"Money Monster" has a fascinating concept. A crude Mad Money-esque talk show host is held hostage on live television by a disgruntled man that lost his savings by following one of the host's investment tips. If the synopsis doesn't grab your attention, add in George Clooney and Julia Roberts and the film becomes irresistible. The critics gave it mixed reviews and it may not live up to its full potential, but I find this film to be honest, unpredictable, and intense. Even though the film is about corporate corruption, it builds an appreciation for all of the work that goes into a seemingly simple live TV production. The script is well-written as it avoids predictability and continually changes our perspective of the characters. A lot of seemingly random puzzle pieces are introduced throughout the story and unexpectedly come together in the end. Even twenty minutes into the movie, you can't imagine half of the events that will occur by the conclusion. It combines all of the best aspects of a hostage film, tv production film, detective film, big corporation film, and heist film. Clooney turns in a fine performance as he taps into a lot of tough emotions and Roberts plays off of him perfectly, even though they are rarely in the same room. Jack O'Connell keeps stride with the two veteran actors as he transitions through a series of emotions that successfully portray his desperation. The main flaws of this film come from its script. There is so much unnecessary swearing and there are a few moments where the plot begins to plod along until the next secret is revealed. It doesn't seem as if the script enhanced the performances of the actors; rather, it seems as if these actors took average dialogue and elevated it through their emotions. The film is on par with action films like "Hostage" and "16 Blocks," but it maintains its realism in the moments that could easily become farfetched. "Money Monster" won't be getting any Oscar nominations, but this could easily become one of those Sunday afternoon cable classics.
[Pictured: Clooney's range of emotions reminds us of why he is such a celebrated actor]
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