Pub.lished Movie Reviews
The Accountant (2016)
Ben Affleck brilliantly portrays Christian Wolff, a character who is unemotional, introverted, and socially awkward, yet nothing short of phenomenal with numbers. This character, who can effortlessly manage your taxes, strikingly resembles "The Accountant". Could they be the same person?
"The Accountant" is a total powerhouse. Not only can he dominate your tax returns, but he can also subdue the bad guys. This skill is particularly useful because he specializes in helping cartels and other crime syndicates clean up their financial records to locate their missing money and the culprits.
However, if, while straightening out their accounts, "The Accountant" discovers the bad guys have violated his moral code, he turns their information over to Ray King, Director of the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division.
Ray King, at the culmination of an illustrious career of taking down criminals, always manages to catch his target through "good old fashioned detective work", and "team collaboration." Interestingly, in this context, team collaboration implies Ray King coldly bulldozing anyone who stands between him and his objective. The one thing Ray King desires, before retiring, is to unmask "The Accountant's" identity.
Marybeth Ascension Medina, a star analyst at the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division, is an indomitable investigative force. Ray King has presented her with an ultimatum: either she uncovers the identity of "The Accountant" before his retirement at the end of the month, or she will be prosecuted for lying on a federal job application form, which could lead to serious jail time.
On top of all this, "The Accountant" also has a squad of hitmen pursuing him. Their leader is especially skilled and is personally committed to eliminating "The Accountant," especially after a few of his men meet an untimely end.
Lastly, "The Accountant" has a high functioning form of Autism. In addition to evading the police and defending himself against hitmen, he must navigate social situations with caution, deliberation, and an endearing level of awkwardness, reflecting his own extreme struggles in these areas.
Will Christian Wolff discover who stole money from Living Robotics and separately figure out why a team of hitmen is after him before the relentless Marybeth reveals the identity of "The Accountant"? This movie artfully blends fast-paced action with flashbacks to Christian Wolff's backstory, making it one of my all-time favorites.
" I spent my whole life only recognizing my lucky breaks after they were gone."
- You are under the age of 17 - the movie is rated R for strong violence and language throughout
- You are sensitive to intense, graphic violent scenes
- You dislike complex storylines with multiple subplots
- You are not a fan of crime and action movies
- The idea of empathizing with an anti-hero does not appeal to you
Warning: The following may contain spoilers:
What's the deal with "The Accountant," huh? I mean, here we have a guy who can do your taxes and take out a room full of bad guys all in the same day. It's like the IRS and the CIA had a baby! And when did accounting become so...violent? I mean, I get stressed during tax season too, but I usually just end up with a headache, not a body count! And what about those audit scenes? Talk about aggressive auditing! I thought they were supposed to find discrepancies in your finances, not in your pulse rate! Who needs action thrillers when you've got spreadsheets, am I right?
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016):
If you liked The Accountant, you might be interested in Ben Affleck's performance as Batman. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Zack Snyder, Affleck presents an older, world-weary Caped Crusader. The movie is an epic collision of two of DC Comics’ biggest heroes. Aside from the superhero action, it has its share of mystery, intrigue, and plotting that might appeal to you like in The Accountant.
John Wick (2014):John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, is a thrilling revenge tale filled with intense action just like The Accountant. The film follows John Wick, a retired hitman, as he's forced back into the underworld he was hoping to leave behind. The stylish action scenes, detailed world-building, and Reeves' compelling performance offer a similar satisfaction that fans of The Accountant can enjoy.
Jack Reacher (2012):Jack Reacher is a film adapted from Lee Child's novel "One Shot". It features Tom Cruise in the titular role as an ex-Military Police Officer turned drifter. With an engaging storyline and a mystery to be solved, it bears similarities to The Accountant in terms of how the protagonist's past shapes and drives his present actions. In addition to a solid plot, the movie offers great action sequences and thrilling moments.
Sicario (2015):Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a gripping and intense crime thriller revolving around the drug trade on the US-Mexican border. The film explores themes of moral ambiguity and corruption, and offers a perspective into the life of law enforcement officers and their difficult tasks, similar to how The Accountant delves into the life of a man operating on both sides of the law.
Drive (2011):Drive, starring Ryan Gosling, presents a similar stoic and morally ambiguous protagonist. The film draws viewers in with its stylistic presentation and violent action scenes. Gosling's character, like Affleck's in The Accountant, skillfully toes the line between being a hero and an anti-hero, making it a fascinating watch.
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