The Accountant Review - Numbers & fisticuffs

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“Life is like accounting, everything must be balanced.” - unknown

When you’re young a genuine worry is being different. It isn’t until we’re grown that we begin to learn that our differences are what make us special. Another part of growing up is learning that basically any human experience isn’t unique and chances are something you’ve gone through but never even spoke of is what countless others have also experienced. Think you’re the only one to do something? Something small or insignificant? Think again. 

It’s widely considered that 1982’s First Blood is the foundational example of the one-man army action movie. Its influence can be felt to this day. A Vietnam veteran must use his skills to defeat a corrupt police sheriff and his minion deputies. In 1985, Schwarzenegger followed suit with Commando. For its original pitch, 1988’s Die Hard was described as Rambo in an office building. In the modern era, it’s Liam Neeson in Taken, Bob Odenkirk in Nobody and of course Keanu Reeves in John Wick.

From a cinematic standpoint, I think the idea of a specialized rogue soldier or highly trained assassin taking matters into their own hands is appealing to man’s desire to be a hero. It’s fun to imagine having a “very particular set of skills” to kick some serious bad guy ass. On a more serious and unfortunate note, I think it’s a lasting sub-genre because of a widely held opinion that society fails us on a regular basis. If it’s not our fellow man, it’s the government turning its back on its own citizens. It makes people feel isolated, their problems insignificant to anyone else so what choice do they have but to handle it themselves. It’s a fantasy that both men and women find themselves dreaming about. Atomic Blonde, Kill Bill, Black Widow, all female-led one-person army movies. Sometimes we just want to be the hero when it seems no one else wants the job. 

Who would have ever thought that the writing duo of Good Will Hunting would go on to become legitimate action stars. Matt Damon struck first with The Bourne Identity in 2002 blossoming into a highly successful action franchise. Continuing the theme of lone, rogue killing machines, Ben Affleck gave us the unique but exhilarating and unexpectedly poignant, The Accountant from director Gavin O’Connor, creator of such movies as Warrior and Pride & Glory. “I had to go see about a girl.” turned into, “Aggression, correctly channeled, overcomes a lot of flaws. Tapping into that aggression requires peeling back several layers of yourself.” Quite the change in tone certainly. 

In the beginning, Christian struggles with his limitations as an autistic child. At an early age he is faced with two paths; one of normalcy and safety while the other would allow him to prosper but by illegitimate and life threatening means. Each choice utilizes his abilities so ultimately it comes down to his parents’ influence. Twenty years on it’s clear his decision is made and his life forever altered from that of an innocent civilian.

Long gone are the days of intense training by his father. Christian is now an accountant for the wicked and vile of the world. He can survive them and they pay well. For once he decides to take on a non-violent client for a nice change of pace. Of course things turn sour when he unearths information pointing to some powerful individuals who covet their privacy and possess the means to hire some less than wholesome people to silence anyone privy to this confidential information. This means Christian and this means his newfound friend, Dana. His self-contained demeanor, his shy, quiet speaking and approach along with his perceived profession all suggest he is an easy, open target. Oh how wrong they are. Their comeuppance will be swift and final. But as it does with everyone, the past comes back into Christian’s life, threatening his final task from being completed.

I love the idea of making the Christian Wolff autistic, making his approach to his work as everyday as any 9-5 workday. That’s helping an elderly couple on their taxes so they can keep their farm to eliminating hostile targets who see him as a lamb for slaughter. His physical presence and personality help hide his true abilities perfectly allowing him to often hide in plain sight. Ben Affleck plays him perfectly, turning what is often seen as an affliction into a kind of super power. He is awkward, timid and introverted. But highlighting the moments when he is in his element shows a man thriving and fearlessly pursuant until his tasks are completed. Whether that’s a financial report or a bullet to the brain is entirely up to the client. 

As for the action, it works for being authentic and straightforward. His fighting is very much in line with him as a character. Like Christian dealing with basically anyone, he is blunt and to-the-point both in speaking and violence. He’s aware of what he has and uses it to eliminate as quickly and as efficiently as possible. It normally isn’t about the pain or evening a score for Christian but rather the completion of a task, period. He finds solace in numbers, he fights to protect himself or those he cares for. It is as indifferent and direct for Christian as that.

The Accountant is a dramatic action thriller that not only aims to entertain with fantastic action sequences but attempts to flesh out realistic relationship themes between family members, between friends and acquaintances all from the vantage point of a man who struggles with such things on a critical level. It almost feels like his participation in the violence is nothing more than the influence of his father, even long after his death. There is a tragedy in it that not only altered him forever but his estranged brother as well. It is a tale of “sins of the father.” 

Rated R For: strong violence and language throughout

Runtime: 128 minutes

After Credits Scene: No

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons, Anna Kendrick

Directed By: Gavin O’Connor

Out of 10

Story: 8.5/ Acting: 8/ Directing: 9/ Visuals: 8.5

OVERALL: 8.5/10

Buy to Own: Yes.

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Check out the trailer below: