All the Money in the World follows the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), the grandson of billionaire oil tycoon, J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer) and his mother’s (Michelle Williams) desperate attempt to rescue him after his grandfather refuses to pay the ransom.
The movie is a suspenseful crime thriller with strong performances but unfortunately, it is not a perfect film. All the Money in the World wants to be a thriller but it also wants to be a morality piece, showing that people are more important than money. This tension shows on screen. I also felt that Mark Wahlberg was severely miscast. He is a talented actor but not the right fit for this film. Additionally, All the Money in the World feels very long-winded specifically in scenes not featuring Christopher Plummer.
In case you have been living under a rock for the last couple of months, you probably know this film best for the speedy recasting of Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer. Director, Ridley Scott, decided to reshoot all of Spacey’s scenes over 10 days and the results are absolutely seamless. Christopher Plummer’s Getty is brilliant and endearing to an otherwise Scrooge-like individual. There is no question, that this is a role Plummer dominated, especially given the circumstances of his casting. Leaving the theatre, I could not help but think Ridley’s decision to recast the part of Getty Sr. was the best decision he made to bring this story to life.
Plummer isn’t the only actor who shines in All in the Money. Michelle Williams gives an outstanding and gripping performance as Abigail Getty. Abigail was not just a mother dealing with the conflict of having their child kidnapped, she was also a fierce woman who refused to back down against her billionaire ex-father in law, Getty Sr. Williams gives Gail undeniable strength and ferocity.
Final Thoughts: All the Money in the World is not perfect but succeeds as an entertaining suspense thriller. However, the true reason to see the film is to see how Christopher Plummer saved it.
And do not fret – the phrase “all the money in the world” is used twice in the movie.
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