Release Date – 1/21/2011 (limited)
Bobby Walker has just been a victim of downsizing at a major Boston company. He was making a six figure salary and enjoying the finer things in life when his world was rocked. Since there’s a recession, he has a hard time finding another job and must make a lot of lifestyle changes. Gene McClary is one of the bigwigs at that very company and he does not agree with all the cut backs when the owners and VPs are spending loads of money on themselves. Phil Woodward is approaching retirement but not ready financially to take the cutback, so he is struggling with the fact that he may be let go. These three stories show how different people deal with losing their job. It’s a scary movie for a working man like myself because its very realistic. But it’s a slow moving film where nothing too exciting happens so I couldn’t really get into it.
Ben Affleck plays Bobby, the youngest of the downsized employees, so he really needs to concentrate on getting back on his feet. He has a young family to take care of and many more years of work ahead of him. He is shooting high though and trying to get another job as a Manager with similar pay. As time goes on, he realizes everyone is doing the same and hurting his chances. Tommy Lee Jones plays Gene, he is long time buddies with the owner of the company (played by Craig T. Nelson) so he tries to be the angel on his shoulder helping him make the right decision. But he rarely gets his way and sees a lot of good employees go to save a few bucks. He struggles with working at a place that doesn’t have their employees’ best interest in mind. Chris Cooper plays the paranoid Phil. He is fearing the day when he gets let go and dreading going back to look for a job when he’s pushing 60 years old. All very good performances and a great example of the different sides of the spectrum when dealing with a life changing event. It is seriously scary for a young guy like myself to possibly face something like this one day. It’s a horror movie without the slasher.
The thing I couldn’t really get behind was the fact that nothing too exciting happens. I guess its realistic that way. No one is going to get revenge on their boss, or always come out on top. Not to say some of these stories don’t end up positive, they do. It was just a tad boring watching Ben Affleck go on job interviews and then start working construction with his brother in law (Kevin Costner) and make it like that job is for suckers. Always knowing that Affleck will bail as soon as he gets a better job offer is kind of like sticking it to the laborers. It’s the first film from writer/director John Wells. Directing-wise he did a great job. He got good performances from his actors and showed a cold, bleak Boston neighborhood to match the cold, bleak lives these guys have been thrown into. While the writing accurately showed the struggle of finding a job when you are, 40, 50 and close to 60, it just didn’t hold my interest for long periods of time. But again, its John Wells first motion picture and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next. He already has some fine actors working with him so his future is bright. Don’t worry John, you’ll find another job.
IMDB – 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes – 73%
Movie Wiseguys – 6.5/10