Customer Reviews

Efficiency Expert

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Flawless production, coupled with sparse (which is unfortunate) musical selections of the Sixties, this unsung but gratifying little film captures beautifully the discovering/rediscovering of true, basic human needs from the vantage point of two separate generations and social classes.

With the current scourge of globalization, it strikes a very poignant chord when an "efficiency expert" (the ever versatile Anthony Hopkins) comes to investigate the dwindling profits of a small town shoe-manufacturing firm. He is occupied with cold facts and figures rather than compassion and dignity for the workers as he decides that 50% of the company could be laid off in the interests of getting the firm out of the red.

There's financial consulting, change management, resistance to change, the usual works. Then something happens that changes his perspective on his consulting recommendations, specifically a (doozy) car racing event.

In its denouement, the movie goes somewhat Polyanna (how one wishes such "solutions" were possible in the real world) but the cosy, relaxed pacing of the movie and its simple lessons make this a worthy rental.

Oh, and if Russel Crowe is the reason you're renting this, beware: he has a small part, I should have guessed this, the movie is from 1992 and he was still a budding Australian actor.

Anthony Hopkins is the efficency expert. In this movie he is to decide if an old shoe factory is to be closed and the staff fired. When he first arrives, he's ready to close the factory, but as the movie progresses he finds that the workers are more useful that he first thought. As the movie progressed he moved from a man who was just as empathetic as the character he portrayed in "Nixon" to someone who actually relates to other human beings...the funny part is that a slot car race at the local club is the act that finally fosters a change in him. The movie drags in spots but I think it was done intentionally to give a laid back contrast to the hard charging but souless expert.

Mike

Before Anthony Hopkins decided to make a career out of mugging his way through the Hannibal Lecter movies, he made this terrific little film about a small family-owned business that hires an efficiency expert to assess their finances and employees. What sets this aside is the warmth and compassion of the characters involved, who are all well-drawn and interesting, with good relationships to each other. Treading occasionally on Local Hero territory, this film is a gem and deserves as wide an audience as the overrated Hannibal the Cannibal splatter-fest. Hopkins is a brilliant actor when seperated from his Jack Nicholson moments, and shines in this movie. Highly recommended.