Working Man: Poignant, Low-Key Drama the Proverbial Diamond in the Rough

By Thom Ernst

Rating A-

Working Man is one of those understated films you stumble upon without knowing what brought you in. There are no current A-listers attached. Plus, its premise involving a character older than most characters’ grandparents makes this movie a tough sell.

But don’t let the humble curbside appearance stop you from checking it out. What it lacks in glamour, it makes up for in a solid story and on the strength of some of more interesting performances this year.

The story focuses on Allery Parkes (Peter Gerety), a solitary, devoted factory worker who continues to go to work even after the factory shuts down. The factory closure has a devastating effect on this tight-knit community. Even the town’s newest arrival, Walter Brewer (Billy Brown), feels the strain of unemployment.

But for Parkes, there is more at stake than just the loss of a pay cheque, and while his wife (Talia Shire) and his neighbours fear the worse (Parkes is threatened with charges of trespassing), Brewer sees an opportunity to turn this quiet unassuming working stiff into a local folk hero. Indeed, writer/director Robert Jury frames much of the film inside the structure of a folk hero myth. And just as the film threatens to veer too far towards sentimentality, Jury tosses in a curve.

The film is greatly strengthened by its lead performances. Gerety gives Parkes the poise of a man broken yet proud. There is little for him to say in the first few acts, but all evidence of his dignity and his pain comes through on screen with the raising of his eyes or the downturn of his chin.

In contrast, Brown’s performance as Brewer is vibrant and full of optimism, but with hints of the fissures that creep into his confidence. Shire, perhaps the film’s strongest name, puts in a performance to equal that of Gerety’s.

As Parkes's wife, Iola, Shire conflicts with the traditional image of the supporting wife, providing glimpses of suspicion, anger, and uncertainty. Her third-act moment is a reminder of her status as one of North America’s formidable actors.

I enjoyed too Patrese McClain who comes in strong in a relatively small, but important role. She conveys a lot in the short time she is on screen. And Parkes’ reaction to her is in no small way both moving and affective.

Working Man is not entirely void of flaws. There are moments that stand out as less authentic than others; these usually occur in scenes that strive to be rally calls for the audience to feel good. The movie is better than these small bits of contrivance.

There is a significant tonal shift in the third act that some viewers might jarring and may even be disappointed in the direction the film takes. And I do think the director missed his ‘out’ cue, that would have ended the film on a stronger not. But these are niggling points not likely to disrupt the film’s overall charm.

As a title, Working Man might not promise much in the way of action and romance, but it is an apt description of the film’s strength of heart and spirit. And though it may seem a trivial thing to say, this is just the kind of movie we can use right now.

Working Man. Directed and written by Robert Jury. Starring Peter Gerety, Billy Brown and Talia Shire. Available now through various streaming platforms.