Skip to content

The Screenwriter's Journal

All Things Cinema

  • Journal Entries
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • About
  • Toggle search form
  • Just FYI Uncategorized
  • How To Actually Write a Screenplay Writing Advice
  • Attack of the Killer Donuts-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Pandemic: Fear the Dead-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • My Thoughts on Borat 2 Movie News
  • Ride Along-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Morning Glory-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • The Art of Self Defense-An Honest Review An Honest Review

Money Monster – An Honest Review

Posted on March 9, 2022March 8, 2022 By The Screenwriter No Comments on Money Monster – An Honest Review

Money Monster was directed by Jodie Foster and written by Jamie Linden, Alan Di Fiore and Jim Kouf. It’s the story of Lee Gates ( George Clooney ) a wisecracking stock-based TV show host, who’s been taken hostage by Kevin ( Jack O’Connell ), victim of Gates’ false predictions.

PLOT:

Lee isn’t a bad guy, but I wouldn’t call him a saint either. He’s obssesed with the almighty dollar, so much so he’s making it by telling other people how to make it. Definately a millionaire. Despite everything, he is a charming individual ( he’s George Clooney for Christ sake ) and it’s hard to genuinally hate the guy.

So one day he’s doing his show like he would any other and this guy walks in called Kevin, he puts a gun to his head and a bomb to his chest. Kevin let’s go of a button – KABOOM! They all die. Now this would be a perfectly exceptional plotline, if only Kevin had any actual menace to him, which he does not.

By the way, here’s the big catch to everything – everything is being brodcaster on live TV, and Lee’s crew is not allowed to leave the set, or risk being shot or blown up. Speaking to Lee during the happning’s, is his colleague Patty ( Julia Roberts ). Well acted performance that ultimately only adds a small layer to the overall film.

While Lee is busy trying not to die, police Captain Powell ( Giancarlo Esposito ) is doing everything he can trying to find a solution to the hostage crisis above. It just makes him angry.

There’s also this sideplot about a missing CEO in South Africa, but believe me it’s predictable as hell and doesn’t add much suspense whatsoever.

CONCLUSSION:

To be fair, Money Monster did have good elements to it. It was decently paced, had a good story, and well acted in most places, though would’ve benefited from more Clooney scenes, and less “fat” around the edges.

Ultimately the films main problem is it’s lack of ability to portray Kevin as a genuine threat. Instead of feeling like a Hannibal Lector, or a David ‘Bill’ Carradine, or a whatever other villains you hold high, O’Connell failed to deliver the level performance the film needed. Ibstead of being on par with one of the previously mentioned characters, he came off as a guy who’s just really angry, pretty much 1 dimensional and not convinced of what he wants. 6/10.

By reading this article, you’re supporting the TSJ community, thank you!

-The Screenwriter

An Honest Review Tags:George Clooney, Giancarlo Esposito, Jodie Foster, Julia Roberts, Money Monster

Post navigation

Previous Post: Cosmic Sin – An Honest Review
Next Post: The Adam Project – An Honest Review

Related Posts

  • Operation Finale – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Edge of Darkness – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Baby Driver – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • The Woman In The Window – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • 24 Hours to Live-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Ad Astra-An Honest Review An Honest Review

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Journal Entries

  • Minecraft Movie starring Aquaman???? April 27, 2022
  • How Not to Write a Screenplay – Award Ceremony March 29, 2022
  • Windfall – An Honest Review March 21, 2022
  • The Adam Project – An Honest Review March 14, 2022
  • Money Monster – An Honest Review March 9, 2022
  • Cosmic Sin – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Fargo-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Edge of Darkness – An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • Live From Baghdad-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • The Midnight Sky-Trailer Breakdown Trailer Breakdown
  • The Bucket List-An Honest Review An Honest Review
  • If Tarantino Directed Batman Begins Alternate Castings
  • Mars Attacks!-An Honest Review An Honest Review

Copyright @2022 - TheScreenwritersjournal

Powered by PressBook News Dark theme