bardenboy-77569 We never asked for something as cringy as this to watch in our lives. No need to explain, but will anyway, plot/story = dull characters = no emotion, apart from the bomber. So in general conclusion, god it was bad.

blanche-2 After reading a review of this that actually DOES the math involved in this film, I have a terrific headache. Guess the reviewer didn't find "Money Monster" all that correct in terms of the way the stock market works.Thankfully, I was unaware of that while watching "Money Monster" from 2016, which should have been so much better than it was. Director Jodie Foster did some good things here but ultimately missed the boat.The story concerns a Jim Kramer-type TV host, Lee Gates (George Clooney) who advises people about stocks on his show. Unfortunately, one of his big recommendations has somehow lost $800 million. A delivery man, Kyle Budwell (Jack O'Connell) a stockholder out $60,000, sneaks onto the set with a bomb jacket, demanding to know where his money went. Behind the scenes, Gates' director (Julia Roberts) speaks to Gates through his earpiece, encouraging him to stall for time while they try to get answers. The CEO of the company is on a plane somewhere, leaving his PR director (Caitriona Balfe) holding the proverbial bag.The cast does a terrific job, but this was a tension-filled situation that didn't seem to have a great deal of tension. And as a satire about greed, it's all over the place. As the rap-performing stock analyst, Clooney is great; but the character disintegrates -- he goes from master showman to feeling sorry for himself as he shares his story with the interloper. Normally I'm no fan of Julia Roberts, but she is wonderful here as a true professional doing her best to defuse the situation, keep Gates calm, and move people to safety.A stronger point of view would have helped "Money Monster," but in the end, there wasn't much focus.

Michael Ledo Lee Gates (George Clooney) runs a Kramer "Mad Money" type of financial show on FNN. IBIS, a huge corporation just dropped $800 million dollars due to an "algorithm glitch." How did this happen? Kyle Budwell (Jack O'Connell) is an inquiring mind that wants to know. Kyle also has a gun and an explosive vest as he forces his way into Lee's show and demands answers. As Lee is taken hostage his program director (Julia Roberts) is attempting to locate people within IBIS to give them real answers.With this all-star cast, it was hard not to enjoy the film. After watching a glimpse of the previews I thought Clooney would be the bad guy. the stock broker who pumps and dumps stock, who works with corporations to manipulate stocks, by recommendations through kickbacks. Brokers who tell the little guy to buy while telling their heavy investors to sell. Sorry if I digress, but I am still waiting for that film. The relationship that Clooney develops with the shooter was not believable, but it was fun to watch.Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity.

SerJaimeLannister *MINOR SPOILERS* While the hostage situation that takes place on the set is certainly tense enough the film as a whole just doesn't work for me. The movie clearly wanted me to sympathize with someone who is barely a step below a terrorist with the excuse that this Wall Street guy is worse. I'm sorry, I know that the banks screwed us all over but if the director (Jodie Foster) wants my heart to bleed even a little for this punk she failed very hard. I spent most of the film hoping the SWAT guys would kill him quick. Film wanted to be another John Q clearly but I actually did feel for Denzel Washington in that situation unlike here. Likewise Money Monster wanted to wag its finger against the monied elite but failed to land any punches and settled for more of a shrug toward the situation as a whole and instead focuses on one CEO who may or may not have done anything illegal anyway. Having a hostage taker rage about how he lost all his money on a bad investment in this case really didn't capitalize on the controversy that Wall Street is facing right now.There also seemed to be an attempt to look at the public at large and how it reacts to seems to attach itself like a parasite to "breaking news" stories such as occurs in this film. I suppose like the morality of going outside the law to address a "wrong" like in John Q, here Money Monster wants to take a point from Untraceable and pass judgment on the age of social media. Again only doing so halfheartedly and only scratching the surface. Honestly it rather bored me as it took time away from George Clooney and Jack O'Connell the characters who really mattered here I wasn't expecting much and a good thing that as I wasn't too disappointed at this barely mediocre and preachy soap operatic film.