George Clooney plays a stock market guru TV guy (think Jim Cramer on CNBC) and Julia Roberts is his producer in the Control Room. During one of his shows, Clooney gets taken hostage by a disgruntled investor who followed Clooney’s advice on a stock that instead of going up went down down down. The investor, Kyle, lost his entire $60,000 investment and now he wants payback. Jodie Foster directed this movie, but the result is muddled. Is a a thriller? Not really, not enough action. Is it a psychological suspense movie? No, because we all pretty much know how this is going to end. Clooney and Roberts are polished and don’t break a sweat despite some of the antics of the police. I enjoyed this predictable movie, but I’m a fan of movies about the stock market. Your mileage (and interest) might differ. GRADE: B-
This looks stupid to me. Clooney as Jim Cramer? No thanks. And what was the last time Julia Roberts was in a good movie? George can do better.
I’ll pass.
Jeff, MONEY MONSTER is a run-of-the-mill Wall Street movie. With Star Power like Clooney and Julia Roberts, I expected more sparks.
George, I hope to catch this film while it’s still running in the theatres. It has received mixed reviews so far though I don’t let that sway me. I think that’s the first hostage situation of its kind.
Prashant, the TV aspect of the hostage situation is interesting, but the larger story needed much more attention.
this will be a netflix for me. I think our paper’s review was similar to yours. I really liked the one about the mortgage scandal (big short?) with Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling.
Maggie, THE BIG SHORT is way better than MONEY MONSTER.
I want to see this, even though I’m not a Julia Roberts fan.
Beth, Julia Roberts and George Clooney are on screen TOGETHER for about one minute. What a waste of talent!
Barbara and her friend saw this last week and liked it, but she doesn’t try to be a movie critic, she just goes to be entertained.
Rick, I’m always looking for entertainment, too. But if I don’t really like a movie, I want to be able to say why.
I was really looking forward to this – OK, I shall approach with caution then … 🙂
Sergio, if I was the director of a movie with George Clooney and Julia Roberts, I would have them both on-screen 100% of the time!
It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I see another Clooney movie.
Bob, George Clooney is on a losing streak. The last good movie I saw Clooney in was GRAVITY. And that was a small role.
I loved Monument Men.
Maggie, I liked MONUMENT MEN, too. But, it didn’t make much money.
His hosting a $300,000-a-plate dinner for Hitlery was the final straw for me!
Bob, actually Clooney was hosting a fund-raiser for the Democratic Party. Hillary was just there to work the donors.