The Accountant

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The Accountant is directed by Gavin O’Connor. The film stars Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, John Lithgow, J.K. Simmons, Cynhtia Addai-Robinson, and Jon Bernthal.  Christian Wolff is an accountant who specializes in cooking the books for people dealing in illegal activities. He and a junior accountant for a company stumble across an embezzling scheme. The two are soon targeted for assassination, and must find a way out of their predicament. Gavin O’Connor provides a fairly unconventional take with The Accountant’s story. There are a multitude of flashbacks that help add to the protagonist’s development and backstory. The movie has something of a slow burn to it, and it actually works for me. Every now and then, some action sequences are sprinkled in, which are very well handled. Affleck and Seth Lee share the role of Christian Wolff. (Affleck is the adult, and Lee is the child). I would like to compliment both of these performers. The character is on the Autism spectrum, and both actors believably nail the mannerisms of someone on the spectrum. To be fair, the whole cast is incredibly strong. Anna Kendrick portrays Dana Cummings, the other accountant with just the right amount of quirkiness and pluckiness, while coming across as a layered character. Affleck and Kendrick actually work off each other really well. J.K. Simmons plays the law enforcement agent hunting Wolff. The other major standout to me is Jon Bernthal as the movie’s primary villain. Overall, The Accountant works due to great writing, directing, acting, and storytelling.

9 / 10