Gavin O'Connor's "The Accountant" - Ben Affleck, Autism and Accountancy

Sounds like a Danish film I saw at the last Danish Film Festival - Christoffer Boe's perverse "Sex, Drugs and Taxation". While tax lawyer Mogens Glistrup (Nicolas Bro) has a blunt affect, Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has autism. But Christian has a different story altogether. 

While growing up motherless, Christian and brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) were raised by a strict military father who prepared them to fight for themselves. He knew that oddball Christian would encounter bullies as he grows up. Their dysfunctional childhood is shaped by their father's constant transfer: they moved 34 times in 17 years. 

After their father's death, Christian disappears for 10 years and resurfaces as a forensic accountant. Due to his business-like demeanor, Christian is able to deal with shady characters from Tehran arms dealers to international drug lords and money launderers. This time though, he is hired to trace the $61 million loss of a robotics company due for initial public offering (IPO). With the help of in-house accountant Dana (Anna Kendrick), Christian uncovers a plot perpetrated by the most unlikely suspect. 

I initially expected a story line that involved political conspiracies, international terrorism and arms deal, but Christian's background is a mere back story. 

Instead, the story focuses on a highly functional autistic protagonist who sincerely cares about the good people. He even donates most of his earnings to an institution that supports neuroscience research and cares for the mentally handicap, the NT's (neuro-typicals).

While emotionality is a characteristic far removed from most autistic persons, i.e. ability to foster emotional connection with others, Christian's tale makes a compelling story; one that parallels do-gooders like errr. Batman or James Bond or Ethan Hunt. Moreover, he has amazing gadgets, Indonesia-trained killer chops, an impeccable marksmanship and love for the finer things (like classical music and Pollock paintings). 

And he's easy on the eyes as well. 

What more can you ask for in a non-flying, non-caped, unarmoured hero?  

Braxton wants to watch Glen's demise in "The Walking Dead".

#theaccountant  #benaffleck  #annakendrick

Company Men – Ben Affleck & Kevin Costner Fight Recession

The world has been in economic shambles the last decade or so. Even in corporate America, there haven’t been enough bees producing honey or cows delivering milk, so to speak. As a result, factories and businesses close shop. And it isn’t just the blue collars getting affected. Even hot shot executives find their posts redundant. And huge companies end up downsizing, affecting thousands.

In John Wells’ “Company Men”, one such executive is Bobby (Ben Affleck) who loses the ship building arm of a powerful conglomerate. But he soon finds out that along with unemployment comes dispossession – not just of his home, his Porsche, his golf clubhouse membership - but of his dignity. When his brother-in-law Jack (Kevin Costner) offers him a job at the construction, he balks as he doesn’t see himself the “nail-pounding” type. Of course, he had to beg for the same job back later, but this uneasy predicament underlines the tuning up of the masculine ego. Several other characters share their stories in the film: Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) is one of the co-founders of a billion dollar company who finds himself fired by the company’s owner - his college roommate and best friend; Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) who, nearing 60, is likewise desperate for a job; Sally Wilcox (Maria Bello) is the relentless bearer of bad news (she’s tasked to fire people).

Despite a gloomy plot, the film (set in Boston), is far from being dour or melodramatic, thanks largely to a kinetic script that allows us to root for the characters on screen – and a great ensemble with solid performances. Though there is a tragic resonance somewhere in the narrative, the ultimate payback for our attention is the inspiring tale of perseverance, as well as the resilience of the human spirit to stand up from a hard fall. I am particularly surprised that director Wells finds a middle ground not to coat his parable with undue sentimentality. It allows us to comprehend these disparate situations better. Finally, we don’t always hold construction workers in high regard, but we should think again!

“Company Men” will make a great companion piece to George Clooney’s “Up In The Air”.

Jack and Bobby

Phil (Chris Cooper) queues for a job interview, along with younger men.

Ben Affleck's next project is a Terrence Mallick romantic drama with Rachel McAdams, Javier Bardem, Amanda Peet, Rachel Weisz and Barry Pepper.

Ben Affleck's The Town - Not Just Another Bank Heist

I'm not fond of bank heist flicks. What's there to enjoy when the arc of the story is, more often than not, predictable? They rob a bank, they either escape, get caught, or get killed. The end. But there's been several heist films shown in Manila recently: Nimrod Antal's disappointing "Armored", Benjamin Heisenberg’s compelling thriller-drama, “The Robber” (Germany/Austria) shown at the recent Cine Europa; and this week, Ben Affleck's "The Town". If you've seen the trailer, the story's easy to follow.

A bank robber (Ben Affleck) gets infatuated with the bank manager (Rebecca Hall) from an earlier heist. As he thrusts himself for her affection, an FBI agent (Jon Hamm) is meticulously tracking their trail. When Doug (Affleck) finally decides to turn over a new leaf, the big bosses wouldn't let him. He has to complete a final heist to avoid intimidations involving an ultimatum that threatens Claire's (Hall) life.

The film takes a lengthy exposition, running for more than 2 hours, but the pacing is brisk, you hardly notice the time. More importantly, the story is deftly told in brilliantly written characters that are able to carefully convey motives. The performances are top notch, from the conflicted Ben Affleck to the sympathetic Rebecca Hall; from the efficient Jon Hamm and affection-hungry Blake Lively to the volatile Jeremy Renner (after all, he wouldn't be nominated for an Oscar in "The Hurt Locker" if he was mediocre).

To keep this short and sweet, "The Town" is an unexpected pleasure.

Ben Affleck

Rebecca Hall

"Did he give you a diamond necklace?" goads the FBI agent.

Jon Hamm is Agent Adam Frawley, one of the sexiest agents in this planet.

Jeremy Renner is James, Doug's bestfriend and partner in crime.