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‘The Accountant 2’ Review: Finance Takes a Backseat to Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal’s Budding Bromance

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‘The Accountant 2’ Review: Finance Takes a Backseat to Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal’s Budding Bromance

Sometimes life hands you a case of the blues that can only be cured by watching Ben Affleck line dance while doing his best to convey autism with his facial expressions. When those days come, “The Accountant 2” is the movie for you.

I’m not sure who was clamoring for a sequel to Gavin O’Connor’s 2016 film, which starred Affleck as Christian Wolff, an accountant on the autism spectrum who un-cooks books for criminal organizations while doubling as an action hero with perfect marksmanship and brutal hand-to-hand combat skills. It’s the rare movie that deserves criticism for not focusing enough on the intricacies of accounting, as the idea of Cartels turning to freelancers to solve their financial problems was a lot more interesting than the knockoff Jason Bourne that Christian was eventually turned into. But it told a complete story (some would say “and then some”), leaving most of us content to see Christian ride off into the sunset in his Airstream knowing that he’d keep telling mob bosses which thieves to whack for years to come.

'American Sweatshop'

When “The Accountant 2” begins, Christian is still living off the grid. But when Ray King (JK Simmons) — the retired FBI financial crimes boss who identified him in the first place — is murdered, Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) knows she needs to bring in The Accountant to finish his last investigation. King’s former protege and blackmail subject who took his job after he retired to a life of private investigating, Medina has never met Wolff face-to-face. But she knows that the only way to contact him is by calling a neurological research center in Hartford and speaking in code to a clueless receptionist, while the real shadow receptionist listens in and uses her army of gifted autistic children to track down the caller’s location and get in touch about booking The Accountant. Sometimes, it really is that simple!

Turns out, Ray had taken a case helping a family of Mexican immigrants find their missing child, who they believed was being held captive in Juarez. Christian agrees to help Medina finish the job, which involves investigating a human trafficking ring that is laundering money through a pizza factory (2016 MAGA conspiracy theorists rejoice!). But when he realizes this job will require more than accounting, he brings in his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) for some extra muscle.

A fast-talking, puppy-loving hitman who appeared in the first film but becomes a true co-lead in the sequel, Braxton is shocked to get a call from his brother. After spending years of his life trying to have a relationship with Christian, he feels incredibly neglected after countless false attempts at connection. He agrees to take the job for his usual rate, but long-simmering tensions and his frustrations with Christian’s inability to show conventional forms of affection soon bubble to the surface.

If there’s one thing “The Accountant 2” deserves credit for, it’s figuring out that an autistic Ben Affleck is simply not enough to carry an action movie on his own. Christian Wolff might actually be one of Affleck’s better acting jobs in recent years, but he works far better as a foil than a leading man. Bernthal shows up with buckets of charm to share the heavy lifting, making Affleck’s accountant seem more sympathetic and competent by comparison. And with the two men enjoying equal time in the spotlight, the film’s moments of levity seem more like brotherly razzing than cruel jabs at a disabled man.

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The human trafficking storyline that gives the film its structure is generic bad-guy-of-the-week stuff at best, and it’s hard to get that invested in the fates of a family we’ve never spent any time with just because J.K. Simmons apparently befriended them between movies. That shortcoming almost works in the sequel’s favor, though, as it prevents it from turning into too much of an action movie until the final sequence.

At its heart, “The Accountant 2” is a story of brothers working through their drama through drunken nights at honky tonk bars and deep conversations on the roof of an Airstream. I’m still not convinced this franchise exists for any reason other than Affleck being jealous that Matt Damon won the coin toss to decide who got to play the math genius in “Good Will Hunting,” but it manages to offer more heart and more laughs the second time around.

Grade: C+

“The Accountant 2” premiered at SXSW 2025. Amazon MGM will release it in theaters on Friday, April 25.

Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers. 

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Finance

One.funding and MV Commercial launch MV Asset Finance

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One.funding and MV Commercial launch MV Asset Finance

One.funding has partnered with UK-based MV Commercial to introduce MV Asset Finance, which offers an alternative method for MV Commercial’s customers to secure finance, according to a LinkedIn post.

In developing MV Asset Finance, representatives from One.funding worked closely with MV Commercial’s team to better understand business priorities and the requirements of their customer base.

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According to the post, the service aims to remove friction, ensure complete transparency, and enable a seamless process from initial engagement to completion by integrating support within MV Commercial’s operations and presenting it under their brand.

MV Commercial supplies fleet solutions for vehicles within the UK.

The company’s offerings include trucks, trailers, and light commercial vehicles that are available for sale, rental, or contract hire.

Its current rental and Ready to Go fleets consist of 2,000 specialist trucks, vans, and trailers across various depots in Airdrie, Grantham, Livingston, Oxford, Haydock, and London Luton.

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One.funding CEO Lee Schofield said: “At One.funding, we’ve 20 years of experience in building point-of-sale finance that fits naturally into how businesses sell. MV Asset Finance shows what’s possible when that experience is embedded into the MV Commercial journey, making it easier for their customers to keep moving and keep growing.”

A recent example involved AMK Plant & Tipper Hire, which added a DAF FAD XD450 Construction eight-by-four tipper truck to its fleet, the company’s first DAF tipper purchase.

The transaction was finalised in three weeks; MV Commercial supplied the vehicle while financing was arranged through the newly launched MV Asset Finance framework.

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RFSD board approves financial assurances, reviews annual audit

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RFSD board approves financial assurances, reviews annual audit

The Roaring Fork School District Board of Education approved its annual financial accreditation assurances and reviewed the district’s 2024-25 audited financial statements during its meeting on Wednesday, according to a district news release.

The audit, presented by McMahan and Associates, found the district’s overall financial position to be stable and identified areas for continued improvement in internal controls and financial processes. The district’s General Fund balance remains above minimum levels required by board policy.

Chief Financial Officer Christy Chicoine said the audit reflects progress following prior concerns identified in earlier reviews.



“We have made significant improvements compared to the prior year’s audit as a Finance Department, and I am grateful for the finance team’s commitment towards those improvements as demonstrated in this audit,” Chicoine said. “While we still have work to do to continue to sustain and enhance the district’s fiscal management, the audit report indicates we are clearly headed in the right direction.”

Superintendent Anna Cole said the findings validate work undertaken over the past two years to rebuild internal systems and improve transparency.

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“Over the past two years, our teams have worked diligently and transparently to rebuild internal financial systems that left the district at risk,” Cole said. “The outcomes of this audit are evidence that we are on track.”

Cole said the timing of the audit is significant as the district begins developing its budget for the 2026-27 school year and faces mounting external pressures.

“We couldn’t have stabilized internal systems at a better time,” she said. “As we begin the budgeting process for the 26/27 school year, we face external challenges like declining enrollment, instability of state and federal funding, and a rising cost of living that is outpacing staff and teacher salaries. This audit is an important confirmation that our finances are in order as we prepare to navigate oncoming challenges.”

Board President Lindsay DeFrates said the board is better positioned to plan ahead following the audit’s conclusions.

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“We are grateful for the leadership of Chief Chicoine and the hard work of the district finance and human resources teams,” DeFrates said. “We are now in a much better place financially and will move forward with clarity, transparency and accountability, able to better navigate the challenges to come.”

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Finance

UK’s Former Finance Minister George Osborne Joins Coinbase – Coinspeaker

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UK’s Former Finance Minister George Osborne Joins Coinbase – Coinspeaker

Key Notes

  • Former UK finance minister George Osborne is joining Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council.
  • Osborne will focus on crypto regulation, stablecoins, and tokenized assets across the UK and EU.
  • The exchange is also expanding beyond crypto trading as it steps into 2026.

Coinbase has appointed former UK finance minister George Osborne as chair of its Global Advisory Council. It is clear that the American crypto exchange wants to deepen its influence with governments outside the United States.

Earlier this week, Coinbase tested the waters in India as its deal to acquire a minority stake in local crypto trading platform CoinDCX was approved by the Competition Commission of India.


https://twitter.com/CCI_India/status/2000905244080034292

Coinbase Expands Policy Reach Beyond the US

Coinbase confirmed that Osborne will take a more active role in advising on government engagement worldwide, with a focus on Britain and the European Union.

Osborne, who first joined Coinbase as an adviser in January 2024, will be based in London. He will work closely with policymakers on issues related to crypto regulation, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

Coinbase’s chief policy officer Faryar Shirzad said the crypto exchange has already become a powerful lobbying force outside the US. In the UK, the company is pushing for clearer rules on tax treatment, stablecoin payments, and the use of tokenized assets in capital markets.

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Osborne’s Background

Osborne served as the UK’s finance minister from 2010 until 2016, stepping down after the Brexit referendum. Since leaving politics, he has built a broad private-sector portfolio.

He currently chairs the British Museum, is a partner at investment bank Robey Warshaw, and leads Lingotto Investment Management.

Just days before the Coinbase announcement, OpenAI named Osborne to support its overseas data centre expansion under its global infrastructure program. His appointment to Coinbase adds crypto and blockchain policy to an already wide-ranging list of responsibilities.

Expansion Across Crypto

According to an earlier report, at its recent System Update event, Coinbase revealed plans to expand into stock trading, prediction markets, custom stablecoins, tokenization platforms, and AI-powered investment advisers.

Coinbase has already launched stock trading and prediction markets on its platform and now rivals firms such as Robinhood and eToro. The exchange has also partnered with Kalshi to offer markets tied to real-world events such as sports, elections, and economic data.

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The exchange’s long-term goal is to become an all-in-one financial platform that operates around the clock.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank recently initiated coverage with a buy rating, according to CNBC. Analysts expect the company’s broader new everything-in-one strategy to reduce its dependence on crypto trading volumes as it scales into 2026.

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Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Coinbase News, Cryptocurrency News, News

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A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

Parth Dubey on LinkedIn


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