Money Monster (2016)

Directed by Jodie Foster
Written by Jamie Linden, Alan DiFiore and Jim Kouf
Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell and Caitriona Balfe

The host of a financial TV show host finds himself as a hostage to a man who lost everything following advice he was given by the host himself. With nothing to lose, the man holds the entire station up with a bomb until he finds some answers.

In today's world, I would think that it would be hard to make a movie audience feel a connection with an armed terrorist. In fact, without Wall Street and their shady business proceedings as the antagonist, I would believe it to be impossible. But there is one thing Americans hate more than armed criminals. And that is fraudulent businesses.

In this economical thriller, director Jodie Foster makes a film in which it is easy to feel for the man with the bomb. In her fourth film as director, she humanizes everyone from the down-on-his-luck criminal to the douchebag TV personality. But what she doesn't do is try to justify the shady business tactics used by Billion dollar corporations. As she shouldn't.

Although, the majority of the characters are extremely two-dimensional and have little to no arc, the role of Kyle, played by Jack O'Connell is one of the most heart-wrenching characters I have ever seen. Even though, in the eyes of the law he is in the wrong, you can't help but root for him in the corrupt system that is public trading.

"Money Monster" may not ever crack a top 10 list of mine, or even anyone else's. It's not mind-blowing. It's not revolutionary. It's not even amazing. It's a slightly above average film at best. But in this terrible year of movies thus far, I'll take what I can get.

My Rating: 7/10

The Dead Zone (1983)

Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by Jeffrey Boan, based on the novel by Stephen King
Starring Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Herbert Lom and Martin Sheen

At the peak of his life, a school teacher who is in love gets into a car accident after a perfect day. He wakes up from a coma five years later only to find he's lost his job and girlfriend. But he soon finds out that he has gained the ability to see the past, present and future of everyone he comes in physical contact with.

Yet another example of why Stephen King is the King of the horror/thriller genre, this movie grabs your attention early on and doesn't let go. Just when you think it's going to continue on the path it's on, it will take you off guard by taking a turn in another direction.

At first it seems as the entire movie will just be one long episode of "CSI". Although I was intrigues, I wasn't impressed with it. But before you know it, they solve the case and move on, turning into a soul searching film, asking the question, "if you know the future, should you change it?"

Oddly enough, this didn't feel like a Cronenberg film. Sure, it was one of his earliest movies, but it felt like it was made by entirely different director. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was his movie. It's interesting to look at the evolution of a director's style, and this was close to the beginning.

"The Dead Zone" is a dark, brooding film that remains timeless, even after thirty-two years. I have found that that seems to be a trademark of Stephen King. No matter what time period his books and movies take place in, you can always find some way to relate to the characters.

My Rating: 7/10