Money Monster Review

If there’s one thing Money Monster taught me, it’s that the creative team knows how to make a movie. I don’t mean that in the “they sure know how to craft an amazing work of art!” kind of way; I mean that in a more “they are competent at the process and this is a movie that they just made” manner. The whole thing is just kind of…fine, I guess? It’s a thriller-satire-mystery mash-up that tries to navigate too much in its brisk running time, but it features solid performances and is effective enough at managing tension and delivering its message.

On that last point, what’s nice is that its message isn’t as one note as it looked, e.g. “all those Wall Street dipshits suck”. It’s certainly preachy, but there’s an underlying theme about empathy that helps the story and character dynamics resonate a bit more. Unfortunately, the subtlety in that message gets lost a little amid the variety of subplots and characters that get introduced throughout (for instance, one subplot is about a guy and an erectile dysfunction drug and the fact that it even warrants thirty seconds is inane). I appreciate the movie trying to reach for something outside of its hostage thriller roots, but it all eventually gets muddled. Whatever, Jack O’Connell yells a lot and waves around a gun and I guess it’s fun to watch at times.

GRADE: B-

OTHER THOUGHTS:

-When will Giancarlo Esposito get a post-Gus Fring role that is worthy of his talent?

-Comedy is hit or miss in this one.

Photo credit: Money Monster, TriStar Pictures

Tags: Chris Bauer Lieutenant Nelson police Money Monster, Christopher Denham Ron Sprecher Money Monster, Diane Lester CCO Money Monster, Dominic West Walt Camby CEO IBIS Capital Money Monster, Emily Meade Molly Kyle's girlfriend scene Money Monster, George Clooney Lee Gates Money Monster, Giancarlo Esposito Captain Marcus Powell police officer Money Monster, Hostage Lee Gates Kyle Money Monster, IBIS Global Capital stock $800 million loss Money Monster, Jack O'Connell Kyle Budwell Money Monster, Jim Cramer Mad Money Money Monster similarities, Jodie Foster director Money Monster, Julia Roberts Patty Fenn director Money Monster, Kyle Budwell delivery man box gun Money Monster, Kyle death shot ending Money Monster, Kyle finger on trigger bomb vest Money Monster, Kyle Lee bomb vest fake clay Money Monster, Kyle Lee leaving the studio New York Money Monster, Matthew Libatique cinematography Money Monster, Money Monster review, Moshe Mambo South Africa miner strike Money Monster, Moshe Mambo South Africa Walt Camby Money Monster, Patty Fenn new job Money Monster, Ron erectile dysfunction drug Money Monster, Trading algorithm glitch IBIS stock Money Monster, Walt Camby IBIS SEC investigation Money Monster, Walt Camby vines memes Money Monster