The Company Men

It’s always interesting to see how films interpret times of upheaval while those periods are actually still in progress: war movies shot while the war itself is still going on, political movies completed while someone is still in office…and in the case of The Company Men, a reflection on the tough economic times of our country before a full recovery (if it indeed ever happens) has occurred. This film is made compelling, in part, because it’s examining the issues surrounding America’s economic troubles while the topic is fresh on everyone’s mind. It strikes a cord emotionally because, I’d be willing to bet, everyone knows someone who’s lost his or her job recently (or is a recently laid-off employee themselves). 

So we have the immediacy of the topic coupled with the star power present in the cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Ben Affleck, Craig T. Nelson, Kevin Costner, and Maria Bello. These folks brought potentially dull material (discussions of stock options, shareholders, etc.) to life by infusing every scene with deep humanity, without diving into maudlin behavior or melodrama. This movie feels honest and really hits home, without being hateful or heavy-handed. I was especially struck by Affleck’s performance. In the past, I’ve found him to be very hit-or-miss, but lately (between his role in The Town and now this) I’ve been very impressed with him. He held his own (not that he’s a freshman actor by any stretch of the imagination) against a veteran cast of outstanding performers.

In the end, The Company Men takes a good hard look at the repercussions of losing a job, both on an individual’s sense of worth and the overall wellbeing of a community. It really is a shame that this film only received a limited theatrical release. It’s a superb movie and deserved a shot at a wider audience. Take some time to check this out.

QUALITY:
Great picture and sound quality. The detail is crystal clear throughout and the score, while somewhat muted and subtle, flows well with the rest of the audio.

BONUS FEATURES:
The bonus features include an alternate ending, an audio commentary with writer/director John Wells, a making-of and several deleted scenes.