DUMB MONEY : Tuesday 7th November 2023

I finally got around to seeing the MA15+ Rated 'DUMB MONEY' after my three week sojourn in the UK. This American biographical comedy drama film, which was released here in Australia on 5th October, is Directed by Craig Gillespie whose prior feature film making credits take in his debut with 'Mr. Woodcock' in 2007 and 'Lars and the Real Girl' also in 2007 and then 'Fright Night' in 2011, 'Million Dollar Arm' in 2014, 'The Finest Hours' in 2016, 'I, Tonya' in 2017 and 'Cruella' in 2021. This film is based on the 2021 book 'The Antisocial Network' by Ben Mezrich, and saw its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September and was released in the US in limited theatres a week later before expanding into a wider release on 29th September. The film garnered generally favourable reviews and has so far grossed US$17.5M against a production budget of US$30M.

Keith Gill (Paul Dano) is a lower middle class man working as a financial analyst for MassMutual in Brockton, Massachusetts. During his spare time, he maintains a watchful eye on the stock market subreddit r/WallStreetBets, and posts his opinions on it via YouTube live streams under the name Roaring Kitty, with the disclaimer that he is not offering financial advice. He struggles to provide for his wife Caroline (Shailene Woodley) and his young child, and has a net worth of about US$98K. His presence on his home based YouTube channel is constantly being mocked by his brother Kevin (Pete Davidson) as nerdy rubbish. 

In June 2020, following the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Keith notices that video game retailer GameStop's stock is falling and sinks more than half of his life savings (US$53K) into buying stock in it, frequently live streaming updates with his followers. 

Despite Kevin, and Keith's colleague Briggsy (Deniz Akdeniz) claiming this is a waste of time and money, by January 2021, activity on r/WallStreetBets reveals that several hedge fund investment firms, including Melvin Capital Management and its founder Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen), have been short selling stock in the chain on the assumption it would close, causing a mass increase in GameStop's overall stock price when online retail mum and dad stock buyers, including struggling nurse Jennifer Campbell (America Ferrera), GameStop retail employee Marcos (Anthony Ramos), and lesbian college couple Riri (Myha'la Herrold) and Harmony (Talia Ryder), start aggressively buying up stock, causing Plotkin and other investment CEO's to lose hundreds of millions of dollars within the same timeframe, and Keith to be heralded as a financial sensation.

Things take a turn for the worse when r/WallStreetBets is temporarily shut down for 'inflammatory and vulgar content' (even though that had been the way for years), causing a mass surge of panic selling in GameStop's stock in an attempt to beat a perceived price drop. When the commission-free stock trading website Robinhood is unable to adequately pay the US$3B for the sales, co-chairman Vlad Tenev (Sebastian Stan), at the behest of Citadel owner and multi-billionaire Ken Griffin (Nick Offerman), places a freeze on all purchasing of GameStop's stock in an attempt to drive down the price. 

The play ultimately works, but the subsequent negative backlash results in an investigation by the United States House Committee on Financial Services, with Tenev, Griffin, Plotkin, and Keith all being subpoenaed, the former three for their roles in the fiasco and the latter on suspicion of using the situation to trick the public into making himself rich. As the investors struggle to defend their actions, Keith adamantly denies any wrongdoing in the hearing on 18th February 2021, saying 'I did not solicit anyone to buy or sell the stock for my own profit' and further stating that he was only doing what anyone with a passing awareness of investment banking would do in that situation, while concluding that 'I like the stock', by which time his initial investment of US$53K had turned into a personal fortune of US$48M all largely off the back of GameStop. 

In the months that followed, pre-credits text shows how several of the individuals were impacted, namely Plotkin was forced to shut down Melvin Capital because of the net losses the incident caused; Robinhood was the target of several lawsuits following the fiasco and wound up with its IPO starting in the stock market significantly lower than it was prior; Harmony was able to use the money she obtained to pay off her family's debt issues and continues her relationship with Riri; Marcos sold half of his GameStop stock and quit his position in the company; Jennifer remains marginally in debt but has retained her shareholding; Keith retired from YouTube in late April to get out of the public eye and sold a small portion of his now US$33M fortune to buy Kevin a brand new red Porsche 911 as a way to stop his nagging about how he will not loan him his car for his food deliveries work. Kevin still calls him a nerd however.

'Dumb Money' is a compelling story mainly because it fell in such recent times that just about all of us with the remotest interest in the stock market will remember the events that unfolded around GameStop and the events that came to pass as part of the zeitgeist of the pandemic era. The acting is on point here with particular nods to Dano and Davidson, and this cautionary tale is dramatic, humorous and entertaining and you can't help but be carried along by the stories of the little people beating the mega rich of Wall Street at their own game. The term 'dumb money' BTW was coined by Wall Street for retail mum & dad investors, whereas 'smart money' is used to describe institutional, or professional, investors. The film also stars Vincent D'Onofrio, Clancy Brown, Dane DeHaan and Olivia Thirlby. 

'Dumb Money' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard out of a potential five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE DISASTER ARTIST : Wednesday 6th December 2017.

'THE DISASTER ARTIST' which I saw this week, is based on the now cult classic for all the wrong reasons, 'The Room' which was released in 2003 and Written, Produced, Directed and starred Tommy Wiseau at a cost out of his own pocket of US$6M. At the time of its limited release it was panned by Critics for its bizarre and unconventional storytelling and various technical and narrative flaws, was described as 'the Citizen Kane of bad movies' and others have touted it as one of the worst films ever made. Upon its release in one single theatre, the film took US$1,800 at the Box Office over the two week period of its screening. Originally labelled as an independent romantic drama film, the movie found cult status subsequently and continues to be shown in limited screenings at select theatres to this day and as a result, the film has more than recovered its budget outlay. Wiseau retrospectively characterised the film as a black comedy, even though audiences have generally viewed it as a poorly-made drama, a viewpoint supported by some of the film's cast. In 2013 Greg Sestero, the films other principal Actor published a memoir titled 'The Disaster Artist : My Life Inside The Room, The Greatest Bad Film Ever Made' about the making of 'The Room' which has inspired this film. The film was shown at TIFF back in September and took out the top prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and has garnered generally positive Reviews with James Franco in particular being praised for both his Direction and starring roles.

And so James Franco Directs, Co-Produces and stars in this biographical comedy drama offering that features him as Tommy Wiseau, with his brother Dave Franco cast as Greg Sestero. Charting the meeting and early friendship between Wiseau and Sestero which occurred via acting classes in San Francisco back in 1998, and over the following months the two strike up a close, and at times somewhat bizarre friendship. Sharing a dream to make it big in Hollywood, Wiseau persuades Sestero to move with him to Los Angeles where Wiseau owns an apartment centrally located for tinsel town and where they'll be able to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the movie industry.

However, fairly quickly their combined hopes and dreams come crashing down around their ears after rejection follows rejection, despite Sestero being signed up quickly by one of the top casting agents of the time. One early evening feeling dejected and at a particularly low ebb, Sestero mentions to Wiseau that they should just make their own film. Wiseau takes Sestero's suggestion literally, and over the next three years spends his time writing his own screenplay, called 'The Room', which he presents to his friend in a diner upon completion to be the first person to read it through.

Recognising that the story is totally incoherent, Sestero acknowledges that the script is great to massage Wiseau's ego. Wiseau offers his friend the lead role of Mark, and also makes him a Co-Producer of the film. The pair then go in search of a production company and find one in North Hollywood. Wiseau is insistent that he wants to buy outright all the camera equipment despite the normal arrangement being to rent because of the cost prohibitive nature of outright equipment purchase. He further insists on shooting with two cameras - 35mm and HD digital simultaneously, which just doubles the cost of production unnecessarily, but Wiseau is adamant that he is a filmmaker with a vision destined for greatness, and this is the way its gonna be.

The production company introduces Wiseau and Sestero to Rafael Smadja (Paul Scheer) and Sandy Schklair (Seth Rogen) as Cinematographer and script supervisor respectively, with the latter doubling up as Wiseau's surrogate Director. Production on the planned forty day shoot starts out reasonably well all things considered, but as time progresses Wiseau grows increasingly short tempered, angry, self centred and more demanding of his cast and crew putting his own failings aside and blaming everyone for his shortcomings but himself. He forgets his lines, turns up late almost every day, won't provide the basic needs like air conditioning and water on a stinking hot day while filming inside and verbally abuses his cast and crew with increasing regularity.

Needless to say the crew grow more and more resentful of Wiseau, culminating in an on set showdown in which Smadja reaches the end of his tether and is briefly fired. Wiseau also reveals that he knows that everybody hates him having seen the extensive behind-the-scenes footage being constantly filmed during production, and how nobody, including Sestero, shares his vision for the film. Having gone way over schedule, on the last day of shooting back in San Francisco where it all began, Sestero and Wiseau fight questioning his age, background and source of income which has been a constant source of doubt since they first met, and to which Wiseau has been especially aloof. They part company and don't see each other for approaching a year - until the world Premier of 'The Room' in fact.

At the Premier of 'The Room' to which Sestero has been invited by Wiseau and reluctantly attends, the pair are pleasantly surprised to see the entire cast and crew turn out for the event, and a packed theatre. Wiseau makes an introduction and announces his film. As the film begins to unfold, the audience increasingly erupt into bouts of laughter over just how wrong the film is on almost every level. Wiseau initially leaves the theatre half way through the screening, but is halted from leaving by Sestero who comforts him saying that whilst it may not have been the reaction he was wishing for, the audience are having a great time nonetheless. As the end credits roll, Wiseau returns to a standing ovation.

You don't need to have seen 'The Room' to appreciate what this film is all about. James Franco nails it as Tommy Wiseau in what may yet prove to be a career defining role. Rather than paint a picture that lauds up the source movie with ridicule and rejection, he here delivers a character and a story of unwavering passion and unrelenting dedication to his craft that makes you feel an empathy towards Wiseau, despite his failings. Also worthy of note is the faithful recreation of scenes from 'The Room' duplicated with exacting detail on 'The Disaster Artist' - many of which are shown side by side in the closing credits sequence - all kudos here to the production team, and the cast too for their near seamless performances in re-creating those from the original film.  Also starring Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alison Brie, Jackie Weaver, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith, Zoey Deutch with celebrity cameo's from the likes of Bryan Cranston, Zach Braff, J.J. Abrams, Danny McBride, Judd Apatow, Kevin Smith, Keegan-Michael Key, Lizzy Caplan, Kristen Bell amongst others, here Franco has united an ensemble cast the likes of which have not been seen in a single film for a very long time. We never do discover just how old Wiseau really is, or what his origins are, or indeed where he got his funds from to support his lifestyle and the production of the film, but this is part of the mystique surrounding the filmmaker and his project 'The Room' - a film so bad, it's good! This is a good film about the making of a bad film that is certainly worth the price of your movie ticket.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th February 2015.

As Summer marches on in Australia and the heat and the humidity ramp up, interspersed with the occasional clap of thunder and sudden brief rain storm, we find ourselves once again at pains to decide which new release movie to go and see in the coming week. And for the week ahead we have six new offerings to choose from nonetheless that offer something for everyone, unless that is you happen to be under the age of 15!

Arriving at a movie theatre near you this week then we have two more films in Oscar contention  - of which one is for Best Picture and the other Best Documentary Feature amongst others; then there is the book that sold 70 million copies finally 'coming' to a big screen near you; a very controversial comedy that almost started WWIII . . . literally!; an outback Aussie zombie gore fest that has to be the must-see of the week (just my humble opinion); an English comedy of holidays, relationships, birthdays and heartbreak; and to cap it off a doco about a whistle blower a few years back that exposes a issue close to all of our hearts!

With more detail shown below, be sure to catch something new in the week ahead, and when you do, don't be shy, make a Comment directly below this or any other Post and share with our ever expanding readership your thoughts on your chosen movie and your film going experience!

SELMA (Rated M) - in 1964 Dr. Martin Luther King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. At around about the same time four African American girls are killed by an explosion en route to their church, and in the town of Selma, Alabama a black woman Annie Lee Cooper (Oprah Winfrey, who also Produces here) attempts to register a vote to which she is by rights entitled, but is prevented from doing so by a white registrar. Subsequently MLK (here played by David Oyelowo) meets with President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) to have legislation passed to enable black citizens to vote without fear of refusal or reprisal - the President says he has more important things to do! King then travels to Selma with a number of other colleagues and followers, and in the meantime J. Edgar Hoover (Dylan Baker) advises the President that he thinks King is problematical. Cooper, whose voting rights were denied, has a scuffle with the town Sheriff in front of the local courthouse and as a result she, King and several others are arrested. The Alabama Governor George Wallace (Tim Roth) speaks out against King. King's new wife Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) seeks support from Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch) and as time progresses the atmosphere becomes more intense in Selma and the rallied black community and the local white law enforcers and political leaders jockey for position and the upper hand.

What follows is the recounting of the Selma to Montgomery march and the bloody battles that ensued along the way as local authorities and officers of the law let loose with tear gas, clubs, batons and many on horseback to break up the march and disperse the activists. The violence was extreme with many injured, and this all plays out on national television with Johnson then having to back peddle to get legislation hurried through Congress to give the black citizens unencumbered voting rights. King uses his best oratory skills to rally his supporters and garner new too, and as the march draws to a relatively peaceful conclusion in Montgomery his final address there is cut with real footage from the day. Directed by Ava DuVernay for a cost of US$20M this has a strong cast headed up by English Oyelowo, that is not an MLK bio-pic but a recounting of the Selma story that served to help change the course of history in which King played a fairly significant role. Nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Song at the upcoming Academy Awards it is one to watch, and another based on real events.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (Rated MA15+) - the book sold 70 million copies worldwide and spawned two further books in the series which, if this is successful, will spawn two further films in all likelihood. Directed by Sam Taylor Johnson this has Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey - the two main characters in this story of two individuals  - she a young literature student and he a hugely successful and wealthy international businessman - drawn together by sexual desire, but in her naivety she comes to realise that Grey wants/needs to control everything and do so on his terms, which in turn opens up a whole new world of possibilities! The budget to deliver this to the big screen came in at about US$40M and is likely to do plenty more than that in the final analysis given the book sales and the anticipation around its big screen adaptation.

THE INTERVIEW (Rated MA15+) - just about anybody and everybody in the movie going world knows of the trouble this film has caused on the international stage and the subsequent fall out from it. World leaders have become involved, Sony Entertainment was cyber-hacked exposing to the world all manner of things not intended for public consumption, the head of Sony Pictures stood down, the release date was put back as the film had to be re-cut, and all because the subject matter about an interview with, and an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was deemed by him and his cronies to be war mongering. Furthermore, it was threatened by a certain extremist group that if shown on general release those pesky North Koreans would consider this an act of war and take all necessary action against the heinous West without mercy! Really - WTF! Anyway the said satirical spoof concerns Seth Rogen and James Franco as two hapless but reasonably successful television journalists granted an interview with said world leader, and then tasked by the CIA to take out this leader once they have won his confidence. Unlikely to go down in history as the greatest comedy of all time, but, it will go down in history as the movie that almost caused North Korea to fire on North America and in doing so caused much angst, table thumping and gnashing of teeth in the process. As a result of the Hoo-Haa it was released on digital rental on Christmas Eve 2014 and very limited cinema release thereafter where it garnered US$40M and US$9M respectively making is Sony's most successful digital release to date.

WYRMWOOD : ROAD OF THE DEAD (Rated MA15+) - what's not to like about an Aussie outback zombie gore fest that might be best described as 'Mad Max' meets 'The Walking Dead' - bring it on I say! Written by brothers Kiah and Tristan Roache-Turner and Directed by the former this tells the story of family man and mechanic Barry (Jay Gallagher) whose very existence is pulled assunder on the eve of a zombie apocalypse. Forewarned by his sister Brooke (Bianca Bradey) that the zombies are attacking which seems to be the result of a meteor storm hitting Earth and a disease ensuing that turns the population into the flesh eating, gut munching walking dead. Needless to say only a few survive to fight of the marauding masses of the un-dead, but Brooke is kidnapped by a mad scientist hellbent on experimenting on her and various other survivors, and so Barry needs to team up, tool up and man up to rescue Brooke, overthrow the mad evil scientist and save his own skin before he too becomes zombie fodder! Brilliant!

WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY (Rated PG) - for a slightly more low key offering there is this Brit Pic comedy starring David Tennant, Rosamund Pike (as husband and wife team Doug and Abi respectively) who are on the verge of divorce but have not yet braved up and told Doug's dad of the pending separation. Travelling then up to Scotland to celebrate Dad's birthday - Gordy McLeod (Billy Connolly) it seems that you can't keep a secret a secret for very long especially where three young whipper-snapper grandchildren are concerned. Touted as a solid enough romp with strong performances from the three lead adult actors and pretty good turns from the three grand kids too (Emilia Jones, Amelia Bullmore and Bobby Smalldridge) together with the backdrop of the Scottish highlands this is sure to please lovers of Connolly and a good British comedy yarn that can hold its own.

CITIZENFOUR (Rated M) - this documentary film is up for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary Feature category and is Directed by Laura Poitras who back in January 2013 started receiving anonymous encrypted e-mails from a source known as 'Citizenfour' concerning illegal covert surveillance operations run by the NSA in conjunction with various other government agencies around the world. Fast track to mid-2013 she, and colleague reporters Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill jet off to Hong Kong to attend the first of many meetings with Edward Snowdon. Taking her camera along to capture the intimate details of those meetings, this film tells the blow by blow account of the information that spilled forth, and the perpetrators of that information and those embroiled in it. It could be compelling viewing giving you an insiders view of Snowdon - his rationale, his state of mind and what he hoped to gain in going public by outing those that would threaten our security, our privacy and our right of freedom.

A real mixed bag then of cinema content this week ahead that is sure to please on some level, somewhere and with someone. Where you're done, remember to reserve your Comments and your feedback of your filmic experience with your rapidly growing favourite movie Blog, and share away!

Movies - catch one this week, at least!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 8th May 2014.

This week we have a veritable optical and aural feast for the senses as seven no less, new releases hit your local movie theatres to entice you out on a cool Winter evening and in front of a big screen. There is comedy, there is documentary, there is period piece, there is some drama and there is alternative - something it seems really for everyone . . . except the kids maybe, but fear not the Superheroes and teen flicks are still doing the rounds to keep them tempted!

So now that Winter is knocking on the door of a fading Autumn, get yourself out from in front of the small screen, and perch yourself instead in front of the big screen and enjoy the experience.

BAD NEIGHBOURS - so far in this franchise we have had 'Bad Lieutenant', 'Bad Boys', 'Bad Santa', 'Bad Teacher', 'Bad Grandpa' and now we have 'Bad Neighbours'! There's a lotta bad shit going down it must be said! That said, there is no franchise, and all of these movies have just one thing in common - 'Bad'! This stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron as the duelling neighbours - the former married happily with very young child in tow, and the latter the frat boy with a six-pack who moves in next door intent on upsetting the suburban peace with wild parties, gorgeous girls, drugs, alcohol, loud music, pimped up cars and all manner of mayhem to be everything but neighbourly! The support comes in the shape of Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and so it goes - this is the foundation of the film that moves along with various set pieces, jolly japes, gags & guffaw's and hilarity aplenty that is sure to go down a treat with your average 17 year old! On this basis it will probably go well - watch out for 'Bad Neighbours Too' in a couple of years!

CHEF - written by, directed and starring Jon Favreau who brought you so convincingly the 'Iron Man 1 & 2' instalments from the hugely successful franchise, and starring his stable mate Robert Downey Jr., with Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo with Scarlett Johansson and Sophia Vergara all adding seasoning and spice to this story. Favreau is fallen celebrity Chef (Carl Casper) who at the hands of restauranteur Dustin Hoffman finds himself jobless and worthless following a poor review from referred critic Oliver Platt. And so at the behest of ex-wife Sophia Vegara he is able to source a sad broken down past its use by date food truck via a good mate (RDJ) to save his career, give him some purpose, reestablish his reputation and rekindle the relationship with his 10 years old son who he takes on a culinary road trip in said food truck which is now fitted out, upgraded, refurbished to prepare, serve and sell Cuban street food. Sounds like a recipe for success - a voyage of discovery kneaded with emotion, drama, comedy and a generous sprinkling of fun. Yum!

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED - this has a limited release only and this doco-style offering will not be for everyone, unless like me you are a movie tragic! This is a movie about the movies and is an inside look at what it takes to get a film financed, produced, distributed and up on the big screen. No easy feat, despite the hundreds of movies released every year. This is an insightful film that has Director James Toback teaming up with Alec Baldwin as they talk to film financiers, Actors, Directors and attend festivals to bring you a no holds barred insiders view of an industry that ain't getting any easier and is getting more and more costly. All the while the two crusaders are pitching a faux movie to the studio execs, so that you can see on screen the pain that must be endured before the green light is switched on!

HEALING - written and directed by Craig Monahan this is the story of a prison inmate undergoing a rehab programme on a 'working farm' as he comes to the end of a long term sentence. In doing so he (Viktor played by Don Hany) comes across an injured eagle which he nurses back to health, and flight mode. Case worker Matt (Hugo Weaving) persuades the powers that be to allow the rehabilitating prisoners to rehabilitate injured game birds, and hence everyone is 'Healed'! This leaves me wondering just how many game birds can find themselves injured and in need of life support within the immediate vicinity of your average prison? Maybe more that we know! In between time there is prison tension, inmate drama, emotion and a good dose of healing hearts, minds and hands aplenty it seems. Or not!

THE DOUBLE - this looks a little art house, perhaps alternative, dark, moody and probably captivating. Directed by Richard Ayoade who hit the scene with sleeper hit 'Submarine' in 2010, this tells the story of introverted, shy & retiring white collar lad Simon James (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who harbours a secret crush on copy room girl Mia Wasikowska. Life goes on innocently until a new guy arrives in the office called James Simon (also played by Jesse Eisenberg) and who just happens to be the spitting image of Simon James - expect this guy is outgoing, confident, gregarious and successful and everything that his 'double' is not! Is this imagined, is it real, is Simon James going crazy, is James Simon out to steal his identity and his life? Confused, seeing double, finding it hard to distinguish one from t'other? You should be! You'll just have to check it out for yourself!

BELLE - set in 18th Century England this sees the true telling of an illegitimate mixed race daughter Dido Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of a well-to-do Royal Navy Admiral being raised by her gentrified aristocratic great uncle played by Tom Wilkinson, and in growing up in such well connected surroundings actively joins the cause to abolish English slavery with the aid and support of a young romantic love interest Vicar's son. Starring the likes of Matthew Goode, Emily Watson and Miranda Richardson also.

A CASTLE IN ITALY - a French/Italian offering to round off the weeks new releases, with subtitles, this family drama unfolds as a wealthy aristocratic clan implode as a result of terminal illness, desperation for motherhood, and the impending loss of the wealth and riches the family has depended on for so long. Complex characters showing varying signs of neurosis, anxiety, love, loss, faith, hope and fear all mashed up with comedic moments that might leave you laughing, crying or bewildered . . . or all three! Directed, written, and starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Plenty to choose from this week with seven new filmic offerings to get you out to your local multiplex or local independent. When you've sat, watched and listened and chewed on your popcorn let me know your thoughts! Enjoy the movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-