‘There’s a purity to beautiful things that I’ve never been able to find in another human being...’
It’s funny how cinema often exposes how little we know about the world around us. I’ve never heard of John Paul Getty even though he is one of the richest people to have ever lived. By extension, I have also been in the dark about Getty’s grandson (also called John Paul Getty) being kidnapped and Getty senior’s subsequent dilly-dallying in paying the $17 million ransom. It’s a fascinating tale brought into sharp focus by Ridley Scott’s 2017 biopic All the Money in the World…
The aforementioned kidnapping sees Christopher Plummer as the unscrupulous Getty, Charlie Plummer (no relation) as his hapless grandson and Michelle Williams as the boy’s increasingly desperate mother. Mark Wahlberg also appears as Getty’s right-hand man Fletcher Chace.
Given Scott’s lack of interest in historical accuracy, I don’t know how much of the real-life kidnapping is translated to screen here but what isn’t in doubt is that Getty stalled on paying the ransom despite his vast wealth with predictably disastrous consequences. Getty is presented as a purely villainous entity here with no redeeming qualities – probably a fair representation considering his vast wealth. You simply don’t become that rich without being an utter bastard. Plummer manages to avoid moustache twirling for the most part, however, and while his iteration of Getty is loathsome, it also appears to be based in reality (he deservedly received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for the performance). Elsewhere, Williams is perfect as ever in a role she could play standing on her head and Wahlberg is surprisingly excellent in a more restrained role than he usually delivers. A real standout among a talented cast.
Scott offers an assured hand behind the camera, but the story itself is fairly thin and repetitive and it certainly doesn’t merit a 2-hour and 12-minute run time. This is probably the reason that this film came and went with little fanfare in 2017 despite the star power behind it.
Despite being best known as the film that had to be completely reshot due to the allegations against original star Kevin Spacey, All the Money in the World is a perfectly serviceable movie that is elevated by an excellent cast and an experienced director. However, I’ll probably never think about it again after writing this review. Not one of Scott’s best movies.