A FAMILY MAN
US, 2016, 108 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Butler, Gretchen Mol, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Alison Brie, Dustin Milligan.
Directed by Mark Williams.
A Family Man is a star vehicle for German Butler. He has proven himself in action shows but here he has to combine business warrior with the demands of being a husband and father. It is a very American story, a contemporary story about the conflict between career and home life.
Butler portrays a headhunter, a job which gives large commissions. He works for a rather self absorbed millionaire, William Dafoe. Dafoe sets up rivalry in working for jobs in his company.
Gretchen Mol plays Butler’s wife, loving and devoted but frequently exasperated by her husband’s career, phone calls, being away from home. This comes to a head when their young son is diagnosed with leukaemia, the father in denial at first, that have having to face the realities of his son’s weakness, of visits to the hospital and some vigils. Ultimately, of course, this does have a transforming effect. Interestingly, the sympathetic doctor is a Sikh.
There is a sympathetic subplot involving Alfred Molina, a man has lost his job, has asked for a search for a new position – which makes demands on Butler and moves him to some kind of selfless compassion.
While the material may be familiar, it is worthwhile looking at this portrait of a very busy man and his having to face the realities of family life.
1. The title, the focus, the American male, father, spouse? Businessman? The expected American male behaviour? Family love, family neglect?
2. The American city, the work offices, homes, hospitals, buildings, factories and plants? The musical score?
3. Gerard Butler, screen presence, his age, experience, career and competitiveness, the marriage, the years, his love for his wife, his work, committed, the hours away, with his children, presence and absence, the son with his lights on for his father’s visit? The discussions with his wife, with the children? His relationship, the sexual relationship, his earnings, financing the lifestyle? The discussions? Elise, her personality, commitment to her husband, the exasperation, the bedroom discussions and behaviour? Her previous work at the bank, having no current qualifications for a job?
4. Dane, presence in the office, the range of deals, continually on the phone, the frenzy, the headhunting, the large commissions, the competitiveness in the office? The young aspirants, training, deals, edging out the elders? Wilson, her leadership, her comments about money, her ambitions?
5. Ed, his personality, ruthless, his position, focus on money, the visit to Prague, fostering the competitiveness and rivalry, his return, the visit to the hospital, the gift for the boy, not going in? The repercussions – and his still firing Dane?
6. The older man without a job, his age, previous experience, his application to Dane, his relationship with his wife, the grandchildren? The set up the interview, the questions, his being listened to, not getting the job? Dane intervening, with the boss, his promise to forfeit the fee? The man happy, moving, closer to the family? His later call to Dane after getting the job, offering him a position?
7. Elise, a good woman, hard-working with the family? The crisis with Ryan?
8. The children, Ryan, not able to jog, walking, his bruises? The visit to the doctor? Dane, in denial, the hard response? The sympathetic Sikh doctor? His diagnosis, honesty? The aide, his help, talking with Dane? Dane and his visits, being late, the son in a coma, the parents talking to him, Dane and his sadness, Elise and her constant presence, her expectations of Dane? The issue of his recovery or not?
9. Ed, his visit, not going into the boy? Seen in his relationship with Wilson? The up-and-coming getting the job done?
10. Dane, his visit to Ed, his being fired? The repercussions, going home, releases joy? A new life, with his family, working from home?
11. A picture of the 21st-century male, at home, at work?
