John Wells
The Company Men

THE REVIEW

Losing a job is the great fear of recent years: since "the crisis," this megalomaniac monster, made its appearance in 2008, news of dismissals, closures of large factories, reductions in excess staff, and other forms of "cutting" to decrease expenses have practically been a daily occurrence in an undeniably difficult period for the global economy. This is the main theme of "The Company Men," a film directed by John Wells, the same who had previously worked on several TV series like "E.R." and "West Wing" (just to name the most famous ones).

For his first feature film, Wells chooses a complex theme, perhaps even too common in recent years. The story brought to the big screen is that of Bobby Walker (the usual Ben Affleck without expressiveness): a man with a good job position in a company of certain importance. Comfortable life, golf, perfect family. Until the day he is told he is out, he has been laid off. Bobby must reinvent himself, just like Gene (Tommy Lee Jones) and Phil (Chris Cooper), who are also forced to leave their positions.

The drama of unexpectedly facing a new reality, in which all past habits must necessarily be abandoned. The fear, but even more the shame, of appearing socially "null," as if work were the only thing that made the daily routine truly "normal." These are the main themes of Wells' film: a filmmaker who, due to his long television experience, has infused his "The Company Men" with the characteristics of TV series for a wide audience: seeking drama and especially a superficial look at some important themes, often overshadowed by the forced "goodness" of some scenes. These are formal flaws that the work possesses, although counterbalanced by an underlying pessimism visible in the attitudes of various characters, thrown into an empty, meaningless world. A world of self-pity.

"The Company Men" (released in January 2011) is an interesting and well-shot film that knows how to make you reflect without engaging in overly complex "sophistry." There is a basic television structure that makes Wells' film more fluid than it actually is. Overall, a work that gives hope for the future directorial career of John Wells.