The Company Men

The Company Men

We hear so much these days about the money grabbing Wall Street executives. Not much attention has been paid to those people who have been laid off due to the recession. Downsizing hurts a lot of people. In this all star cast we meet many of the top executives of one company that are given a pink slip with no notice.

Ben Affleck plays the part of Bobby. He is an executive with a big company and is living the good life. He drives a sleek sporty convertible. He belongs to a classy golf club. He has the beautiful and loving wife. His two children have everything. The home is magnificent. One day changes all that for Bobby.

He doesn’t want anyone to know until he finds a better job. His younger daughter prays for him to get a job at the family Thanksgiving dinner. Bobby tries everything and no jobs are available. He gets a call for an interview in New York. He flies to New York from Boston to discover the secretary made a mistake and the appointment was scheduled for the following week.

We see the fun loving Bobby begin to change his personality. He is furious with the company. He is forced to do construction work for a brother-in-law he doesn’t like. Bills are not getting paid. The car is sold. The house is sold. His wife goes back to work part time. We really experience the pain that Bobby feels and we see the ramifications for all the extended family.

Other executives also play a vital role. One man is so depressed when he is forced to leave. He was told to dye his hair and that he was probably too old at 60 to get another job. These men begin to lose their self respect and all their possessions. (I did question why the 60 year old didn’t have enough savings to retire)

The top executives constantly are searching for ways to save the company. They make mergers and they try to stay afloat. They also think nothing of using the private corporate jet. They seem to have no pity for their fellow workers who have been fired.

The wife of one top executive asked if she could use the company plane to go shopping in Palm Beach. When things get bad the hatchet person is called upon to make the cuts.

There was some humor but it was also believable. When the men are fired they are given a small office and some counseling. The counselor was pathetic and the offices were a cubby hole. It must be very difficult for these executives (or anyone) to lose a good job and know that the market is not in your favor.

The film also points out how some of the executives used their skills, energy and a positive attitude to begin something new. That was really positive.

I was very happy to see that Bobby’s wife was supportive and loving throughout the ordeal. At times she was more realistic than Bobby. She knew that they had to sell things and downsize. When the family had to temporarily move in with Bobby’s parents I felt the pain.

So much attention has been given to those people at the top who have profited with so much money while others have been downsized and fired. This is a different take on the recession. I found it to be moving. Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Mario Bello all have starring roles.