The Cheapskate Billionaire

British director Ridley Scott is famously known for historical and sci-fi blockbusters such as ‘Gladiator,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Blade Runner,’ but occasionally he takes on films that one would associate more with his late brother (and director) Tony Scott, if for no other reason than for a change of pace.  So it is that after his recent somewhat ho-hum extension of the Alien universe in ‘Alien: Covenant,’ his latest project turned out to be a crime thriller based on a true story, the kidnapping for ransom of oil magnate J. Paul Getty’s teenage grandson in Italy back in 1973.

 

For all the last-minute scrambles and reshoots thanks to the Kevin Spacey (who originally played Getty) sexual harassment debacle that took place in November last year, ‘All the Money in the World’ came off as well as one had any right to expect.  Veteran Christopher Plummer filled in admirably for Spacey in the role of the frugal J. Paul Getty, and scenes replacing Spacey (except for some wide shots) reportedly took only a matter of days to reshoot.  Along with superb performances from Mark Wahlberg (as Getty-advisor and troubleshooter Fletcher Chase) and notably Michelle Williams (as the mother of Getty’s grandson), ‘All the Money in the World’ proved to be one of Scott’s more critically acclaimed efforts in recent memory, perhaps good enough for him to secure an Oscar nom in the Best Director category.

 

If you sense a “…but” coming, you are absolutely correct.  Notwithstanding its current 77 percent “certified fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I found the movie to be somnolently paced and a bit of a bore.  It likely had something to do with the film’s misleading trailer (yeah, I got fooled by a trailer again, see 'Downsizing' below), which led me to expect a fast-paced thriller filled with action and international intrigue.  While ‘All the Money in the World’ may be well-crafted and competently made, its lack of tension and suspense ultimately couldn’t keep me interested enough in spite of the fine performances from its talented cast.

Grade: B