Oscar Bait Watch: Theatrical Trailer for John Wells' The Company Men

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Movies are a form of entertainment and provide escapism, but they can also be a fictionalized account of the times. Last year Jason Reitman took Walter Kirn’s satirical novel, Up in the Air, and turned it into an observance of the current economic malaise. John Wells, a showrunner for standout television dramas like ER and The West Wing, is making his feature directorial debut with The Company Men. Like Reitman’s comedy-drama the film focuses on a struggling job market. None of the three primary characters are corporate downsizes like Clooney was in Up in the Air, but each has to come to grips at the changes that have resulted in a harsh economic climate. We showed you an early teaser for it back when it had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. That was just a montage of shots set to music, here we get a better understanding of what the film is about.

The Company Men centers on a year in the life of three men (Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper) trying to survive a round of corporate downsizing at a major company – and how that affects them, their families, and their local communities.

The film is both written and directed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker John Wells. I must say that Wells has recruited a hell of a cast – a cast that is likely to appeal to older audiences who want see elder thespians like Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner, who is also in the film. The cast also includes Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson and Rosmarie Dewitt. It looks good, but you can definitely see that The Weinstein Company is pushing the “Oscar Bait” hard with this one. Hopefully, Wells’ film debut doesn’t disappoint. The Company Men will arrive in limited theaters beginning October 22nd.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!