Director Jodie Foster
Genre Crime | Drama | Thriller
Cast Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Jack O'Connell, Caitriona Balfe
Rating R
Release Date May 13th, 2016
“In the real-time, high stakes thriller Money Monster, financial TV host Lee Gates (George Clooney) and his producer Patty (Julia Roberts) are put in an explosive situation when an irate investor (Jack O’Connell) takes over their studio.”
Money Monster is directed by veteran actress Jodie Foster, who previously directed Little Man Tate, Home for the Holidays, and 2011’s The Beaver (the movie where Mel Gibson ran around talking to people with a beaver hand puppet like a crazy person). She also directed episodes for a few hit Netflix shows, including an episode for House of Cards and a few episodes of Orange is the New Black. Money Monster serves as Foster’s first big-budget release and has an all-star cast including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken).
Money Monster is an exciting film genuinely determined to impact viewers well beyond the traditional theater experience. As what seems to be a direct mocking of Jim Cramer’s CNBC show Mad Money, Money Monster seeks to uncover the discrepancies and once again prove that more times than not, Wall Street is shady. A story as old as time, right? Even though Money Monster is lacking in the originality department, it still delivers a fantastic cast, a determined director, and a plot intriguing enough to suck in its audience for the entirety of its hour and 38 minute runtime. The film falters in terms of the writing, attempting to set the stage for a seemingly complex twist that falls a bit short. But in all honesty, with this cast I wouldn’t have considered simplifying things either. And like me, I’m sure everyone involved with the film would have preferred better overall execution.
Money Monster includes stellar acting with very few weak spots, especially when focused on George Clooney, Julia Roberts, or even Jack O’Connell. I have always been and always will be a huge George Clooney fan and once again, he does not disappoint. I will see pretty much any film that he has a lead role in, no questions asked. I watched O Brother, Where Art Thou? 4 or 5 times and I still have only a vague idea what the hell was going on in that Coen Brother’s movie. The big 3 (no that is not an NBA reference) are all that really matter as they get the vast majority of the screen time in Money Monster. The other big players in the film that move the plot along are Caitriona Balfe (Now You See Me, Escape), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), and Dominic West (The Wire). All of which deliver commendable performances, and ensure that nothing comes unglued.
Money Monster is an enjoyable film that is well worth the price of admission. Unfortunately, it is unable to establish enough of a “wow” factor to set itself apart. Jodie Foster holds her own behind the camera, and the acting is top notch, but an overly ambitious screenplay slowed things down in the final stretch. Regardless, Money Monster is entertaining and is in no way a bust, it just could’ve been something special.
