Film Review: Approach of ‘Money Monster’ is Pure Fraud

CHICAGO – In our society there is one eternal truth…the rich will ALWAYS win, that’s one of the reasons that they are rich. So when “Money Monster” attempts to take them down a peg with a ridiculous fantasy story, it’s as fraudulent as what they think they’re bringing down. An oligarch watches this, and laughs at us.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

What was surprising, and distressing, was that George Clooney was involved in this project. He has made reliably stick-it-to-the-man films for years (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “The American”), but in this one he doesn’t have a character, or at least a character that has a placeholder in reality. Everything else is just window dressing – the direction from Jodie Foster, the horrid screenplay by three writers. and a throwaway role for Julia Roberts that someone like Téa Leoni could have done, and that’s the opposite of a compliment. The premise is false, flabby and trying desperately to make a point, while accomplishing nothing. Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Lee Gates (Clooney) is the host of the Financial News Network show “Money Monster,” a loud and brash circus for American investors in the casino…I mean stock market. He’s somewhat of an a-hole (they show him trying to get a dinner companion), and his booth director Patty (Julia Roberts) is quitting after the Friday live show is completed.

Naturally, during that show a stranger named Kyle (Jack O’Connell) invades the studio, dressed as a delivery guy. He brandishes a gun, and forces host Lee to wear a bomb jacket, and he’s holding a detonator with an itchy thumb. He wants to see the CEO (Dominic West) of a stock that Lee recommended, because that stock tanked and took his life savings. He doesn’t want his money back, he wants an apology.  

“Money Monster” opens everywhere on May 13th.. Featuring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Dominic West, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Denham and Caitriona Balfe. Written by Jamie Linden. Alan Difiore and Jim Kouf. Directed by Jodie Foster. Rated “R”