All The Money In The World (****)

Despite going through production hell with the sudden recasting of Kevin Spacey, and the tedious rush to release the film in 2017, and this being Ridley Scott's second directorial effort in the year (the summer miss that was Alien: Covenant), I will admit that ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD still largely works as its own movie, a story of corruption, greed, and desperation.

The story follows the kidnapping of a young man in 1970's Italy, but it is no ordinary boy: this is the grandson of the richest man in the history of the world. His name? J Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), an oil tycoon who developed new ways to export oil from the Middle East and reaped all the benefits for it. The kidnapping, told in the first few moments of the film, begins a narration by the boy (Charlie Plummer) who describes the history of his family, the ups and downs, etc.

We learn that Getty, once estranged from his children, later sought his son for work, and along with that met his grandchildren for the first time. Plummer plays the role as sympathetic, warm and loving, and with an ever present bite of menace. The grandchildren (including John Paul Getty III, who would later go missing) are escorted by their mother, Gail Harris (Michelle Williams), a New York-type who wants her husband to work in the oil business only so that their family can live comfortably.

The movie essentially follows the time frame from the boy's kidnap to months later when he is eventually found. It's a long movie, oftentimes slowly paced, but we admire it for the performance of Michelle Williams, who is stunning as a mother barely keeping it together. Plummer is good, and famously filmed his entire section over a 10-day stretch this past Thanksgiving. Unlike the footage we saw of Kevin Spacey who was weighted down with makeup and prosthetics, Plummer is natural in the role, slowly going from loving grandfather to ruthless tycoon. The transformation is both subtle and effective. Mark Wahlberg as a detective leaves much to be desired.

We sense Ridley Scott's hand throughout the film, and in his age I wonder if he is still at the top of his game. The film's narration cuts out midway through, and the soundtrack is a blend of what sounds like an orchestral composition for a comedy film. It's a baffling choice for a film so riddled with suspense and drama. In what is also nearly a 2.5 hour film, we can imagine a good 30 minutes being cut and still leaving us with just as good of a caper. The ending churns to a climax in typical Hollywood fashion, and I found myself amply predicting each wrong turn and dead end until the film's final few shots. Perhaps the real story wasn't as thrilling, and the creation of a climactic ending was obviously wanted to help get the biggest bang for their buck. That's Hollywood, baby.

I still liked this film. Like I said, Michelle Williams continues to prove herself as one of (if not) the most talented actresses currently working. Were the film not so scattered over the stories of the old man and the detective, Williams' character is so compelling that I felt drawn to her even in the moments she was off screen. Likewise for Charlie Plummer as John Paul Getty III, this is a young actor who manages to steal the show in a few scenes of nothing more than eye glances and cries for help. For what it's worth, this is a much better film than it had the potential to be.