by Shannon Hood, Jan 28 2011 // 3:30 PM
Some people may find that The Company Men hits a little too close to home. The movie follows a handful of employees at a large shipping company at the height of the recent economic downturn. It takes an unflinching look at what happens to their jobs, their marriages, their friends, and their honor. An excellent cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, Ben Affleck, Maria Bello, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Chris Cooper make this film riveting and believable.
The film takes a unique approach by focusing on these men who, by most people’s standards, are fairly well off. By humanizing their plight(s) without vilifying the men, we are able to relate to their universal struggles. After all, it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, losing a marriage or one’s dignity is going to hurt no matter what. That’s what I loved so much about the film. You want to hate the characters, but through the course of the film, you come to realize these guys are just like you and I.
Ben Affleck plays Bobby, a hotshot sales director with the company. He’s got a giant house (mortgaged to the hilt), a hot wife, and a fancy car. He’s living the dream. When corporate downsizing begins, his head is one of the first on the chopping block. He’s shell shocked and embarrassed, but he is confident he’ll find another job in no time.
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Posted in: Drama · Movies · Reviews · Weinstein Co.
Tagged: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Corporate downsizing, Craig T. Nelson, John Wells, Kevin Costner, layoffs, Maria Bello, Recession, Rosemarie DeWitt, The Company Men, Tommy Lee Jones, unemployment
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by Shannon Hood, Jan 27 2011 // 10:30 AM
A couple of weeks ago, I named The Company Men on my top 10 films of 2010 list. The movie tracks a handful of employees at a large company, and follows their stories through the economic downturn.
It’s an amazing film (full review will run tomorrow) that captures all the anguish, anger, and fear I have witnessed through my own friends and family experience. This movie absolutely nails it, and it can be difficult to watch at times, because it hits so close to home.
When I was given the opportunity to interview director John Wells, I jumped on it. This film means a lot to me, and I couldn’t wait to talk to the man who wrote, directed, and produced it. Wells has an impressive filmography as a producer on a myriad of projects.
He served as executive producer during the entire run of television’s ER and The West Wing. He has also been President of the Writer’s Guild of America. Although he has directed several television episodes, this is his first feature film.
Right before we started the interview, I told him how much the movie meant to me, and shared a few personal stories about friends and family members who have suffered since the recession.
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Posted in: Drama · Exclusive · Interviews · Movies · News
Tagged: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Economic downturn, ER, Interviews, John Wells, Maria Bello, Producers, Rosemarie DeWitt, The Company Men, The West Wing, Tommy Lee Jones
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by Shannon Hood, Jan 5 2011 // 9:00 AM
I was surprised at how much trouble I had narrowing down my top ten movies this year. My top 20 were all very close, but here are the movies that I ultimately enjoyed the most. I readily admit that I did not see near as many foreign films as I would have liked, but by the time I cover most of the mainstream fare, there is simply no time left.
Honorable Mentions: Fair Game, Tiny Furniture, Greenberg, Cyrus, The Tillman Story, The American, Mother and Child, Scott Pilgrim.
10. Waiting for Superman
This Documentary was equal parts frustrating, inspirational, and heartbreaking. Director Davis Guggenheim (No End in Sight) sheds light on the dismal state of our public school system. He follows the plight of several children who live in various geographic regions who are placing all of their hope for an decent education into lottery systems for charter or private schools. Guggenheim relies on their compelling stories for a narrative, while interspersing lots of graphics and cartoons illuminating some pretty harrowing statistics.
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Posted in: Best of 2010 · Exclusive · Features · Flickcast Presents · Movies
Tagged: 127 Hours, Aaron Eckhart, Aaron Sorkin, Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Aron Ralston, Ballet, Barbara Hershey, Ben Affleck, Blue Valentine, Chris Cooper, Christian Bale, Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, Davis Guggenheim, Debra Granik, Facebook, hailee steinfeld, James Cameron Mitchell, James Franco, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Lawrence, jesse eisenberg, Julianne Moore, Justin TImberlake, Lisa Cholodenko, Maria Bello, mark ruffalo, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Melissa Leo, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole, Revenge Movies, Rosemarie DeWittBlack Swan, Ryan Gosling, Swan Lake, the Coen brothers, The Company Men, The Fighter, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Tommy Lee Jones, Trent Reznor, true grit, Waiting for "Superman", Westerns, Winter's Bone
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by Shannon Hood, Oct 13 2010 // 2:00 PM
The AFI Fest 2010 (presented by Audi) has just announced its gala screenings, and a tribute to The King’s Men director and cast. The centerpiece galas will include the following films.
Abel directed by Diego Luna. Synopsis: A strange, alluring fable of a disturbed child attempting to become his own father. Cast includes Christopher Ruíz-Esparza, José María Yazpik, Karina Gidi, Carlos Aragón, Gerardo Ruíz-Esparza, and Geraldine Alejandra.
Barney’s Version directed by Richard J. Lewis. Synopsis: A wise and witty tale of a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. Cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre, and Scott Speedman.
Blue Valentine directed by Derek Cianfrance. Synopsis: Flooded with romantic memories of their courtship, Dean and Cindy use one night to try and save their failing marriage. Cast includes Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
Casino Jack directed by George Hickenlooper. Synopsis: Notorious lobbyist Jack Abramoff finds himself in bed with mafia assassins in this fact-inspired film. Cast includes Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Rachelle Lafevre, Jon Lovitz.
The Company Men directed by John Wells. Synopsis: Bobby Walker is living the American dream when corporate downsizing forces him and two co-workers to re-define their lives. Cast includes Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Maria Bello, and Rosemary DeWitt.
A special ensemble tribute to The King’s Speech will also serve as a gala screening. Director Tom Hooper and actors Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush will be in attendance.
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Posted in: Film Festivals · Movies · News
Tagged: Abel, AFI Fest 2010, Amigo, Barney's Version, Black Swan, Blue Valentine, Casino Jack, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Love and Other Drugs, Made in Dagenham, Rabbit Hole, The Company Men, The King's Speech
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