«All the Money in the World»: The Art of Piling Up Clichés

Cinema Wednesdays - Nicolas Jutzet

In and of itself, the story—based on real events—has everything it takes to captivate and enthrall the audience. It depicts the life of a successful man, intoxicated by and consumed by the pursuit of profit, who must choose between his material wealth and his human legacy. A choice of conscience—for a man who seems to have paid it too little heed. The dilemma is ambitious, compelling, and philosophically intriguing. We are immersed in the world—and at times the very heart—of a powerful, greedy, and terribly rational man, to the point of seeming unbearably cynical. Yet he never quite manages to come across as credible in his stance.

Paul Getty, the patriarch

Fortunately, the real Paul Getty was more convincing than his contemporary portrayer. As a side note, the actor originally cast in the role, Kevin Spacey, was replaced at the last minute—following a sex scandal—by the venerable Christopher Plummer.

The self-made man—who cannot count on the next generation to carry on his legacy—is thus portrayed at a pivotal moment in his eventful life. As he nears the end of his life and takes stock, he must finally realize that beyond his own balance sheet, there are other balance sheets as well. Yet, upon learning of the kidnapping and ransom demand for his favorite grandson, John Paul Getty III refuses to give in. Paying would set a precedent. His many other grandchildren would be next in line…

It holds up; it doesn’t fall apart. Despite the poise and courage of the young man’s mother, played by Michelle Williams, who slips into the role beautifully. As for the rest, the gang of Calabrian mobsters behind the kidnapping is an over-the-top cliché. Black leather, husky voices, and testosterone. Quite the lineup.

Experience is about intensity, not duration

By the end of the synopsis, we’re left wondering whether the portrayal of Paul Getty is exaggerated or if the character was truly the detestable, calculating old man we’re presented with. We’ll never be able to shake that doubt. Nevertheless, we also find ourselves drawn to this oil tycoon. A man who refuses to pay to free his favorite grandson, without batting an eye, is undoubtedly someone who deserves a few seconds of attention. This intransigence alone likely explains a large part of his success!

The runtime—two hours and fifteen minutes—drags on and stretches out a story that quickly loses its luster and suspense. The screenwriter focuses on numerous details that aren’t necessarily relevant or essential to the quality and understanding of the narrative. In doing so, he reinforces the many stereotypes we already have about a segment of the population that we ultimately don’t know well enough to view critically. Finally, the excessive effort to emphasize the characters’ personalities ultimately undermines the quality and coherence of the work.

«Anyone can become rich. Staying rich, however, is much harder.»

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Photo credit: © Fabio Lovino for Impuls Pictures