Accounting Made Awesome?

         The Accountant is not a very exciting name for an action film. When you think of the title “accountant”, you often associate it with monotony and tediousness. This film from director Gavin O’Connor tries to subvert that stereotype, which it does a little, but not enough.
          Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is an autistic mathematics genius who works as a small-time public accountant by day, but secretly makes a fortune managing the accounts of a number of dangerous criminal organizations. Finding work with a robotics company, he uncovers a laundering scheme that puts his life and his assistant Dana’s (Anna Kendrick) in danger. While this is happening, he’s being tailed by a Treasury agent (J.K. Simmons), and his analyst (Cynthia Addai-Robinson).
          While the action is really decent boasting some pretty impressive fight choreography, the story is too convoluted for its own good. If you don’t understand accounting practices and terminology, it’s going to be hard to keep up with exactly what’s going on or where the film’s going. At various points in the film, we’re privy to flashbacks to Chris’ childhood, detailing how his father pushed him into extreme self-defence and just generally what his life experience has been like with his condition. It also cuts every so often to a hitman (Jon Bernthal) who’s loosely connected to the main plot. Both these recurring diversions exist to contribute context to certain late story points and so until their relevance becomes known, they drag the film’s pacing. The only subplot that works is the FBI thread, partly because we learn more about Chris and what he’s done as an accountant. 
          Chris Wolff is a very interesting character in theory. How often do you see an action hero with a developmental disorder? But I feel Ben Affleck was miscast. I admire his dedication and his willingness to challenge himself, but he doesn’t suit this kind of character. Affleck’s just not someone you would ever buy as socially awkward. A committed method actor is what’s needed for this performance, as aside from the autistic quirks (including a bit that’s very similar to A Beautiful Mind), Chris doesn’t leave the impression he should. Affleck’s not bad, and in one scene where he has a breakdown he does pretty well. But he just doesn’t give the character any personality apart from his disorder. It’s another instance where it feels like their banking on a franchise around this character, like Jason Bourne. I wouldn’t get my hopes up. As for the rest of the cast, Kendrick’s fine, but she and Bernthal aren’t doing anything unique here. She’s the typical bubbly, cute new girl while he’s the tough agent with a slight sense of humour. There are decent performances though from relative newcomer Addai-Robinson and John Lithgow as the CEO of the robotics corporation. And J.K. Simmons is of course, terrific. He’s one of the great character actors working today, keeping your attention every time he’s on screen. There’s one scene where we see his backstory and get more of a feel for his character, and honestly I would’ve preferred a whole movie about him.
          The film has a sense of humour which works to its advantage every so often. Like one scene where Chris awkwardly waves at a couple clients after saving them from a pair of violent goons or when Dana tries to converse with him casually for the first time. Indeed Chris’ interactions with Dana can get a laugh once in a while. The film walks a very good line between the humour in his social interaction while not being offensive. But it’s not quite enough to save the film, especially by the climax which is where the film disintegrates. There’s a development that comes out of nowhere, and then not much of a resolution, the action just kind of stops. A number of questions are raised, a few contrivances, it’s almost like the film’s given up on itself.
          Yet for all these faults there’s a good movie trying to get out. A lot of the ideas in this are good, they just needed more time and focus. A different leading actor, a less complex plot, a little more action, some cutting of the fat (this movie is a little too long), and a complete re-haul of the climax, this could’ve been the next great action movie. As is, it’s not really bad, certainly well enough made, good-intentioned with how sympathetic it is in its portrayal of kids with autism, and I hope Gavin O’Connor gets more work. It’s just sadly as forgettable as most accountants.