Review of The Founder (2016) by Keithdow — 02 Feb 2017

The Founder, directed by John Lee Hancock and starring Michael Keaton, brings to life the story of Ray Kroc--the self-proclaimed founder of McDonald's.

Keaton plays the part of Kroc with a manic sense of urgency, knowing he has gold on his hands and desperately wanting to make that gold-- specifically the golden arches--his own. Casting directors often refer to an “It” factor when it comes to actors, and whatever “It” is, Michael Keaton has it. He’s as fascinating to watch in this film as ever.

The direction of this film is well done but surprisingly it’s the editing that stands out. There are a number of times that the story needs to jump back and forth between the past and present or show the processes involved with running a busy restaurant and the editing is done both seamlessly and effectively.

Unfortunately, it’s mostly the writing that drags this picture out of any serious awards consideration, despite the Weinstein’s doing everything in their power to position it so. There’s an adage in writing that says, "show, don’t tell.” There’s also a ten-cent word for this called "exposition," and The Founder is guilty of often explaining straightforward plot points instead of allowing audience members to figure it out on their own.

In the end, Keaton’s performance and the real-life story of Ray Kroc embody the spirit of American ambition, each driven by one of the most essential traits in business: persistence.