The Money Monster is timely, to say the least. With any other director, that is probably all we would say to tout it. Yet, with Jodie Foster behind the lens, it’s a taut, entertaining and tense thriller that rises above the standard us versus them economic cinematic fare.
George Clooney stars as Lee Gates, the host of a money show that shares the moniker with the film itself. He’s kind of a Jim Cramer-Mad Money type of guy, except a whole lot more charismatic, energetic and frankly, enigmatic as our film commences. It’s another day in the life of this weekly program and his producer/director Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts, reuniting with her Ocean’s 11 co-star) is set to orchestrate this circus of a show that recommends stock buy and sells to the average Joes and Jills out there.
One of those souls is none-too-happy with some of Gates’ Wall Street advice,
Kyle Budwell (Unbroken star Jack O’Connell). He lost his life savings, all based on a comment that Gates made on one of his shows. As this latest episode of The Money Monster starts, Budwell saunters onto the set with a gun, straps a bomb vest to Gates and for now, his one requirement, is that the show stay live or everybody dies.
The film plays out in real time, so this revenge tale is on the clock. And what Foster does so well is build what could be a one-note thriller into a conspiracy theory film that has layers upon layers that need to be uncovered. That’s where screenwriters have a superhero in Roberts’ Fenn. She is not only directing and producing this live show that has her life hanging in the balance, but she is leading her team to uncover what is really going on that caused this supposed unbeatable stock to crumble so epically.
Clooney has one of his most unique characters to date. He is pompous, somewhat empty and yet immediately cowardly when a gun is put to his head. Yet, over the course of the film, he finds the strength to power through and do what his character does best, host a TV show — which is exactly what the situation has evolved into. Now, the entire world is watching. Also, Clooney brings something to the character in the third act that is not easy to do convincingly, given what we know about him by the pitch perfect performance he has delivered over two acts… empathy.
Roberts is electric. The way she can turn emotions on a dime is simply incredible. She could not have been better cast and it’s nice to see her in a film that utilizes her talents instead of squandering them (like Mother’s Day did!).
And then there’s O’Connell. His performance too could have been the run-off-the-mill disgruntled chap who has been wronged and wants answers. Yet, O’Connell makes his Budwell someone who is conflicted. This is unlike anything he’s ever done before in his life. And that is clear as the film progresses and he’s forced to come to terms with the fact that now his life will clearly never be the same.
The film falls a little flat in the third act as the inevitable confrontation with the evil-doer or doers behind our scandal comes to light. It delves into a very formulaic clash and conclusion that we had hoped would have been anything but.
Yet it is Foster’s directorial skills that truly make this a movie to watch. In some ways, it reminds us of a film she starred in, Spike Lee’s Inside Man. The pacing is crisp. The tension is palpable and it has an ensemble cast bringing to life something truly entertaining that is also quite relatable to the audience at large.
Grade: B