"The Company Men" Movie Discussion

Game

3191 Posts

June 26 2011 02:31 GMT

So I just rented "The Company Men" with Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, and Kevin Costner, watched it, and am amazed. I watched the movie, and the amount of reality portrayed in it actually depressed me to a point of deep recollection of my own life. Of course past the point of reflection, it triggered me to check the movie on rottentomatoes. 66%, 56% liked it, 4.4million in box office sales. The cast alone costs probably double that. Now don't get me wrong, I loved The Town and understand why it made 97 million dollars (Ben Affleck has more character depth in both movies), but has anyone else seen this movie?

I just want some feedback on the movie and maybe some discussion on the failed advertisement from people who have watched the movie. I'm in disbelief that a movie that could undoubtedly trigger an emotional response from any adult could just be looked over like that.

Thoughts?

P.S anyone know of other diamonds in the rough that are year 2000+ that they could briefly summarize the plot of?

RoTaNiMoD

United States558 Posts

June 26 2011 02:43 GMT

I haven't seen it but because of this post I will. I'll let you know. Sounds pretty darn good though....

ShaperofDreams

Canada2492 Posts

June 26 2011 03:15 GMT

can you briefly summarize company men so I could check it out if it sounds good?

zobz

Canada2175 Posts

June 26 2011 03:20 GMT

Interesting and unusual plot. The music in the trailers is a bit offputting and I don't approve of some of the dialogue, but the story almost seems worth it by itself from the impression I get. That and the actors of course should be good. Is there really anything special about Kevin Costner though?

Game

3191 Posts

June 26 2011 03:28 GMT

@SharperofDreams It's about the strife and reality of men who have settled into successful positions at a corporation that is downsizing. In downsizing, they heartlessly lay people off - including Tommy Lee Jones who built the company with the CEO/Owner that was his best friend since college. It shows their family life, their reactions, the hopelessness, the stages you endure after being fired, and how people can become so comfortable in their longtime positions that they end up screwed and destitute afterwards. More importantly it shows a variance of different male characterizations that I'm sure any man can identify with. For instance, Ben Affleck lets his pride lead to denial until he is deep down in the shit and having to face being a "37 year old loser who cannot support his fucking family." Chris Cooper has the whole age thing holding him back, 30 years invested in the company (30 year old company), from the first factory floors to a prominent division running position in which he can't find a job afterwards because he is too old to compete with guys who are half his age, twice as hard working for half his pay. Basically, nothing is more interesting and complex than the male ego when spun into real life situations.

@zobz Kevin Costner plays a role that's easy to identify with not only by yourself, but through him. He's a blue collar contractor/construction worker (small crew so he doesn't make contractor $) who is calm and sensible, but is portrayed to have hatred for Ben Affleck and other general feelings that come along with "what you expect behind the public face". Edit: I also forgot to mention he is Ben Affleck's brother in law, and the aspect of "family comes first" comes into play when Kevin Costner gives Ben Affleck a job despite their differences. In doing so, he teaches Ben Affleck humanity again "this job's about the same level of work as dragging messages from inbox to outbox, right?"

zobz

Canada2175 Posts

June 26 2011 03:51 GMT

On June 26 2011 12:28 Game wrote:

Wait, so it's not about some guys getting fired and then starting their own company, thereby jumpstarting the economy that caused them to be layed off?

Game

3191 Posts

June 26 2011 03:54 GMT

That is the beginning and the end, with no middle. There is literally less than 5 minutes of the movie dedicated to starting their own company. It shows nothing about jumpstarting that particular part of the economy, more the ethics and humanity involved in taking those actions.

zobz

Canada2175 Posts

June 26 2011 04:02 GMT

That's disappointing. So it's like 10/15 minutes of the protagonists getting screwed by the system, an hour and fourty-five minutes of them struggling and suffering and complaining, and then 5 minutes of elation.