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

Walking Dead and Andrew Lincoln Take Us Hook, Line and Zombies

If there is one series that really kept us on our toes, constantly driving us at the edge of our seats, it would be Frank Darabont's spectacular post apocalyptic zombie action suspense drama, "The Walking Dead."

Much like its film predecessor, Danny Boyle's "28 Days Later", our protagonist named Rick (the adorable Andrew Lincoln) - a sheriff's deputy in a Georgia county - wakes up from a coma in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The deputy finds civilization in utter disarray and the world that he knew has ceased to exist. After surviving attacks from "walkers" (that's how they call their zombies), he gradually meets a pack of survivors including his best friend Shane (Jon Bernthal), and he is reunited with his wife Lorie (Sarah Wayne Callies) and their kid. But they have to constantly move for food and supplies, and to arduously secure their safety. He thinks it's only a matter of time before the walking dead finally catches up with them, unless they find a possible solution from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), but is it even operational? Are there doctors and personnel left? Most of the world has been afflicted and the very few live humans aren't as helpful or cooperative as they'd wish them to be.

I was on tenterhooks waiting for the last of the first season's 6 episodes. And I am glad that TV season's best new series has been renewed for another 13 episodes. I do wonder what becomes of Rick's friendship with best pal Shane (who was having an affair with his wife Lorie, before they learned he was actually alive). Will baddie Daryl (Norman Reedus) ever find his brother Merle (Michael Rooker) who had to cut his arm (in episode 2) so he could escape from the advancing walkers? (What's up with arm-cutting these days? Check out James Franco in Danny Boyles' "127 Hours".) Will Glenn volunteer for another crazy plan?

Finally, will Lorie ever admit to having hooked up with Shane? And why does Greg (who looks absolutely sexy in his deputy uniform) keep wearing the darn uniform? It feels relatively unnecessary considering the obvious situation they are in. Couldn't anyone tell him that if most of the world ended, no one would bother if he wore his uniform or run around naked all over Georgia?

Darn!

Warning!

And check this link for Andrew Lincoln's alternative uniform (not for the blushers) - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXruN9leah-NGQPyPoM8SwY1MhfMSU2a5UAzGnZMp75WYwfY1QrDTE7Kb_60oKbMGd2yvPAh91y-kdcw3i5vkTfyr7MAk7e1JC9M2mr045Vzo1k4sAuJTHOml-wBwuLU8DCCOFwAZYUg/s1600/andrew-lincoln3.jpg

Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series is well deserved, and I hope it wins the award too.

Civilization ceases to exist.

Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes finds his "world" abandoned and dead after waking up from a coma.

The walkers roam the city for live "food".

At the CDC with a suicidal doctor (Noah Emmerich).

The walkers.

The adorable Stephen Yeun plays cool dude Glenn who keeps volunteering.

Shane (Jon Bernthal) is madly in love.

Andrew Lincoln is 37, born in London. He changed his name "Andrew Clutterbuck" to "Andrew Lincoln" while studying in RADA. He appeared in several British TV series ("This Life") and the film "Love Actually". In "The Walking Dead", Andrew joins the big league! Doesn't he remind you of Joseph Fiennes?