Cinephile No. 610 "The Accountant"
"The Accountant" features Ben Affleck playing one of the most dynamic characters of his career. Every word his character speaks is chosen carefully and every move made is done with intrigue. We come across Affleck's character who happens to be a math savant tasked with uncooking the books of some of the most dangerous organizations in the world by way of a Treasury Department investigation. Throughout the film, we move back and forth from his childhood to the present day in an effort to form some context. This line of storytelling is brilliant and helps the audience build a relationship with a character who has trouble building human connections. As the plot moves forward, Affleck is forced off his current job without completing the task. This is just something he cannot handle. Here, things get complicated and I don't want to give too much away, but finally we adults are treated to a grown-up story that requires our attention. Before the credits roll, everything is pulled together underneath a nice little bow, which is ultimately my only complaint here. The ending is a little sloppy and things are solved a bit too easily for me. Despite the final 20 minutes, this is still a film worth seeing, if for no reason to see the next iteration of Ben Affleck.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan