All the Money in the World (B or 3/4 stars)
Ridley Scott is something else. After the controversy surrounding Kevin Spacey broke out (sexual harassment & abuse allegations), Scott took it upon himself to - after a full year of filming this movie - re-cast Spacey with Christopher Plummer {who he wanted in the role originally, anyway}, re-shoot the character's 20 or so scenes, and have it ready in time for critics & audiences in only 4 weeks' time! 'All the Money in the World' is (very) loosely based on the 1973 Rome kidnapping of John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), the 16 yr. old grandson of tight-fisted billionaire oil tycoon J.P. Getty (Christopher Plummer, who has no relation to Charlie), by greedy, grimy Italian mobsters. For little John's safe return, the criminals demand a lofty $17,000,000 ransom ... a drop in the bucket for 'ole grandpa to give-up.
Howwwever, Paul's divorced mother, Gail Harris (Michelle Williams), has no $$, appeals to her ex-father-in-law, but grandpa is unwilling to part with ANY of what is being demanded. To him, because he has 14 other grandchildren, he'll have to pay 14 ransoms if other kidnappers get wind of it. But as shown in flashbacks, he does appear to love his grandson. So. Instead of offering ANY $$, he dispatches his top security man, ex-CIA agent Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg, perhaps miscast), to locate & retrieve Paul. Did Paul orchestrate his own kidnapping for $$? That notion comes up. But after it's revealed just how serious {and deadly} the situation is, grandpa lets up to offer some tax deductible $$ ... but it's not enough. So Gail cooks up with her own reckless plan. Drama ensues.
'ATMITW' is filmed with Ridley Scott's trademark richness (moody, slate-tinged cinematography by Dariusz Wolski; elegant period production design) & offers a relevant theme about the corrupting power of $$. Amazing, unprecedented last-minute replacement of Spacey with Plummer aside, this film ultimately emerges as a fairly solid meat-&-potatoes pulp thriller; the kind you'll see on TV for years from now. Plummer's scenes are integrated & interspersed solidly; as if he was always part of the production. The only cracks I can see {they're not really cracks, just observances} is that some scenes contain Mark Wahlberg with slightly longer hair and a little heavier compared to the re-shot scenes {a year later} with Plummer standing beside him.
Christopher Plummer gives a great sinister performance as the arrogant, steel-willed, $$-hungry philanthropist who loves his grandson, but cherishes art & tax write-offs more so. I am SO glad that 88 yr. old Plummer stepped into this role so late in the game & nailed it. Michelle Williams also impressed me as the rage-filled, panic-stricken mom hell bent on getting her son back; despite accusations from reporters that she's too cold and not crying enough. Everything about this well-made film is classy & confident. There are a few tense moments (including chases & escapes). That said, this film is neither deep, nor particularly gripping. And when Plummer isn't onscreen, you sit back in your seat waiting for him to resurface. It's also clear that plenty of scenes were bolstered or contrived for maximum dramatic effect; I didn't love that. And so, 'ATMITW' isn't perfect or exceptional, but it's serviceable and it is worth a look to watch Ridley/Plummer work some cinematic magic.
Howwwever, Paul's divorced mother, Gail Harris (Michelle Williams), has no $$, appeals to her ex-father-in-law, but grandpa is unwilling to part with ANY of what is being demanded. To him, because he has 14 other grandchildren, he'll have to pay 14 ransoms if other kidnappers get wind of it. But as shown in flashbacks, he does appear to love his grandson. So. Instead of offering ANY $$, he dispatches his top security man, ex-CIA agent Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg, perhaps miscast), to locate & retrieve Paul. Did Paul orchestrate his own kidnapping for $$? That notion comes up. But after it's revealed just how serious {and deadly} the situation is, grandpa lets up to offer some tax deductible $$ ... but it's not enough. So Gail cooks up with her own reckless plan. Drama ensues.
'ATMITW' is filmed with Ridley Scott's trademark richness (moody, slate-tinged cinematography by Dariusz Wolski; elegant period production design) & offers a relevant theme about the corrupting power of $$. Amazing, unprecedented last-minute replacement of Spacey with Plummer aside, this film ultimately emerges as a fairly solid meat-&-potatoes pulp thriller; the kind you'll see on TV for years from now. Plummer's scenes are integrated & interspersed solidly; as if he was always part of the production. The only cracks I can see {they're not really cracks, just observances} is that some scenes contain Mark Wahlberg with slightly longer hair and a little heavier compared to the re-shot scenes {a year later} with Plummer standing beside him.
Christopher Plummer gives a great sinister performance as the arrogant, steel-willed, $$-hungry philanthropist who loves his grandson, but cherishes art & tax write-offs more so. I am SO glad that 88 yr. old Plummer stepped into this role so late in the game & nailed it. Michelle Williams also impressed me as the rage-filled, panic-stricken mom hell bent on getting her son back; despite accusations from reporters that she's too cold and not crying enough. Everything about this well-made film is classy & confident. There are a few tense moments (including chases & escapes). That said, this film is neither deep, nor particularly gripping. And when Plummer isn't onscreen, you sit back in your seat waiting for him to resurface. It's also clear that plenty of scenes were bolstered or contrived for maximum dramatic effect; I didn't love that. And so, 'ATMITW' isn't perfect or exceptional, but it's serviceable and it is worth a look to watch Ridley/Plummer work some cinematic magic.