I HATE this movie and I'm a guy!
I HATE this movie, "In the Company of Men", because I HATE backstabbers. The plot hid a subplot that is difficult to discern. It was actually about Chad's secret revenge against Howard. Christine was the bait. Please read the post, "Second time viewing different perspective" for a better understanding of Chad's motives.
SPOILERS ***** SPOILERS ***** SPOILERS
Chad set out not only to *beep* over an innocent, pretty deaf woman, but secretly to "beep" over his so-called buddy, Howard, as well. Only, Howard didn't know that he was being set-up also.
At the end, a baffled Howard learns from false-friend Chad that his only reason for backstabbing Howard was just so he could do it for the thrill.
Chad was diabolitical cunning. HE KNEW THAT CHRISTINE LIKE ANY NORMAL WOMAN, WOULD ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY PICK THE MOST HANDSOME MAN of the both of them. It would have been a much different scenario if Howard was tall and handsome like Chad, but he was just a middle-aged, frumpy, average-height white professional male. Whereas, Chad was the 6 foot-tall plus, studly, GQ-looking man. There was NO competition there.
As expected, Christine fell for Chad, while Howard fell in love with Christine.
In the end, Christine and Howard are both screwed while Chad walks away all too-pleased with the evil he has committed and since he did nothing illegal, he's walking away all the more proud of his manipulative skills.
I give actor AARON ECKHART kudos for such good acting because I HATED his character with a passion. I can't stand liars, cheats, manipulators, and backstabbers.
"SMILING FACES...TELL LIES. BEWARE OF THE PAT ON THE BACK...IT MIGHT JUST STAB YOU BACK." ( Smiling Faces - song by The Four Tops, circa 1972)