This is a sad, tough story about a group of corporate men in Boston who work for a large manufacturing company that is shattered by the American financial crisis. Sales executives to corporate heads find themselves without a job.

Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and  Tommy Lee Jones play the three profiled company men to take the fall.  The film charts their journeys to try and get their lives ‘together’ again. Will they be able to find new work?  What kind of pay cuts will they have to endure?

The film’s most heart breaking scenes are seeing the toll that the men’s unemployment takes on their families.

The scenes with Ben Affleck who plays the main character Bobby Walker, and his wife and  kids, linger.  He tries to comfort his son who is picking up on  his father’s stress and the changes happening at home. He tries to cheer up his son by playing basketball with him.

As Ben Affleck’s wife, Rosemarie Dewitt gives a wonderfully poignant performance. She conveys such a warmth of character and love for her husband as he tries to restart his life.  A  favourite scene from the  movie is when Affleck is glumly looking in from the open bedroom door  whilst his wife is  shaving her legs, and she gently says, ‘this isn’t all bad, at least you’re home a lot now’. The scene has great warmth and intimacy.

Kevin Costner gives an understated performance as Affleck’s brother-in-law who gives Affleck a job helping install dry wall.

Craig T Nelson plays the CEO, Tommy Jones is the sombre, world weary former No 2 in Company, and Chris Cooper is a colleague whose job loss sees him spiral into depression.

Memorable cinematography by Roger Deakins and instrumental music  by  Aaron  Zigman contributed greatly to this memorable night at  the cinema.