All the Money in the World

How come no one filmed this before? This well-written drama directed with Ridley Scott’s traditional elegance is first and foremost a delicate satire of the spiritually bankrupt moneybags Getty, who was driven by his lust for wealth. The grotesqueness of his character makes him a bigger villain than the Italian kidnappers; he is even reminiscent of the Daniel Day-Lewis’s character from There Will Be Blood. Whatever Kevin Spacey was like in his role, Ridley’s original intention to cast Christopher Plummer was a good choice, as the veteran actor is phenomenal with his facial expressions and gestures. The secondary storyline, which actually takes up more of the runtime, is a thriller dominated by Getty’s counterpoint — the desperate but strong mother of the kidnapped portrayed by the excellent Michelle Williams. Hitchcock would be pleased with her hairstyle and frightened expression. Wahlberg, the film’s highest-paid actor, was just a makeweight. The less you know about the real story, the more you enjoy the movie. (24/01/2018)

What fascinated me most about the film were the instructions on how to live a life of wealth. Well, I’ve always washed my laundry myself, so I guess the problem is the missing phone booth. On the one hand, the film got me interested (retro vibe, a stingy grandpa, a story based on true events that forced me to do some googling). On the other hand, I must admit that I didn't care much for the fates of the people involved and the filmmakers somehow failed to get under my skin. (06/09/2018)

The great premise and the interesting potential in the storyline is exploited only halfway. Ridley Scott, of course, gives the viewer a refined vintage piece with gorgeous filters and lavish 1970s production design (Roma rulez) – he's always been a master of that, and even at his advanced age, he's not letting down his standards. There's no shortage of his creative trademarks either – e.g. what would a Scott flick be without a scene with falling snow? The pace is a bit weaker, sometimes unbalanced, and the plot jumps around and often omits important points that the viewer is forced to assume. But Ridley did hit the right balance with the bad guys. On the one hand, the menacing Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia (very hardcore), on the other the uncompromising and bankrupt billionaire Getty, played in the end by Christopher Plummer, who delivers a brilliant performance. Maybe it will mature with time, but at the moment the form and one good figure is not enough to make me happy. (25/03/2018)

A retro story shot in a retro way. The tempo is therefore definitely slower than in other contemporary or newer films, and yet the story is interesting and the atmosphere suitably weighty. We can only imagine how Kevin Spacey would have acted (I looked forward to seeing him because I really like masks), and there is nothing left but to acknowledge or cheer over Christopher Plummer's performance. His Getty may not have gotten much space, but still he is so distinctive in every second that he is the most important character, whatever the intention of the creators was. Ridley Scott has still got it, and I consider this film almost full-blown compensation for The Counselor. (26/01/2018)

I didn't believe in it too much, but in the end I'm surprised how much I enjoyed the film. Ridley Scott's direction is slick and precise, Mark Wahlberg is classically good and Charlie Plummer was solid, though I think Kevin Spacey would have been better. Quite suspenseful towards the end and there was a twist, so I'm satisfied. 70% (12/04/2018)