Money
Monster (2016/Sony Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: C+
Money
Monster is a new 2016 thriller directed by Jodie Foster and
starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts in leading roles. Full of
great performances and great cinematography, the film feels like it
could happen any day and poses some interesting questions about our
current economic state and also stars Jack O' Connell, Dominic West,
Caitriona Balfe, and Giancarlo Esposito.
The
film is built around a Fox News-style show called Money Monster
that stars Lee Gates (Clooney) with director Patty Lenn (Roberts)
behind the camera lens. During a broadcast, a terrorist (O'Connell)
posing as a mailman wanders onto the set and holds Gates and his crew
hostage while being broadcasted on air to a nation of viewers. We
soon realize that the young man is upset about a stock tip that he
received on the show and ends up facing off with the company, and the
nation, in an attempt to find out what happened to his lost
investment. The police step in and try to negotiate as the stakes
rise and lives are in danger.
The
film builds in tension throughout, similar to films like Phone
Booth but wants badly to be Dog Day Afternoon where the
film happens basically in real time and puts its main character in
peril with the clock and stakes rising. While the film has a short
running time, it ends up dragging a bit in the second act. Clooney
has had better roles as well, with some of his scenes a bit silly for
him.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and
a lossless DTS-HD Ma (Master Audio) 5.1 track the film looks and
sounds fantastic on Blu-ray disc with little left to be desired.
Also included is a digital copy of the film.
Special
Features:
Deleted
Scenes
George
Clooney, The Money Man
Inside
the Pressure Cooker
Analysis
of a Scene - The Showdown
Dan
the Automator (feat. Del the Funky Homosapien) "What Makes
the World Go 'Round (MONEY!)" Music Video
A
decent thriller but by no means a classic, Money Monster is
worth a watch if you like the lead actors or are interested in films
about economics or the stock market.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
