Review: The Accountant

Convoluted But Compelling

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: October 14th, 2016 – U.S.

Rating: R

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Running Time: 128 minutes

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Writer: Bill Dubuque

Cast: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, 

J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, 

Jeffrey Tambor, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, 

John Lithgow  

Chris Wolff (Ben Affleck) is "supernatural" at crunching numbers and even more adept at crunching skulls. Companies bring him in to look over the books – he is, after all, "The Accountant" – but he's willing to get his hands dirty with more than just ink if necessary.

He's also on the autism spectrum. This aspect of his character instantly elevates the film and makes it endlessly fascinating. I have no idea how accurate Ben Affleck's portrayal is – I'm no expert on autism – but it seems like a great performance to me. He dials down his natural charisma and charm without ever appearing robotic or losing his humanity.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more of an "uproar" about the movie and this character from various "rights" groups. Portraying someone with autism as an efficient killing machine has to be controversial to someone, right? But I think the film earns goodwill and a free pass because the main character's autism isn't ever just a one-note gimmick. You see his quirks (parking a certain way every time – diagonally, a compulsion to finish everything he starts, his lack of sarcasm), his strengths (numbers, efficiency, shooting), and the drastic steps he takes to function in the world as a person with autism (a long routine involving loud music and bright lights – a sensory overload nightmare). It also helps that his past history is explored and explained in great detail.

Chris's father (Robert C. Treveiler) realizes his son is "different" and forces him and his little brother (played as kids by Seth Lee and Jake Presley) to learn military-grade fighting techniques so they can eventually face the unforgiving world and defend themselves and each other if they have to. Again, whether this is plausible, I wouldn't know. Probably not, but it works for this particular story.

After a stint in the military, Chris ends up in prison, where he is mentored by an older inmate (Jeffrey Tambor), who furthers his training in a different way – by teaching him social cues and other basic human nuances.

Ray King (J.K. Simmons) is the head of the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division. He recruits Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) and strong-arms her taking a job as his assistant by revealing that he knows about her past criminal record. That information is supposed to be sealed, she points out with outrage, but King obviously has his ways. He needs her help, her tells her, in locating The Accountant.

Meanwhile, a robotics firm run by Lamar Black (John Lithgow) hires Chris to inspect their finances. While there, he meets a pretty young co-worker, Dana (Anna Kendrick), who takes a liking to him despite his unorthodox demeanor.

Brax (Jon Bernthal) is a dangerous hitman with an intense dislike for fraudulent corporate activity. Through various twists and turns, he soon finds himself pitted against Chris.

All of these different characters and situations eventually come together in a frenzied finale.

"The Accountant" is a great blend of action, drama, and even some very well-timed black humor that had the entire theater chuckling almost inappropriately. Good luck trying to explain the finer details of the story to anyone afterward, though. The plot can be convoluted and the film feels overlong, but it's also undeniably compelling to watch. That's primarily because of Ben Affleck. An "accountant" with autism is undoubtedly one of the most original and interesting characters I've come across in a very long time.

Review: End of Watch

Two Cops Bleeding Blue

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: September 21, 2012 – U.S.

Rating: R

Genre: Action, Drama

Running Time: 109 minutes

Director: David Ayer           

Writer: David Ayer

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, 

Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, 

David Harbour, Frank Grillo, 

America Ferrera

The previews make "End of Watch" seem like a buddy-cop movie. It's actually a whole lot more than that.

Shot almost like a documentary, the film chronicles two police officers – Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña) – as they go from case to case. Some of their assignments are routine and others are decidedly less so. The story is actually very basic, very minimal – just a slice in the lives of these men.

"End of Watch" is very much a slow-burner, but because of that, the relationship between the two police officers is allowed to develop to a much deeper degree than I think we've ever seen before in a movie of this type. You come to realize how much they rely on, protect, and love each other as friends, partners, and "brothers." Gyllenhaal and Pena really sell the camaraderie between the two characters and deliver completely natural, absolutely outstanding performances.

Family is important to both of them, which is a theme that runs alongside their work on the streets. Zavala is married to Gabby (Natalie Martinez) with a second child on the way. Taylor is in a serious relationship with Janet (Anna Kendrick) and looks to his fellow officer for advice and guidance.

Also on the force are Orozco (America Ferrara, "Ugly Betty"), Sarge (Frank Grillo, "The Grey") and Van Hauser (David Harbour, "Quantum of Solace"). Grillo and Harbour – two "I know those faces" actors – and Ferrara have strong supporting roles.

The only real flaw is Kendrick. As much fun as she is in "Up in the Air" and "Pitch Perfect," she seems badly miscast here. I kept waiting for her character to turn into a shrew or have questionable motivations of some sort, but that never happened. Kendrick's surprisingly limited performance sends unintentional mixed signals. That's a minor issue though; the rest of the movie more than makes up for it.

"End of Watch" is very gritty and has some extremely disturbing and graphic scenes, but that "reality" is what makes it so special.  

Movies My Sister Made Me Watch: Pitch Perfect

Unexpectedly Quirky But Also Frustratingly Formulaic

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: October 5, 2012 – U.S.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance

Running Time: 112 minutes

Director: Jason Moore

Writers: Kay Cannon (screenplay), Mickey Rapkin (book)

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Brittany Snow, 

Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, 

Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, 

Christopher Mintz-Plasse

It was with great reluctance that I sat down to watch "Pitch Perfect" with my oldest sister and youngest niece. The things we do for the ones we love!

The film is about two competing a cappella singing groups from the same college. They are the all-male "Treblemakers" (great name) and the female "Barden Bellas." I am generally not a fan of movies with a heavy musical element. Unless it involves Dolly Parton or Queen Latifah (preferably in the same movie), or Eddie Murphy or Little Orphan Annie (hopefully not in the same movie), count me out.

The opening scene did not bode well for the film's overall chances. In the middle of a competition, the attractive leader of the Bellas spews out a long, violent rainstorm of projectile vomit. I groaned and hoped the next two hours wouldn't be equally as repellent.

It wasn't, but maybe it should have been. Ironically, the movie works best when it's at its oddest.

In an early scene, incoming college freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick) tries to sign up for the DJ club – but its members aren't disc jockeys. The joke is horrible and inappropriate – and it garnered one of the longest, loudest laughs of the entire movie.

It gets even weirder. After the previous year's regurgitating-related mishap, the Bellas have fallen from grace. As the only two members left, puke-prone Aubrey (Anna Camp) and her sidekick Chloe (Brittany Snow) are desperate to attract new blood. They approach Beca, who rudely refuses their invitation. Shortly thereafter, Chloe overhears Beca singing in the shower – and walks right in. Both women are naked, but the scene is far too bizarre to be sexually titillating. (The tame PG-13 rating probably helps – or hurts, depending on your perspective – because not much is actually shown.)

If that wasn't enough, we're also introduced to Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson, "Bridesmaids"), who calls herself that so people don't have to do it behind her back. She makes the most of every moment she has, blurting out bizarre, blunt observations whenever she can.

In the midst of all this madness, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin from "Superbad") shows up randomly for a couple of scenes.

Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins are also solid gold as bickering commentators who cover the competitions.

Of the Bellas, Aubrey (which used to be a man's name) is forever going over absurd rules while Chloe makes ridiculous melodramatic speeches. Camp and Snow are both pitch perfect (pardon the pun) in these over-the-top roles.

The main character of Beca is played superbly by Anna Kendrick. She stuck out like a sore thumb in "End of Watch" by portraying a lily-white nice girl. It wasn't believable. Here, she has an edge, and it works beautifully. It's a wonderful, radiant performance.

Her co-worker and possible crush, Jesse (Skylar Astin), is passionate about movie soundtracks. There's a great scene where he excitedly recounts his favorites – with "The Breakfast Club" topping his list – while Beca listens out of polite boredom. She eventually admits that she doesn't really like movies because she loses interest after a few minutes. (Believe it or not, there are people like that in real life – and they're still quite lovely despite this shortcoming.)

Not every character is a success though. There's a near-mute Asian with a purposely contorted face, Lilly (Hana Mae Lee), who isn't even remotely amusing. That isn't a criticism of the actress; even Meryl Streep wouldn't have been able to make this lame sight gag work. Still, as strange and off-putting as the visual effect is, you can't say it isn't memorable.

But just when you think "Pitch Perfect" is going to ratchet up the insanity even more, it disappointingly begins to play it safe.  

The overall plot structure has been lifted from countless other films. The competition aspect, in particular, is completely predictable. (To use one example, the 2012 Queen Latifah/Dolly Parton film "Joyful Noise" follows the exact same pattern.)  There's also a romance subplot, and that too progresses exactly the way you'd expect.

To be fair, it's probably inevitable for this type of movie to rehash certain well-worn formulas. Still, those familiar elements feel even more flat and stale than usual when contrasted against such wacky, inventive characters.

Throughout the film, Bellas leader Aubrey constantly locks horns with Beca over the direction of the group. Aubrey wants to remain conservative on stage, but Beca disagrees and thinks they need to take chances. The movie itself has the exact same issue. "Pitch Perfect" is good, (not-so-) clean fun, but it doesn't go far enough.