Review of Money Monster (2016) by Greg C — 13 May 2016

In February through April, 2009 there was a bit of a skirmish between the Daily Show?s Jon Stewart and the host of CNBC?s Mad Money program, Jim Cramer. Stewart scorched Cramer, but later expressed regrets for his hyper-targeting one guy.

In Money Monster, George Clooney channels his best Jim Cramer. Our premise is that an average Joe works his way onto the set of the TV show Money Monster and starts holding hostages after he has taken a loss on a stock pick.

I really did not recognize our kidnapper, Kyle Budwell played by Jack O?Connell who I believe I last saw as the lead character Louis Zamperini in Unbreakable. Clooney, O?Connell, and Julia Roberts all do solid work.

This is a thriller. There are clever dashes of humor. The tension and pace are all well maintained. From director, Jodie Foster I expect a super smart movie. In a bit of a let down, the movie does run out of steam to become something of a by-the-numbers kindnap thriller and lets the bad guy off by having him take some highly irregular trading activity.

Unlike last year?s remarkable The Big Short, Money Monster does not keep up to its high aspirations. Real righteous anger could have been fueled at people on Wall Street who weren?t ?cheating?, but rather doing what they do every day.

All that being said I like the movie a lot, somewhat akin to my closet admiration of the 2002 thriller Phone Booth. (I don?t expect any sequels for that one.).