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

'71 (2014)

Directed by Yann Demange
Written by Greggory Burke

Starring Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Paul Anderson and Sean Harris
A young and disoriented British Soldier is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1971.

I don't know much about what happened in Belfast in the early 70s. Pretty much my extent of knowledge is that it was a bitter hatred and violence between Protestants and Catholics in the area and while it's not nearly as bad as it once was, the violence still occurs occasionally today. But this film really peaked my interest in the subject.

As all "behind enemy lines" stories go, Gary Hook must safely find his way back to his barracks without being detected. But this shows an entirely different side. While similar movies have a clear protagonist group and antagonist group, you can't really trust anyone throughout it's duration. So many unexpected things happen that you rarely feel at ease for the protagonist. It always feels as if he's in danger.

It is an intense, heart pounding story that grabs you at the very beginning and doesn't let go until the credits roll. Even when there was a lull in the action, I couldn't help but feel that something was afoot. It is a riveting thriller that explodes off the screen keeping you in a state of shock and bewilderment that something like this happened between adjacent neighborhoods.

My Rating: 7.5/10