THE COMPANY MEN
US, 2010, 103 minutes. Colour.
Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello Craig T. Nelson, Rosemarie DeWitt?.
Directed by John Wells.
The Company Men is set in 2008. However, while it is set in the context of the global financial meltdown, its focus is less on the financial complications than on redundancy, downsizing and unemployment.
Craig T. Nelson plays a self-made tycoon who has built up his ship-building company. With downturns in manufacturing in the US, he decides to downsize, laying off thousands of workers. He is not troubled by feelings or ethical scruples, and, finally, prefers to boast about his wealth status. The film shows how the downsizing affects three company executives. This is not a film about the workers and their struggles. Rather, the attention is on middle class professionals and the repercussions of their unemployment on them.
Ben Affleck has proven himself a more substantial actor and director in recent years. He is able to sustain interest in his character, a genial, rather proud man, who never anticipated being let go. His attempts to maintain self-respect and look for jobs (often frustratingly) reflect the experience of many similar men in their late 30s. Fortunately, he has a strong and loving wife (Rosemary de Witt) who can stand up to his tantrums, continue to support him and make him realise the sobering realities of less income, not only on extras but on mortgages, possessions and even their house.
Kevin Costner appears has her brother, who is in the construction business and offers his brother-in-law temporary manual and carpentering jobs.
The second focus is on an engineering expert played by Chris Cooper. Nearing 60, he stays on in the company but is victim to the second round of sackings. His life becomes miserable and he does not have the energy or credentials to get back into the workforce.
Tommy Lee Jones is the centre of the third story, the co-founder of the company, who has been able to speak his mind at board meetings. He too is let go. He has difficulties in his private life, estranged from his wife and having an affair with one of the tough executives responsible for making the lists for sacking (Maria Bello).
While the images and stories of financial and industrial life in the contemporary US are grim (images of dilapidated factories contrasting with lavish office blocks, speeches about the fine old days of enterprise and pride in manufacture and an honest day’s work), the film opts for some hope, some opportunities with a touch of humour. The philosophy is that of pulling oneself up by one’s own bootstraps so is a story of the able rather than those who are in situations where they can’t help themselves.
1. The global financial crisis, 2008, the consequences for industry, for individuals?
2. The worlds of business, boards, high life, affluent suburbia? The contrast with ordinary people? The subplot about workplaces? America in the 21st century?
3. The title, the companies themselves, the men, traditions and loyalties, men and women in these roles?
4. The issue of downsizing, the ruthlessness, human resources and lists, the reality of unemployment, the humiliation of being fired, personal pride and anger, self-worth? Severance and redundancy payments and benefits? The financial needs, professional expertise and its being wasted? Options?
5. The GTX Company, Salinger as the boss, Gene as his friend and co-director? Success with the company? Boat-building? The self-made man? Finance, beholden to the shareholders? Working within the law – but lacking an ethical perception? Success and money as the criteria? Salinger at meetings, Gene talking always straight, the role of Sally and the sackings? Salinger not being emotionally affected, talking about his salary, his status in the business world, bonuses? His building new offices, laying them out and allotting them? His success and the American dream?
6. The focus on Bobby, Ben Affleck’s performance? Beginning his day happy, golf, boasting when he arrived at the office? The sullen tones? Sally firing him, his reactions, phone calls to her and abuse? Going home, meeting with Maggie, the kids, the barbeque? Having to go to Jack’s house, meeting the family, the party? Saving face? His relationship with his kids, his son wanting to be told the truth, fearing the worst about his parents’ break-up? Carson and her blurting out the truth in the Thanksgiving Grace? Bobby’s abrupt treatment of Drew, Maggie’s explanation of why the boy was hurt and had given up his possessions? Bobby later throwing baskets with his son? Bonding? Packing up at the office, the discussions with Phil? Leaving? Going for the interview and the pep talk? Meeting his friend and his support? The office space, the various members of the company, the attempts to get jobs, the phone calls, the refusals? The issues of money and mortgage looming, his golf fee and his humiliation, anger at Maggie? The son and his selling his possessions? Jack, the discussion at Thanksgiving, the offer of a job? Talking with Maggie, his accepting Jack’s offer? The hard work, the carrying, the cement, his being slow, the extra payment from Jack? Tired, the effect, at least some pride in his work, helping his friend to get a job? His flying to the interview and finding it was the wrong day? His feeling at home in the city, wanting to go back to his professional world? Having to pack up the furniture, moving out of the house, going to live with his parents, his memories of wanting to get out of the house? Maggie and her ability to help him accept the realities? Phil’s death, the funeral? Walking with Gene, going to the factories, the memories? Gene and his offering him the job, a future, going to work, the rest of the staff, using his experience, starting to work again?
7. Maggie as a good woman, her relationship with her husband, ability to talk with him, the issue of jobs, anchoring him in real life, alerting him to the expenses? The golf and his humiliating her at the hospital? Her continued support, moving out of the house, setting up and her in-laws, her ability to adapt?
8. Jack, his style, his work, the family, the Thanksgiving meal, the parties, offering Bobby the job, Bobby finally accepting, his tolerating his slowness, urging him to work harder and faster, the extra two hundred dollars? His running at a loss, trying to finish the house, the end and working on Sundays, Bobby offering to stay to work – and Jack urging him to go where he belonged?
9. The glimpses of the other staff, their reactions to being fired, in the office space, attempting new jobs, the games together, the pep talk woman and her energy, her interview with Phil? The end and their all working together?
10. Sally, hard, making the lists? Her relationship with Gene, the affair, their time together? Her firing Phil? Her harshness, Gene’s challenge? In the office? The sackings finally getting to her, her probably moving in as an associate for Gene and his new business?
11. Gene, his life, his friendship with Jim, at the board meetings, the firings, his own departments, the press conference and his not saying that there would be an increase in business, losing contracts? The dinner, his introduction to Jim, the speech? The tension with his wife, the affair with Sally, being with her, relying on her, confiding in her? His friendship with Phil, long-standing? His life, the reactions, his being fired himself, the discussions with his son, the confrontation with Salinger? His final talk with Bobby, his decision about the new company? Sally as an associate?
12. Phil, his life, his fears, getting the sack, his age, anger, leaving the office, drinking, discussions with Gene, going to an interview, pleading for his job? His killing himself? The response to his funeral, friends going – and Salinger missing?
13. An opportunity for audiences to reflect on the middle class and upper middle class, the effects of the global meltdown, the changes in manufacturing and production in the United States? Audience sympathies? Insight?
