THE COMPANY MEN (2010)

 

My Score

 The Company Men is knitted around few corporate big shots who work for a multibillion dollar shipping company. And for some of them it’s the end of the line when the company decides to cut costs by downsizing when the economy is hard hit by the recession. One day they have all the luxuries they can imagine with big houses, sports cars and expensive suits and on next day they are left with a resume at hand and mortgage to pay. 

When Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) loses his job he gets utterly disappointed and angry but he seems to be taking the economic situation too light. While his wife insist on cutting down the expenses and urging him to find another job he spends time driving his porch and playing golf. Beaten by ego and having too much experience and performance under his belt he let down some job offers thinking something better waits out there. But he seems to be wrong. When the time goes tougher he is forced to sell off the valuable possessions and move out of the house. Finding work as a carpenter and working for his brother in law is the last thing he wanted to do but he is left with no choice. 

The story clearly follows Bobby as the main lead. But it covers the side of some other colleagues who face the situation and the bosses who fire them. What’s good about the story telling is that for the viewer nothing is ambiguous. The underlying reality is how the decisions are made in big corporate firms and what pushes them to take the hard ones and how the employees are forced to take the hit. And the script takes good care of showing the emotional side of all the important individuals involved.

 This is packed with some talented cast. Ben Affleck and big names like Tommy Lee Johns and Kevin Costner. The casting is good and so do the acting. Story flows well without any sudden spikes or drags. 

For most of us who works at corporate companies the movie can be a warning. And it reminds you that nothing is permanent and when times are tougher there are very tough choices to make. And those choices are always not in your favor but making they will pull you through. 

‘Never love your company, because it never loves you’. 

Genre: Drama

Director: John Wells

Writer: John Wells

Stars: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones