"When the GTX Corporation must cut jobs to improve the company's balance sheet during the 2010 recession, thousands of employees will take the hit, like Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck). Bobby learns the real life consequences of not having a job. Not only does he see a change to his family lifestyle, and the loss of his home, but also his feelings of self-worth."
3.5 Stars
One of these days, maybe a few hundred years in the future, the history books are going to look back at this period of American history and, hopefully, they will be taken aback by the lives and work ethics our society has grown accustomed to. It would seem to me that, for most of human history, people have worked to live. But the last 75 years or so seem to exhibit a reversal of that philosophy, because people now seem to just be living to work.
From a very young age, Americans buy into the fact that they are born to pursue that elusive American Dream. That lofty ideal that if we work hard and show others that we are committed to a cause we will, in turn, be rewarded with a big house, fancy cars, and a summer home on a tropical island. Now, don't get me wrong, I like to indulge in the extravagant just as much as the next guy. Like Tommy Lee Jones begrudgingly admits at one point in the film, "I like $500 lunches and $5,000 luxury hotels." But somewhere along the way the American Dream became flawed. We essentially give our lives to our jobs in the belief that everything will pay off in the end. We can justify taking on some debt, because we have a good job and there's no reason to think we won't have it forever. Even more so, our psyches are warped enough to believe that the biggest change that may happen to our status quo is the possibility we'll get a better job with an even bigger paycheck. I mean, after all, this is America. As long as you work hard and take advantage of the opportunities that arise, you can only move up the corporate ladder, not fall down it. We did everything right. We got the college degrees they told us to get and made the sacrifices they told us to make. Now it's their turn to hold up their end of the bargain.
Well, more so than anytime in recent memory, we must face the blunt truth that nothing in the corporate world is guaranteed. While we may be doing exactly what we're supposed to do, it may not be enough. And even the most fortuitous of us can end up on the street passing out resumes and going to job interviews with anyone who will grant us an audience.
But if ever there was a time to appreciate a silver lining, it would be now. Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) goes through the same situation that millions of American across the country have had to endure over the past few years. A massive and life altering change that leaves him contemplating not only his future, but his self worth as a provider. But a wonderful thing happens along the way, he realizes that once all the opulence and material possessions are stripped away, he is left with one important thing, his family. And, ironically enough, isn't that the reason he tried to chase the American Dream in the first place?
The Company Men presents a refreshingly accurate portrayal of the fear and angst that has become an all too common thread in the lives of people across the country. Now, I will admit that, initially, I had a hard time identifying with the characters and truly believing them as everyday corporate businessmen because I knew (in real life) they were all actors and probably had never seen the inside of a cubicle their entire professional careers. Luckily, they were able to win me over very quickly. Perhaps it was the fact that I got distracted by the mention of Mobile, AL (my hometown) as one the firm's shipping yards they had to shut down. But, more than likely, it was because everyone put forth genuine and heart felt performances.
The cast is full of great actors like Craig T. Nelson, Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Chris Cooper, and Tommy Lee Jones. But, to be fair, Tommy Lee Jones could act in a feature film about Depends undergarments and I would probably find it entertaining, but that's besides the point. The script is lean and mean. In his directorial debut, John Wells (of West Wing and ER prominence), has put together a story and a cast that did a sincere and just job in portraying the Great Recession in the most realistic way possible. And he has done it without mincing many words or drawing out many scenes. There are numerous plot elements that essentially happen off screen while the audience is left to assume what happened and fill in their own gaps. But the brevity is sometimes necessary to keep the characters developing and the story lines balanced. Both of which are achieved very well. So well, in fact, that the film almost takes on documentary feel (and I mean that as a compliment). But the added bonus of it being a story of fiction is that the audience is able to see the more intimate moments in the home lives of the characters and the struggles they are having to cope with after being knocked down from their lofty perches.
One criticism of the film might be that the script isn't as realistic as, well, reality. But I think that's okay. Granted, the film doesn't end in happily ever after and there are plenty of tragedies along the way, but I can see why some people may think the characters' journeys aren't as grueling as their real-life counterparts. But we have to remember that it's a movie. It's meant to be a work of fiction and, if nothing else, it's meant to put forth some semblance of hope. If it were completely true to form, then it might be too depressing to watch.
And, thankfully, the film doesn't try to do too much. It doesn't simplify things to the point where the implication is all big corporations are evil and all CEOs have made pacts with the devil. Although I'm not entirely convinced that they aren't and that they haven't. But what it does do is paint a picture of what the new normal is in America. Now, am I naive enough to think that this shake up in the American Dream will prevent us from repeating our mistakes? No. I have no doubt that people will continue to do what they can to buy the McMansions and drive the Porsches. But hopefully this movie can be an reminder of what should be important and what we really should be working for. An hour at home is worth 10 in the office. And, I can only speak for myself, but when I look back on my life, I know that I'll be remembering the times when I was surrounded by loved ones and not the times when I was surrounded by cubicle walls.
PS - I don't mean to cheapen the review in anyway here, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that Maria Bello has to be one of the sexiest 43 year olds in the world. This isn't a new revelation for me, but it is one that I felt I had to reiterate.
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