That Kevin Spacey Movie…
After mentioning on two separate occasions that I had watched All the Money in the World, the response both times was “That Kevin Spacey Movie?”
For those unaware, Spacey originally starred as the film’s protagonist, J Paul Getty. The film was complete. There was even a trailer released showing him in action (as seen below).
Almost straight after sexual harassment allegations were made against the actor, the decision was made to re-shoot and re-edit large parts of the film with Christopher Plummer taking over the role just weeks ahead of the release date.
I wondered whether the Director’s (Ridley Scott) latest drama would suffer from such a tight deadline, resulting in the re-shoots being out of place alongside the original footage.
All the Money in the World is based on true events. It focuses on J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), who is not only the richest man in the world but the richest man in history. In Rome, 1973, masked men kidnapped his 16-year-old grandson (Charlie Plummer). Despite the criminals’ threats becoming more sinister, the oil tycoon refuses to part with any of his fortune to pay the ransom.
Instead, Getty sends his trusted security and business man, Fletcher Chace (Mark Wahlberg) to seek out the captors… as cheaply as possible. He is joined by Gail, (Michelle Williams), the boy’s mother – who had previously decided to take her son away from a life of money and greed to spoil him with love instead. Together, the pair become unlikely allies in this race against time.
I needn’t have worried about the quick re-shoots. After all, Ridley Scott has a reputation of not wasting time on set.
Christopher Plummer is flawless as J. Paul Getty. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Despite having limited time to learn the script and explore the character, he captured the tone perfectly. I predict Oscar glory for the actor.
The last-minute casting is of course on the tip of everyone’s lips, and therefore I worry that Michelle Williams is perhaps not getting the recognition she deserves. The actress perfectly captures the emotions of a frustrated and distressed mother. She holds the film together.
Unfortunately, it is Wahlberg that feels most out of place here. His one-dimensional character (who says ‘deal’ a lot) really doesn’t have much to offer.
My one other criticism is pacing issues with the film being 20-30minutes longer than it should have been.
These are minor glitches in what is a fantastic drama that should do very well during the awards season.
Mikey Clarke
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Genre: Drama & Suspense
Running Time: 2hrs 13mins
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Charlie Plummer and Mark Wahlberg
See All the Money in the World and much more at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’
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