We have a new trend on our hands: recession cinema. After last month’s Up in the Air , in which George Clooney went around firing people, we now get The Company Men : an ensemble cast of Hollywood heavyweights playing business execs affected by corporate downsizing. The film, directed by West Wing vet John Wells, will be making its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Tommy Lee Jones, stellar character actor Chris Cooper, and an aging Kevin Costner together. Did we mention Craig T. Nelson? Ben Affleck tries his hand at playing with the big dogs, while Maria Bello and Rosemarie Dewitt (whom we’ve had a hankering to see ever since she nearly stole the show in Rachel Getting Married) round out the cast.
The teaser trailer — a montage of office shots, backyard football, wives hugging husbands, you know the drill — is set against elevator music and manages to keep plot specifics tucked away. Regardless, this could go one of two ways: a powerful collection of performances and portrait of economic strife, or a dripping mess of sentiment. We’re just happy to see Craig T. Nelson out of the dad role in a romantic comedy.
Watch the trailer below and let us know what you think.