From NetFlix:

Written, directed and produced by John Wells (“The West Wing”), this indie drama stars Ben Affleck as a successful businessman who comes face-to-face with America’s downsizing epidemic when he loses his job and is forced to take a construction gig. Rounding out the all-star cast are Kevin Costner as Affleck’s brother-in-law, Tommy Lee Jones as a conflicted corporate bigwig and Chris Cooper as a paranoid executive.

Films like this make me glad to be retired. Somehow the corporate world seems to get uglier every day. Indeed this film hits the nail on the head. Not only are the situations all too real, but the reactions of the jobless are sadly true to form. Superb acting makes the film a pleasure to watch, despite all the unhappiness.

Some of the men do not survive. Interestingly enough in one such case the wife cannot accept the loss of status and demands that her jobless husband leave the house each day with a briefcase and never return until evening. What would the neighbors think ? There is a similar theme in the British film “The Full Monty”.

Let us hope that it is believable and does happen that some wives (as in the case of Ben Affleck) not only accept the downsizing but help their husbands with the adjustment and the reality check. Affleck’s character gets it right as someone who refuses to accept change but gradually softens to the point that he accepts a job from his builder brother-in-law (Kevin Costner playing his part well).

Additionally I would like to believe that many jobless find a way to fight back in the sense that they have enough self-confidence to begin something new and trust in the future.

Tommy Lee Jones has often played in films that somehow preach on a subject and this film is no exception.

Hats off to Craig T. Nelson who delivers a perfect performance as a corporate swine who fires his own best friend and could care less.

Finally this film is actually a feel-good (at least for some characters).