Money Monster (2016)

"Money Monster" stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell, and Dominic West.  Released on May 13, 2016, the film is about a financial TV personality who is taken hostage by a viewer who lost his family's money on a bad tip.

The film is directed by Jodie Foster, who also directed Little Man Tate, Home for the Holidays, and The Beaver.  Normally, I don't watch any of the financial shows on television because I wasn't interested in them.  All this talk about stock and profits.  If I want to know about this type of stuff, I would ask my mom.  Anyway, this film has caught my attention from the marketing despite my lack of interest in finances.  It had a good cast and concept, but does it make it a good film?  Well…yeah, it does.

Pros:
The performances were solid, including George Clooney and Jack O'Connell.

The buildup was decent.

Jodie Foster's direction.

Some of the intensity was well-handled.

Cons:
Lack of emotional depth.

The story felt a bit predictable at times.

Final thoughts: While it wasn't strong enough to make a profit, "Money Monster" is still an engaging thrill-fest that showcases the chemistry between Clooney and O'Connell and Foster's ability of making a situation feel real and frightening.  It won't make my Top Ten list of 2016, but I would say that this is Foster's finest work.  If you're a fan of Clooney and/or Foster's filmography, it's worth a watch.

B-