Money Monster (2016)
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Directed by: Jodie Foster
Written by: Jamie Linden, Alan DiFiore, Jim Kouf
Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell
The Good:
From the very beginning, you’re reminded of the very thing that makes George Clooney famous. His wit and charm on screen translate perfectly through his character. Even more so, both he and Julia Roberts share amazing on screen chemistry together. Their interactions give you a perfect sense of how deep their bond as friends goes.
One of the biggest highlights of this films is the level of suspense and intensity that happens almost at every turn. There were rarely any dull moments and just when you think it was about to settle down, something pulls you right back in. To many people’s surprise there were also a lot of pockets of mild humor. The good thing about them was that they gave you a moment to simply catch your breath, or in my case, allow your heart to stop beating so fast.
I certainly appreciated the fact that this movie didn’t always do what you expected it to do either. There’s one pivotal scene in the film where the entire audience simply feels the pain of one of the characters. As a man, I think if I had been that character, a tiny piece of my soul would have shriveled up and died.
Director Jodie Foster (Yeah, that Jodie Foster) did a great job with the movie’s pacing and, I think, also did a good job of steering your emotions throughout the film. Another nice addition to the film was how it was able to make the entire world a character in itself. Watching how society played a part in this film was rather unique and a very interesting reflection of today’s world.
The Bad:
I would probably have to say that this film’s ending started drifting more towards the unbelievable rather than more realistic side of things. It was definitely a bit of a stretch, but I suppose you go with it for the sake of the movie. Also, the main culprit was rather predictable to figure out from very early on. It was built up as if it were some surprise, but it really was a no brainier.
The Reason:
One of the biggest concerns I had about this film was whether or not it would be too heavy with the financial jargon and maybe go over some people’s heads. Luckily it didn’t go too over board with it and still found a way to keep viewers engaged with the intense and suspenseful scenes. I personally enjoyed the fact that this film felt a little more original, and a nice break from the onslaught of comic-book movies. Interestingly enough, I couldn’t help but wonder, how different would this movie had been if the gunman was maybe black? Or maybe muslim? I suppose that’s a conversation for another day though. Either way, if you’re in the mood for something different and a change of pace, I’d recommend checking this out.
