very well in the movie. I'm not an avid movie critic or anything, just a frequent renter, but I list this in my top 5 all time easily, based on its ability to make you romanticize and wonder. Awesome, Awesome movie.

"He was a quiet man" is a astoundingly well written, decently directed little movie with an amazing performance by Christian Slater as an outsider and weirdo who's just about to crack. By now, Slater should have redeemed himself for whatever Uwe Boll- flick or Hollow Man- Sequel he did in the past and should rise again to the top of the Hollywood elite. After this and Bobby he really deserves it. This is definitely the first picture I've seen where Slater's character is really challenging, and he manages to show the audience a flawless performance beyond all criticism. Seeing him in Mindhunter and Alone in the Dark, one would have never guessed that he's still got that powerful gift of creating a character that you can appreciate and understand from the very beginning. The great screenplay helped a lot, I guess, but nevertheless this is the rise of Christian Slater. Please recognize that.