I went to see The Accountant 2, a sequel to the first Accountant movie that came out in 2016. In both movies the lead actor, Ben Affleck, portrays an autistic person. Some people call his autism his superpower because he can crunch numbers at an amazingly rapid rate.
One of my favorite parts of this movie takes place at a bar with country music. A line dance starts and because everything is in a rhythmic beat, Ben Affleck’s character learns it very quickly and engages in the fun. And better yet, actually appears to be having fun.
When the 2016 version of the movie came out, someone asked me if this was an accurate portrayal of a person with autism. I said that it could be, but what we know is that no two people with autism are alike, so while one person may have a “superpower,” another person may not, but still have some of the other characteristics that Ben Affleck’s character portrays.
For example, it’s clear that making eye contact is difficult and that there is social awkwardness in many situations that would be considered normal for some of us. Additionally, he accurately demonstrates the inability to appreciate or be able to communicate with humor.
So overall, yes, I think it’s an accurate description of a person who may have autism. But as a quick review, here are some of the facts to keep in mind, from the National Autism Association.
- Autism greatly varies from person to person (no two people with autism are alike)
- Children with autism do progress – early intervention is key
- Autism is treatable, not a hopeless condition
- Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3
So, for my unofficial review, the movie gets graded an A, and the portrayal of one person with Autism is also an A! If you see the movie, let me know what you think!
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