MovieChat Forums > The Accountant (2016) Discussion > his being autistic seemed like a central...

his being autistic seemed like a central theme


to the story but when all was said and done, did it really change the movie in any way that he was autistic and (therefore also) socially awkward? for being good at math, that's possible without being autistic.

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A non-autistic hero would have got the girl. He is as socially inept as the guys in Dumb and Dumber.

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There seems to be this touching misconception about autism - that autistic people desperately want to be in relationships, but are unable to have them, due to "social awkwardness" and that that is the biggest challenge of their lives too.

That is an understandable projection on behalf of nt people. I used to find it annoying, but now, having grown older and more indulgent with their quirks, I find it sweet. 






I'm the only one that exists.

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I think the point is that the proportion who want, have difficulty getting ; and hence become desperate ( to varying degrees ).

As with NTs : a proportion will have no interest, and a proportion will develop a stoic resignation. We don't need to worry about them. I have never smoked, and quit drinking 20 years ago ; but I know some people who would struggle without either.

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I am really, really suspicious about the idea of an autistic person being desperate for relationships. The only reason I am not flat out denying the possibility is an attempt to be open-minded.

I have yet to meet a single genuinely autistic person like that and more importantly - it goes completely against everything I understand as autism.

But, as I mentioned elsewhere today - there are many people with severe self-esteem issues, and may be confusing this with autism, is partly where the idea originates.

If you'd say that an autistic person is lacking the universal human attribute of needing other people, and as a result rarely maintains relationships, you'd be much closer to the truth and understanding what autism really means. But I suppose it is like trying to imagine what it feels not to crave sweets for a person with a "sweet tooth".



I'm the only one that exists.

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I think the point is that any autistic person who wants a relationship, would have a harder time getting one, so they could become desperate to a varying degree. Just as some NTs don't want one, or have stoically accepted not getting one ; some autistic people will be the same.

I've never smoked, but I can imagine what it might be like for someone who does, to have to go without ; by making an analogy to things I do want.

Perhaps the issue for autistic people is that they want a relationship in some sense, but they don't get the psychological "reward" of having one, so don't keep up the hard work. Imagine someone brewing their own beer ; if they find they don't really enjoying drinking it, they'd soon give up.

"Relationship" is a tricky word, because it means any form of interaction ; and the one someone has with their cat, brother, mother or girl-friend will be different. Think of Big, where Tom Hanks has the body of a man but the brain of a child ; he still manages to make his female friend happy. I say that a "good" relationship, is one that works for both parties ; regardless of what anyone else might think is valuable.

A steady drinker might have no idea how someone can enjoy alcohol-free beer, because it misses the whole point ; but each to their own.

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It is one of the central themes (along with the inherent holy [rhymes with phony] aura of abstract impressionism), for example. The pathos of his situation where he recognizes his autistic limitations, yet still wants to be able to socialize, is a compelling theme. Add to that the fact of his father's warning that others will fear his difference, with no mention of possible exceptions, makes his roadblock to engaging with other non-autistics, especially Dana, apparently insurmountable. What Dana has to convince him of is that since he can engage well with Braxton, why not her?

As for other themes, how about the conundrum of vigilante justice, the morality/ethics of confidential informants, or the self-justifying flimsy foundation for anti-money laundering laws which wouldn't exist without the government creation of black markets. I could go on.

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that's true, his autism did create for the fabric of his character and defined how he interacted with everyone. it sort of defined him for most aspects of the movie but did not necessarily alter the central plot.

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Yes. While it is a central theme, it is only one of them, which is an element of realism--more than one thing going on at a time.

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" (along with the inherent holy [rhymes with phony]"

That word wouldn't happen to describe a type of deli meat, would it? :D

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If you are autistic that is a really big thing so it makes sense that it would be a central theme, I think they didn't expand on the theme enough though perhaps even though Affleck did alright they needed someone else who could show the nuances better. And the relationship with Kendrick was severly underdeveloped.

Seth Rogue One: A Star Weed Story http://i.imgur.com/DvGLO38.jpg

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