The main criticism you can aim at Money Monster is that it doesn’t know what it wants to be – a straightforward hostage drama, a financial conspiracy story, or a criticism of the increasing gap between the rich and the poor.
Directed by Jodie Foster, George Clooney stars as Lee Gates, a TV stock market guru who is interrupted mid-show by Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell). Budwell has lost $60,000 invested on a tip given by Gates, and he has turned up at the studio armed with a gun and a bomb, looking for answers. The scenes in the studio and those in the adjoining production booth where the producer, Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) tries to keep everyone alive, work by far the best.
The tension dilutes a bit when the action moves elsewhere, to the company where the share price dropped dramatically and to related characters all over the world. Having said that, Caitriona Balfe gives good performance as the company spokeswoman, though Dominic West is a cardboard cut out villain, Walt Camby.
Having one evil guy at the heart of it all dilutes any desire to criticise the financial system, so in the end this works much the best as a thriller. Whilst Clooney and O’Connell, both excellent, are on-screen this is a terrifically tense film, with Foster proving herself to be a great director of actors.
Rating: 8 out of 10