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: The Hangover Part III

Barely a Buzz

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: May 23, 2013 – U.S.

Rating: R

Genre: Comedy

Running Time: 100 minutes

Director: Todd Phillips         

Writers: Todd Phillips, Craig Mazin, 

Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, 

Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, 

John Goodman, Melissa McCarthy, 

Jeffrey Tambor, Heather Graham, Mike Epps

It's almost impossible to imagine now, but Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis weren't always massive stars. The original "Hangover" took the world by complete surprise when it was released in 2009. It remains a comedy classic. The sequel, which came out two years later, hardly felt original or fresh – it rehashed the formula almost exactly – yet, it still managed to be side-splittingly hilarious. "The Hangover Part III" brings back almost every major character from the series for its grand finale, but it isn't nearly as funny.

As the movie begins, Alan (Galifianakis) is cruising down the highway with his new pet – a giraffe. It's a funny sight gag at first, but it quickly becomes desperate and overwrought. It's impossible to suspend your disbelief for the scene's ridiculous "punchline." That ends up being a recurring issue in "Part III." The first "Hangover," even with its wild and crazy antics, was at least mostly plausible.

After Alan's giraffe gaffe, his friends – including his "Wolfpack" buddies Phil (Cooper), Stu (Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) – stage an intervention. He obviously needs severe mental help. It took them this long to come to that conclusion?

The Wolfpack hits the road. Everything is going according to plan. And then Black Doug (Mike Epps, reprising his role from the first film) runs into them – literally. This time, his boss is with him: Marshall (a menacing John Goodman) is looking for Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and strongly "persuades" Phil, Stu, and Alan to find him.

Their journey will take them into Tijuana and back to Vegas where it all began. Along the way, they'll meet Cassie, a foul-tempered pawn shop owner (Melissa McCarthy), and reunite with Stu's "ex-wife," the prostitute Jade (Heather Graham).

I smiled and chuckled many times during "The Hangover Part III," but unlike the first two movies, I rarely felt myself succumbing to uncontrollable laughter. No deep, guttural belly laughs. You know the kind I mean.

(With that said, don't leave when the credits start rolling – or you'll miss by far the best and funniest scene in the film.)

However, there is one surprising area where "Part III" succeeds: emotionally. After three adventures, it's impossible not to feel a connection with these characters and recall their wild antics with a degree of fondness. This final outing brings everything back full circle. If nothing else, it's nice to spend time with these people again. However, I remember thinking the same thing about "Cocoon: The Return" and it's not like that was a great movie.

If "The Hangover Part III" had been able to combine its gooey emotional center with gigantic laughs, it would have made for a deeply satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Only a few hours after seeing it, very little sticks out in my mind. I'd call it a hangover, but I'm feeling barely a buzz.