Company Men

As a producer or writer on such successful series as Emergency Room, The West Wing or Third Watch, John Wells has repeatedly proven himself a guarantor of sophisticated entertainment. Now, with Company Men, he ventures into the cinema as well, making his debut as writer and director with a business drama that thrives on superbly drawn characters and a clever, but occasionally somewhat confusing, story.

For Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck), things couldn't actually be better. He has a well-paying job, a nice house and a happy family. But from one day to the next, the big dream bursts. Bobby loses his job and faces financial ruin. Finding a new job proves almost impossible in the economic climate. His older colleagues Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones), who were even a few rungs ahead of Bobby on the career ladder, are also thrown out on the street and can't come to terms with the sudden unemployment. The three men must learn to navigate a whole new, tougher world - and in the process realize that there are more important things than making really big money.

Company Men is an intelligent, entertaining drama that attempts to be critical of the current economic climate and all the problems that come with it on the one hand, while telling a story that seems quite hopeful on the other. Wells trusts in the power of the human spirit, in its ability to rise above itself in times of crisis and to remember true values. This may seem a bit thick and even a bit cheesy, especially towards the end of his cinematic debut. But at the same time, it prevents the viewer from leaving the cinema frustrated and with a nasty aftertaste.

Even in the first half, the story is quite complex and the polished dialogues just pelt down on the viewer. This can make for a bit of confusion here and there. But those who still manage to immerse themselves in the story will appreciate the high quality of this drama. Of course, not only the great script and the good staging are responsible for that. Without the right actors in front of the camera, Company Men could have easily become an overly dry and unwieldy pleasure.

Ben Affleck gets to prove again that he doesn't really deserve the many negative criticisms he's faced in the past. Granted, Affleck has done a lot of not-really-good movies and has also delivered a rather wooden performance to many a work. In between, however, he has consistently shown great talent both in front of and behind the camera, and that is clearly on display again here. Alongside the great Tommy Lee Jones and an incredibly intense Chris Cooper, Affleck certainly holds his own. Also surprising is Kevin Costner in a rather small role by his standards, but a very, very fine one. This great ensemble, with only the ladies taking a bit of a back seat, gives the film tremendous power and it's just fun to watch this piece of great acting cinema.

Company Men is sophisticated entertainment cinema - and will therefore have a rather hard time at the box office. However, this does not change the high quality of the film, which should not be missed by friends of the American drama in any case. Absolutely recommendable

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp