“Business First, Family Second”
A Review of "All the Money in the World” by Nathan H. Box
Director: Ridley Scott, Writers: David Scarpa, John Pearson, Starring: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg
Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME
The Plot
The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather, Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
My Critique
Lofted above Los Angeles overlooking the vastness of this city, sits one of my favorite places in the entire world; The Getty Museum. To walk its art-lined halls, breathe in its architecture, and consume its vista, is overwhelming and freeing from the chaos below. I will forever cherish every moment I have spent there, but something changed within me when I finished watching “All the Money in the World.” Now, I have a deeper understanding of who Jean Paul Getty was. With new information, the white walls of his grand collection are stained for me.
In the 1987 film, “Wall Street,” Gordon Gekko played by Michael Douglas gave his famous “Greed is Good” speech. 30 years earlier Jean Paul Getty became a billionaire, oil tycoon, and personification of the meaning of greed.
Mr. Getty believed in something pretty simple, yet intensely painful for those who surrounded him. He believed in business first, family second. The accumulation of wealth was paramount, and this left little time for much else. This became abundantly clear when his 16-year-old grandson was kidnapped and held for a $17 million ransom; a ransom a man with all the money in the world refused to pay.
Instead, he put his strong man on the case, played by Mark Wahlberg. Here, I would like to offer my first major critique of this film. Mark is perfectly fine in the movie. He is convincing, protective, and as focused on honoring Mr. Getty as you would have assumed he should be. Yet, every time I see Mr. Wahlberg in a movie I get angry. I can think of a handful of actors who deserved his career. Keanu Reeves for one. Instead, with almost two films a year we are treated to Mark Wahlberg’s acting; someone possessing the range of an air-rifle.
The film pushes forward with a senior Getty who will not budge from his stance on wealth being everything. While this is a film of known history, there are enough twist and turns to keep you guessing. The dramatic moments are paced evenly throughout the movie rising like a crescendo until the very end.
Throughout this film, we are treated to another brilliant performance by Michelle Williams. As the mother of John Paul Getty, III, she never loses hope and never ceases to negotiate with both the captors of her child and the man who could make it all go away. The love she feels for her kid is evident and simply adds a level of desperation to the entire piece.
In the end, “All the Money in the World” is a film about lies and greed. It is also about a man who I would consider to be pure evil and money that will survive you. In its brightest moments, it is about the unconditional devotion of a mother who refuses to quit. So, be thankful for those love and sacrifice on your behalf. Their love means more than all the money in the world.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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