A recession-style drama with an all-star cast playing the roles of several corporate men, whose lives becomes dramatically affected by the recent economic downturn.
Attempting to survive the economic storm is a corporation called GTX, who elect for large amounts of forced redundancies in order to stay afloat. Unfortunately for sales manager Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck), this means he will become unemployed in one of the worst economic recessions ever. At first, the man, used to country club golfing and driving his Porsche, refuses to accept the severity of his situation, claiming he will find another job in days, and remain in his affluence. He continues to keep up appearances, living the life he is used to, until his family finally convince him that he needs to accept his fate.
A secondary storyline follows another employee of GTX, Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper), whose whole life has been spent working his way up through the company, and as the downsizing continues to make its way towards him, we see a dark anger engulf him.
Gene McClary (Tommy-Lee Jones), is one of the top-brass of GTX, but not one who takes the job cuts lightly. He seems to be an executive with a conscience, and cannot escape the tragedy of the cruel climate around him.
A wonderfully relevant film to most of us, the film touches upon many aspects of the current situations which have hit the world hard. If you have been unemployed during the last few years, this film will surely hit a few notes with you, and even if you have managed to keep your job, the movie’s themes of pressure and uncertainty will be equally as pertinent.
Founded upon great performances, Affleck is great as the sometimes foul-mouthed ass who learns some hard lessons, and Chris Cooper plays the angry and fearful old-timer very well. But it is Jones who offers up the most interesting performance, as this conflicted executive, whose luxurious lifestyle seems to offer him no solace in these desperate times, as he yearns for something more tangible, and ethical.
One of those films which slipped under the radar, but I urge you to watch it if you like great scripts, compelling dramas, and can put up with a bunch of A-Lister celebrities complaining about the hard life.
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