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Following the recently-released “The Big Short”, it would be easy to compare director Jodie Foster’s “Money Monster” to the aforementioned Oscar winner. But while the films both focus on the U.S. financial market, an epic economic crash and some hella-big losses, that’s where the similarities end. While “The Big Short” aims not only to entertain, but also to educate, Foster’s film takes a different tact, shaping up to be more of dramatic thriller than a “financial film”.
That said, the movie certainly centres around an economic disaster. George Clooney plays Lee Gates, a charismatic Wall Street guru and the host of financial TV show ‘Money Monster’. As Lee goes live to air, with producer Fannie Fenn (Julia Roberts) in his ear, disgruntled investor Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell) crashes the set, taking Lee and the crew hostage. Broadcasting across the globe, Kyle tells Lee and millions of viewers that he lost his entire life-savings on an investment that went belly up.
Ibis Clear Capital was the company into which Kyle put all his money (on the back of Lee’s on-air advice) that somehow lost $800 million due to “a computer glitch”. In a bid to diffuse the situation, Lee – with the assistance of Fannie – agrees to help Kyle find the answers to his questions about what exactly happened and where that money went. But as their investigation deepens, we discover that the loss has “human fingerprints” all over it and we’re forced to consider Kyle’s claim that he isn’t the real criminal here.
A dramatic thriller (though perhaps the tension could have been amped up at times) with comedic moments thrown in, Foster’s “Money Monster” is really enjoyable if you approach it in a suitable frame of mind. Suspend your disbelief as Lee and Kyle embark on a somewhat implausible stroll through the streets of New York, and don’t go into it expecting a lesson on how the U.S. financial market works. Instead, sit back and allow yourself to be entertained by the effective interplay between Roberts and Clooney, enjoy the fun comedic moments, and appreciate Foster’s subtle commentary on corporate greed and feminism.
