History Film / TheAccountant2016

* UnintentionallyNotoriousCrime: Dana discovered some odd numbers on the Living Robotics finances, which leads to Wolff discovering malfeasance totaling $61 million, which leads to a murderous CorporateConspiracy [[spoiler:by Lamar to do an Enron-style boost to Living Robotics' stock and [[WellIntentionedExtremist do life-saving revolutionary robotics work freely]] (of course, the emphasis on "murderous", including ordering the assassination of his own sister, [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist paints him as a self-centered jackass]]).]] The conspiracy of course did not knew how bad it would get for them when [[MuggingAMonster they tried to eliminate Wolff]].

Creator/AmazonStudios is currently producing a sequel.

Meet Christian Wolff (Affleck), a [[UsefulNotes/{{Autism}} high-functioning autistic]] accountant for various dangerous criminal organizations. A mathematics savant, Wolff gains a client in the form of a state-of-the-art robotics company and ends up caught in a web of conspiracy that makes [[HeKnowsTooMuch targets]] of himself and company junior accountant Dana Cummings (Kendrick). But Wolff is [[CrazyPrepared very much prepared]] to deal with such troubles... [[WallOfWeapons in most lethal ways]].

Meet Christian Wolff (Affleck), a [[UsefulNotes/HighFunctioningAutism high-functioning autistic]] accountant for various dangerous criminal organizations. A mathematics savant, Wolff gains a client in the form of a state-of-the-art robotics company and ends up caught in a web of conspiracy that makes [[HeKnowsTooMuch targets]] of himself and company junior accountant Dana Cummings (Kendrick). But Wolff is [[CrazyPrepared very much prepared]] to deal with such troubles... [[WallOfWeapons in most lethal ways]].

A sequel is currently in DevelopmentHell.

** His handler has a habit of saying "Heavy sigh" to demonstrate frustration... [[spoiler:because she can't actually sigh at all]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Brutally subverted in Francis's first appearance in which he glumly predicts that [[spoiler:"he'll probably die in prison"]]. What actually happens is much worse: [[spoiler:he's released from prison only to die horribly shortly thereafter at the hands of the guy he ratted on]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Brutally subverted in Francis's first appearance in which he says [[spoiler:"I'll probably die in prison"]]. That doesn't happen. Instead, [[spoiler:He's released from prison only to die horribly shortly thereafter at the hands of the guy he ratted on]].

* Foreshadowing: Brutally subverted in Francis's first appearance in which he says [[spoiler:"I'll probably die in prison"]]. That doesn't happen. Instead, [[spoiler:He's released from prison only to die horribly shortly thereafter at the hands of the guy he ratted on]].

Meet Christian Wolff (Affleck), a [[UsefulNotes/HighFunctioningAutism high-functioning autistic]] accountant for various dangerous criminal organizations. A mathematics savant, Wolff gains a client in the form of a state-of-the-art robotics company and ends up caught in a web of conspiracy. Things especially turn for the worse when his protegée Dana Cummings (Kendrick) discovers things that would make her a [[HeKnowsTooMuch target]]. But Wolff is [[CrazyPrepared very much prepared]] to deal with such troubles... [[WallOfWeapons in most lethal ways]].

** Christian's handler is actually [[spoiler:Justine, a low-functioning autistic woman he befriended as a child who communicates through a speech program]].

** Blackmailing Medina portrays Ray King in a very unsympathetic way and emphasizes his apparent corruption ([[SecretTestOfCharacter initially]]) he is absolutely correct to tell Medina that lying on a federal employment application is a serious crime.

** * Blackmailing Medina portrays Ray King in a very unsympathetic way and emphasizes his apparent corruption ([[SecretTestOfCharacter initially]]) he is absolutely correct to tell Medina that lying on a federal employment application is a serious crime.

** * JerkassHasAPoint: Blackmailing Medina portrays him in a very unsympathetic way and emphasizes his apparent corruption ([[SecretTestOfCharacter initially]]) he is absolutely correct to tell Medina that lying on a federal employment application is a serious crime.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Wolff's father may have been going about it the wrong way but he is right when he says the world is not friendly for people like Wolff and that he must learn to adjust to it.
** [[spoiler:Lamar Blackburn]] also has a point in saying Living Robotics could help a lot of people, [[spoiler:even if he does resort to fraud and hiring mercenaries to murder everyone in his way to get funds]].

* BadassAdorable: Wolff [[spoiler:and his brother Braxton]] were trained in martial arts at a young age as shown in a flashback.

* {{BFG}}: Wolff likes to do target practice with a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_M82 Barrett M82]], an anti-materiel rifle that fires huge .50 BMG anti-materiel rounds. He gets to use it on mooks at one point[[note]]It's actually very impractical in RealLife, as the ammo is very expensive, the gun needs to be carefully maintained, it's noisy as an artillery gun and attracts plenty of unwanted attention. It only works for Wolff since he's both [[SecretlyWealthy a millionaire]] and a highly trained badass.[[/note]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler:Lamar Blackburn, the CEO of Living Robotics]].

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: From Treasury's standpoint, Wolff is a case of this. He's a remorseless criminal who dutifully cooks the books and investigates missing funds for international criminals trafficking in everything from drugs to guns to stolen artworks, making millions of dollars in the process. However, he also leaks information to Treasury on clients who violate his ethical code, such as terrorist groups and human trafficking rings, helping law enforcement save countless lives. [[spoiler:Wolff's actual motivations turn out to be more a case of BlackAndGreyMorality. Most of his money, we find out towards the end of the film, has been donated to a clinic for autistic children. His ethical code doesn't line up with the law, but it is iron-clad]].

* ContrivedCoincidence: What are the odds that the hitman hunting down the Living Robotics employees [[spoiler:would turn out to be Christian's brother?]] Lampshaded when Christian actually starts to calculate those odds before being told to shut up.

* DaddyIssues: Christian's relationship with his father was rather strained. They cared about each other, but reserved expressions of it to the military way. Christian goes to great lengths to avenge his [[spoiler:surrogate paternal figure, Francis, he never sees the need to go after the man who shot and killed his biological one, as that was unintentional on part of the killer]].

* DarkenedBuildingShootout: [[spoiler:The final shootout at Lamar's mansion]].

* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler:Wolff and Dana form a bond with some clear romantic undertones, but he chooses not to pursue any potential relationship due to the dangers of his lifestyle and personal issues. He still makes a parting affectionate gesture by gifting her his Jackson Pollock painting]].
* DoesNotUnderstandSarcasm: DoubleSubverted. According to Wolff himself, he never uses sarcasm, but he appears to have no trouble understanding it. (It's rhetorical questions he struggles with.)

* TheDulcineaEffect: Christian puts himself in harm's way for the sake of Dana, whom he had brief moments of connection with, though their meetings can be counted on one hand. [[LampshadeHanging His handler even comments on this]].

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Braxton, once he realizes that Wolff is his brother, doesn't hesitate to kill his last remaining henchman when he won't stand down, and while he does fight Wolff, it's established that, due to their father's particular [[TrainingFromHell parenting method]], fighting is a way they can communicate with each other; indeed, Wolff lets Braxton whale on him for a while]].

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: When the home invader who just shot his way through a dozen professional killers, [[spoiler:starts to recite a nursery rhyme, Lamar looks confused, whereas the leader of said band of professional killers… looks like he's about to cry, and finishes the nursery rhyme.]]

** They also contrast from each other in character and personality; Christian is a forensic accountant who works with several criminal enterprises and his autism makes him anti-social and he usually attempts to avoid small talk and any kind relationship with anyone. However, he is shown to betray his criminal employers with anonymous tips to the U.S. Treasury Department and cares when innocent people are in danger, going out of his way to protect them at risk of his own safety. [[spoiler: Lamar, on the other hand, is initially is a warm-hearted, charitable man who makes advanced prosthetics for disabled people]]. Then, it's revealed that [[spoiler: he's been committing fraud in his company in order to fudge up his numbers so he could go public and has his friend/business partner and then his own sister killed, then attempts to do the same with Dana and Wolff to cover up his scheme, arrogantly saying that he's doing it for other people's benefit]].

* GoryDiscretionShot: The merc that Christian shoots with his [[SniperRifle Barrett]] [[{{BFG}} anti-materiel rifle]] when the farmer couple is taken hostage slumps in a manner that conceals his head... because it's all-but-ensured that his head was [[YourHeadASplode obliterated]] by being shot with a sniper rifle designed to [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill disable car engine blocks]]. The director did not shy away from other instances of [[BoomHeadshot headshots]] or their aftermath being clearly shown when made by small-arms caliber weapons.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Braxton at the end, when it's revealed that [[LongLostRelative he and Wolff are brothers]]]].

* {{Hypocrite}}: Christian's mother says she's leaving because she's upset that his father refused the help offered for Christian. However, it appears that she's really leaving because she can't deal with Christian's behavior, as she doesn't even bother to take him and his brother from their father. [[spoiler: The revelation that she proceeded to have another family after abandoning her first one makes her an even more terrible person]].
* IHaveAFamily: [[spoiler:When Ray King was cornered at gunpoint by Christian while witnessing the latter's RoaringRampageOfRevenge on the Gambino gang, he talked about his two kids and how he's done his best to be a good father to him. This leads to Christian not only sparing Ray but becoming his informant and leading him to his current position]].

** Despite [[spoiler:Dana not being an ActionGirl, she was]] actually able to fend off an assassin using stove burner grate and a toilet tank lid. [[spoiler:This bought her enough time for Wolff to show up and save her]].
* TheInformant: [[spoiler:Wolff is revealed to be an unofficial one to the Treasury Department, specifically Director King]].

** [[spoiler:Braxton killed many innocent people under Lamar's orders, but he ends up pulling a HeelFaceTurn at the end, [[EasilyForgiven not even mentioning the people he killed]]]].

* LongLostRelative: [[spoiler:Braxton is Wolff's estranged younger brother]].

* MotiveRant: [[spoiler:Blackburn]] tries his best to explain why he did what he did to Wolff. [[spoiler:It doesn't work, and probably didn't even register]].

* NonActionBigBad: [[spoiler:Lamar Blackburn]] is just a CorruptCorporateExecutive who doesn't even try to confront Wolff on his own, and once [[spoiler:Braxton does a HeelFaceTurn, he is left completely defenseless and Wolff simply blows his brains out without second thought]].
* TheObiWan: Francis Silverberg serves as this to Wolff to a certain extent, serving as his mentor in accounting. [[spoiler:[[MentorOccupationalHazard His death]] is the impetus for the RoaringRampageOfRevenge that King witnesses at the start of the film]].

* {{Retirony}}: Director King is seven months from retirement, and determined to find The Accountant's identity before he retires, assigning Medina to be his point man on the case. [[spoiler:Ultimately averted as when it is revealed he already did all he could to find out who The Accountant really is, and was actually grooming Medina to be The Accountant's contact inside the Treasury Department by making her walk that same path]].

* RuleOfSymbolism: When Christian first meets Lamar, their handshake is framed over an ad for Lamar's prosthetic company, showing a mechanical hand shaking a real one; this highlights Christian's seeming emotionlessness against Lamar's external warmth. [[spoiler:Of course, we later learn that that's a complete inversion of their inward natures]].

* ShutUpHannibal: [[spoiler:It makes sense that somebody with NoSocialSkills has no interest in wasting time arguing with the villain]].

* StormingTheCastle: [[spoiler:The climax has Wolff attacking Lamar's mansion]].

* TakeUpMySword: [[spoiler:The entire reason why King had Medina investigate on Christian in the first place. He's retiring soon and needed someone to be there for Christian when he reports the criminals]].
* ThemedAliases: Wolff takes his from historical mathematicians. [[spoiler:Even Christian Wolff is one. His real name is unrevealed]].

* TruthInTelevision: The clever way Wolff identifies the fraud by finding statistical anomalies in numbers' digits? [[http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/1999/May/nigrini That's actually a real thing]]. Although it's usually done with computers instead of savants.

* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Voice]], who takes care of contacting and brokering deals with Christian's clients. [[spoiler:She turns out to be ''exactly'' the trope]].

A sequel is currently in production with Ben Affleck attached to reprise his role.

** His final interaction is gifting her a picture of ''Dogs Playing Poker'' [[spoiler:which is a cover for his ''true'' gift: his genuine Jackson Pollock painting that she took interest in while taking refuge with him]].

** Despite [[spoiler:Dana not being an ActionGirl, she was]] actually able to fend off an assassin using a stove grille and a toilet tank lid. [[spoiler:This bought her enough time for Wolff to show up and save her]].

* AmbiguousDisorder: Averted, there was an effort to portray autism with some degree of realism even in a story with this kind of premise. A number of the plot points in the movie are based on actual autistic behaviors.

* GoryDiscretionShot: The merc that Christian shoots with his [[SniperRifle Barrett]] [[BFG anti-materiel rifle]] when the farmer couple is taken hostage slumps in a manner that conceals his head... because it's all-but-ensured that his head was [[YourHeadASplode obliterated]] by being shot with a sniper rifle designed to [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill disable car engine blocks]]. The director did not shy away from other instances of [[BoomHeadshot headshots]] or their aftermath being clearly shown when made by small-arms caliber weapons.

* GoryDiscretionShot: The merc that Christian shoots with his [[SniperRifle Bar]][[{{BFG}} rett]] when the farmer couple is taken hostage slumps in a manner that conceals his head... because it's all-but-ensured that his head was [[YourHeadASplode obliterated]] by being shot with a sniper rifle designed to [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill disable car engine blocks]]. The director did not shy away from other instances of [[BoomHeadshot headshots]] or their aftermath being clearly shown when made by small-arms caliber weapons.