Although The Company Men takes place three years ago, events depicted could have happened during any of the last few years, for the film’s premise mirrors daily headlines about the loss of jobs. When a Boston based shipbuilding and manufacturing conglomerate begins to suffer huge losses, downsizing is its answer to staying afloat.

After working his way into a very comfortable lifestyle, Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) has a good position with the company, an upscale house in the suburbs, and enjoys a regular round of golf with his buds. Unfortunately, faster than Bobby can hit a ball into the sand trap, his idyllic life begins to fly away when he’s fired.

At first Bobby relies on tried and true friends -- Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) -- in the company. Although Phil and Gene are amazed at the firing and want to help him undo this wrong, in a matter of days their heads are also on the chopping block.

Whether poor or well off, receiving a pink slip can be one of the most devastating occurrences in one’s life. While Bobby’s wife Maggie (Rosemarie DeWitt) immediately starts to move into survival mode and worries about the bills and their two kids, Bobby has mentally checked out. His priorities include continuing to play golf first, look for a job second, or third, or not at all. When he’s literally asked to leave the golf club for lack of payment, he finally gets it. He then goes into overdrive to look for work.

Affleck, who’s becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, does not disappoint here. His emotional arc as a man seeing the world continuing on while he is drowning,  keeps The Company Men trotting along.

Phil and Gene deal with their situations in different ways. Even though Phil thinks James (Craig T. Nelson), their boss and CEO of the company, will look out for him, he soon finds out that’s a misconception. Phil is also older than Bobby, so a new career feels out of reach for him. But Cooper delves into the psychological more than the financial aspect of this setback in order to deliver an excellent portrayal of his character. Phil’s days with an employment recruiter are painfully true to life.

Tommy Lee Jones also ups the intrigue of the film as Gene, a co-founder and close friend to James. He’s instantly appalled at his colleague’s unapologetic behavior in letting his workforce go while he maintains a luxurious lifestyle similar to many CEOs at big firms.

Kevin Costner plays Jack, a down to earth construction worker who has always seen Bobby as a snob but tolerated him because he’s the guy’s brother-in-law. Jack offers Bobby a job, and when Bobby at first turns it down, Jack filets him like a fish, constantly badgering Bobby with innuendos concerning his imagined “status” keeping him misguided and bordering on broke. But a narrowing of Jack and Bobby’s differences soon unites these two men.  

The Company Men is not without its faults, especially believability in some aspects. Bobby seems arrogant and selfish for too long, lessening the viewer’s sympathy for him. There’s little to feel bad about concerning Gene. He’s very well off financially and should sail off happily into the sunset. The subplot about his overall concern for his fellow comrades could have been explored a little more to even out his character arc. Maria Bello, though quite talented, can’t make the 21-year difference in age between herself and Jones disappear in her role as Gene’s lover. I felt no chemistry between them, which only added to the film’s problems for me.

Films about losing everything have filled the big screen for decades – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is one of them. And while it’s hard to feel sorry for people who seemed to have everything and weren’t prepared for “when tomorrow comes,” The Company Men still reminds us there are real people in these situations. It’s up to employers, voters and heads of households to pay attention.

(Released by The Weinstein Company and rated “R” for language and brief nudity.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.