11 replies to this topic

[Overstreet]

A very respectable businessman joined me for coffee last week, and we chatted about the Oscars.

We also chatted about the Genesis account of Joseph. He pointed out that he finds it interesting and inspiring to see how God raised Joseph up to become an admirable leader by appointing him as the head of the world's largest food-distribution organization. I'd never looked at it quite that way before. What an odd thing: A heroic businessman.

He asked me: Don't I think the movies are incredibly unfair to the business world?

I hesitated, a little surprised by the question. He went on: When a businessman appears in a movie, he is almost always corrupt, even villainous. Could I name a few big-screen businessmen who are presented as ethical, admirable, sympathetic?

I gotta say, I blinked and struggled to come up with any. Those that did come to mind were characters whose struggles were caused by business, and it was not good business that saved them, but escape from business altogether.

I thought of Issey Ogata's character in Yi Yi, and I don't know if I can do better.

Can you think of some?

[Nathan Douglas]

George Bailey, perhaps? And while he might not be a business man per se, Mr. Deeds (the original) is a sympathetic and heroic (albeit not self-made) wealthy man.

Is there any reason why Capra keeps coming up?

[Evan Day]

Daddy Warbucks from Little Orphan Annie?

Tony Stark as Iron Man is a bit of a complex choice, since he starts off as in many ways not honorable, but gets there.

Bruce Wayne, aka Batman as well (a comic book theme developing?)

Don't forget George Baily, head of Baily Building and Loan, beats Mr. Potter by being an honorable one and a family man.

I'm sure there's more.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Overstreet wrote:
: We also chatted about the Genesis account of Joseph. He pointed out that he finds it interesting and inspiring to see how God raised Joseph up to become an admirable leader by appointing him as the head of the world's largest food-distribution organization. I'd never looked at it quite that way before. What an odd thing: A heroic businessman.

I'm not sure it makes sense to describe a top-ranking government official as a "businessman". No doubt he oversaw a system that consisted of many, many financial transactions, but he wasn't exactly engaged in "business" in the Merriam-Webster sense of "a usually commercial or mercantile activity engaged in as a means of livelihood : trade, line". Joseph didn't exactly buy and sell grain as a way of putting bread on his table, in other words; he earned his keep from the state, and the particular function that the state gave him was the acquisition and distribution of food from and to OTHER people.

As for films that take a sympathetic look at businessmen... well, the first title that comes to mind is Remember Me, but to explain why, I'd have to get into spoilers.

[du Garbandier]

Ernesto, the dry cleaner in Not of this World.

The Ghost Busters?

[MattPage]

Well I think we're meant to admire at least one of the characters in The Big Kahuna. but I'm not sure it actually works.

And I take it that Alec Bladwin in Glengarry Glen Ross doesn't qualify? Nick Leeson in Rogue Trader?


On a more serious note, there are examples, but the films they are in aren't great. So Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire is definitely one, as is Russell Crowe in The Insider What about the head of the Fantastic Four (I have a very limited memory of that film).


Does Jørgen Mortensen from Italiensk for begyndere count?

I'm sure there's another obvious one, but can't put my finger on it.

Matt

[Tyler]

Mads Mikkelsen in After the Wedding.

Jeremie Renier in Summer Hours might not be especially heroic, but certainly isn't a villain. He cares about his family, too.

[Thom Wade]

Peter T Chattaway, on 16 March 2010 - 12:30 AM, said:

Overstreet wrote:
: We also chatted about the Genesis account of Joseph. He pointed out that he finds it interesting and inspiring to see how God raised Joseph up to become an admirable leader by appointing him as the head of the world's largest food-distribution organization. I'd never looked at it quite that way before. What an odd thing: A heroic businessman.

I'm not sure it makes sense to describe a top-ranking government official as a "businessman". No doubt he oversaw a system that consisted of many, many financial transactions, but he wasn't exactly engaged in "business" in the Merriam-Webster sense of "a usually commercial or mercantile activity engaged in as a means of livelihood : trade, line". Joseph didn't exactly buy and sell grain as a way of putting bread on his table, in other words; he earned his keep from the state, and the particular function that the state gave him was the acquisition and distribution of food from and to OTHER people.

Heh... yeah, if anything, that seems like an example of big government in action. It was not an independent business he created.

[J. Henry Waugh]

The Pursuit of Happyness presented several honorable businessmen, with Will Smith striving to join their ranks.

There's a scene in which Smith's character attends a San Francisco 49ers game with a group that is set up to be the stereotypical paunchy, upscale, suburban sports fans. The scene acknowledges a bit of racial awkwardness, but the group turns out to be basically a nice group of guys.

Editing to add that I mention The Pursuit of Happyness not to disprove your friend's premise, but as an example of how rarely you see this in movies.

Edited by J. Henry Waugh, 16 March 2010 - 08:43 AM.

[John Drew]

Norville Barnes in The Hudsucker Proxy.

[BethR]

In Good Company (2004)

In a backhanded kind of way, Up in the Air.

[mrmando]

Kevin Kline (runs an employment agency) and Charles Grodin (accountant) in Dave.

Jeff Bridges in Seabiscuit and Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

Fezziwig!

How come when we do see a positive portrayal of a businessman, he's almost always in charge of a small business?