The Accountant (2001)

The O'Dell farm is on the rocks. A non-traditional accountant comes with a variety of ways to save the farm.

Director:

Ray McKinnon

Writer:

Ray McKinnon

Stars:

Ray McKinnon, Walton Goggins, Eddie King

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray McKinnon	...	The Accountant
Walton Goggins	...	Tommy O'Dell (as Walt Goggins)
Eddie King	...	David O'Dell
Gary Richardson	...	One-armed farmer

Storyline

The O'Dell farm is on the rocks. A non-traditional accountant comes with a variety of ways to save the farm.

---

Plot Keywords:

accountant | suicide | dog | farm | brother brother relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Can one man, one hard drinking, chain smoking, backwoods accountant, stop a national conspiracy, change the course of history, and save a way of life? It's do-able... but it ain't gonna be purdy.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Short

---

Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Ginny Mule Pictures [United States] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Contador

Filming Locations:

Covington, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ginny Mule Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Drive-By Truckers' song "Sinkhole" (from the album 'Decoration Day') is based on this short film. Ray McKinnon was appreciative, and reciprocated by using a few Drive-By Truckers songs on the soundtrack for his film, Chrystal (2004).

---

Quotes

The Accountant: If a man builds a machine and that machine conspires with another machine built by another man, are those men conspiring?

---

Connections

References Sling Blade (1996)

---

Soundtracks

Mack the Knife
written by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Marc Blitzstein
performed by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
produced by Buddy Miller and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Windcharger Music/Rounder Records

User Reviews

Although This Accountant Portrays A Distressing View Of The Future, He Finds That He Has An Undoubting Audience.

Deserving winner of the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (2002), THE ACCOUNTANT had no serious challengers for the honour while, at nigh 40 minutes running time, the highly entertaining piece will give a viewer an impression that it is indeed a full-length feature, due to its pithy texture, cleverly crafted script (by its lead and director Ray McKinnon), as well as exceptional production characteristics. An impressionistic opening depicts the unnamed accountant (McKinnon) arriving at the northern Georgia family farm of David O'Dell (Eddie King), the latter having engaged him upon the urging of his brother Tommy (Walton Goggins), since David is in jeopardy of losing his mortgaged (second) property by means of bank expropriation as a result of an obligation exceeding a quarter of a million dollars, and the brothers share a fancy that the accountant may offer at the least a couple of suggestions toward means that will enable David to avoid losing the farm that has belonged in the O'Dell family for generations. It is soon apparent that queer behaviour of the accountant pertaining to David's dilemma is based largely upon his contention that Federal government and banking establishments are at loggerheads with his personal precepts of justice, although three methods that he suggests to ease the O'Dell financial troubles seem rather excessive -- destroying the farm buildings by fire; lopping off David's legs and an arm by "accident"; murdering his wife; each of these desperate acts is, of course, designed to obtain insurance monies. The accountant is guileful and cunning, as revealed through a cleverly wrought plot line, and there are several coils wound within a tale that will reward an attentive viewer watching a film that does, after all, principally concern a search for order. The three main players demonstrate capital acting skill and perfect timing, while the photography and editing are high grade.