Having worked in several accounting firms, one could see
‘The Accountant’ wasn’t based on true life. It’s more exciting and filled with
unusual people rarely seen. That doesn’t make it any less entertaining as it
makes the humble accounting office look like a hotbed of violent scandal and
intrigue. It may perhaps make viewers more wary next time they go to one
as it pays to always be nice to those who handle your monetary investments.
Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is an autistic maths genius
working in an accounting firm. Fiddling the books for a myriad of crooked
underworld organisations, he lives on the edge whilst shuffling dodgy
portfolios to hide from the taxman. When the crime enforcement arm of the
Treasury Department as run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons) closes in, Wolff finds
himself in danger. Events quickly escalate when missing millions and dead
bodies start to mount. Using his analytical skills to his advantage,
Wolff attempts to free himself from the deadly trap in which he finds himself.
‘The Accountant’ almost plays like a superhero movie.
There’s the lead hero facing evil-doers at every turn, a mysterious villain
intent on destroying him with much at stake. In this melting pot are
issues about dealing with disability, the past and harnessing these with modern
etiquette. With his autism his ‘superpower’, Christian refuses to let any
job be left unfished. This works to his advantage as his methodical zeal
in dealing with dangerous interlopers makes him a formidable opponent.
While it isn’t perfect, ‘The Accountant’ remains
consistently engaging. Gavin O’Connor directs at a slow pace, slowly
allowing events to percolate. Where he comes unstuck is the story’s tonal
structure. Blending humour, romance, action and drama, ‘The Accountant’
is occasionally uneven with flashbacks to the past adding to an often confusing
narrative. This takes focus away from the main story and
characters. O’Connor could have better handled these elements although the
interest level stays constant.
Despite its muddled screenplay, ‘The Accountant’ has enough
going for it to linger in the memory. It has plenty of twists to keep
viewers on their toes. That makes for unpredictable viewing with its
visions sure to make one question what goes on behind an accountant’s closed
doors.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 6
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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