The Sunday Mail
IT is always something special when an old horse manages to dust off the ring rust and ride off into the sunset in a blaze of glory.
Whether it be a one-off affair, last call or just one of those once in a lifetime opportunities; it does not really matter, after all, the only thing people love more than rooting for the underdog is a good comeback story.
I mean, imagine how great George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, would have been if when you flipped over to the last page and out comes Boxer to save the day by kicking Napoleon’s teeth in.
That would have been awesome, right? Now, if you were born yesterday, then you probably have no idea what I am talking about and if so my only advice to you is . . . read a book!
However, if you are like me, then odds are you probably agree with me that in the film industry they do not come any older or seasoned than Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Jodie Foster.
I mean if these three were to sit down and open a production company today then the only suitable name for it would be “Dinosaurs Productions”. Forgive me if I sound like I am being mean, but we have come a very long way from the days of ER (Clooney), Pretty Woman (Roberts) and the countless other jobs Foster took as a young teen star.
Their latest collaboration “Money Monster”, however, is one of those films, normally referred to as “the one left in the chamber”. I mean I had no idea these guys were still alive, acting and more importantly still able to churn out such a hit.
Do not get me wrong “Money Monster” is not what I would refer to as a “classic” but the drama filled thriller, directed by Jodie Foster, does pack one hell of an emotional punch.
The film is a satirical look at America’s Wall Street and financial imbalance. It delicately balances humour, fact, drama and truckloads of action.
Clooney stars as Lee Gates, a TV personality, host of a show called “Money Monster” that primarily advises its audience on the commerce and Wall Street stock and activity of the day. After advising his viewers to invest in stock belonging to this company called IBIS Clear Capital, which tanks and loses US$80 million in a day, one of its investors Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell) invades the show’s studio and takes Gates hostage.
Fitted with a jacket laced with explosives, Budwell, who lost US$60 000 to the stock tip, demands answers as to why the stock tanked so bad and so fast. Conspiracy movies are as clichéd as they come but wait, this one works.
Gates’ want-away producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) volunteers to stay behind and try to talk Budwell down.
Performance wise, Clooney and Roberts nail their roles to the letter as Clooney takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotion starting off as the corky television anchor who only keeps eye contact when talking to a person only because he will be looking at his own reflection.
That is not an actual character description, but I am trying to paint a picture. By the end of the film, Clooney is more in-tune with his mortality and aware of other people’s feelings.
Roberts, much like she has done throughout her entire career, is the rock that keeps this entire film together. Emotions are all over the place.
Out of sync accent aside, the real star of the film is the young O’Connell who manages to do something many famed actors have tried and failed, and that is outshine Clooney and Roberts.
This guy’s performance is totally riveting and if there is any justice in the world, O’ Connell should at least get some sort of award next year. Oscar, not so much but anything else that is not a Raspberry award would be fitting. Jodie, on the director’s chair, holds her own. The locations, imagery and the fact that she manages to balance such egos like Clooney and Roberts is commendable. The theatre community has it on go good authority that Roberts is not the most pleasant actress to work with.
While this film is primarily referred to as a thriller, O’Connell’s shows enough range and there is a lot of emotion that one cannot help but root for the guy. In a nutshell, O’Connell comes off as the “ordinary man” trying to find answers to why his family is going to starve. Now, who would not back that up? Watch out for a couple of surprise cameos; ones only a true film bud will notice.
