After seeing a few trailers for Jodie Foster’s newest directorial effort I was anxious to get out to see it. I managed a pre noon showing and once again was treated to the Big Screen and me! I think that’s four out of five films with just me and my popcorn.
The premise of this movie was very promising….. A major TV celebrity financial guru is taken hostage on air by a young, disgruntled investor who lost his everything on the guru’s stock tip. To say he was upset is an understatement. Jack O’Connell plays the hostage taker. He starred in “Unbroken” playing Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete later captured by the Japanese after 47 days stranded at sea. He portrays the irate and desperate young man well.
George Clooney is Lee Gates, the zany, flashy crazy TV finance guy. Think Jim Cramer, only a lot better looking. Julia Roberts rounds out the headliners as the producer of the show and the brain center of the live crisis situation. All in all, a strong storyline with potential for great tension, excitement and thrills. Unfortunately it was not to be. Clooney morphs from thinking that it is all a joke to “oh my God I am going to die” to Mr. Cool and best friend to his captor in short order. The dialogue quickly deteriorates into moments when I winced. Fortunately I was alone so no one noticed.
I can’t recommend this movie and would go on to say don’t wait for Netflix either. Jodie Foster will go on to make more wonderful films but this won’t go down as one of them.
