Review 428: All the Money in the World

All the Money in the World is an gripping, suspenseful, at times unsettling, tense crime thriller and a brilliantly crafted character study all anchored and brought together by stellar work from Director Ridley Scott and actor Christopher Plummer.

Based on the book Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty by John Pearson, In 1973, John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), grandson of billionaire oil tycoon, J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), is kidnapped by Mafia group, 'Ndrangheta whom then demand a ransom of $17 million. Getty's daughter Gail Harris (Michelle Williams) desperately attempts to pay the ransom. When Getty refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son's captures become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her sons life in balance, Gail and Det. Fletcher Chace (Mark Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in a race against time that ultimately reveal the true and lasting value of love over money.

The film reportedly went through a troubled production with director Scott originally shooting the film with Kevin Spacey cast in the role of J. Paul Getty but once the allegations against Spacey came out, Scott made, what was clearly, a bold decision to reshoot all of Spacey's scenes with a recast Christopher Plummer (who was reportedly Scott's original choice before the studio convinced him to cast Spacey) and incorporate them into the film and I must say for a film to go through some major last minute changes, the joins don't show in the slightest and it miraculously doesn't become a distraction. The seamlessness of which this film has been reassembled is a testament to Ridley Scott's talents, dedication and hard work as a filmmaker.

The central theme that underpins the film is can you put monetary value on a single life and if you refuse to despite having billions at your disposal as Getty did what does that say about you and what does it say about money and the influence that money has over how a person lives their lives.

Ridley Scott's direction is taut and suspenseful, the cinematography is beautiful and captures the beauty of 1973 Rome, Italy, the production design (recreating Rome in 1973) is splendid and filled with detail, the score by Daniel Pemberton is the costumes are excellent, the make up is rich 

The acting is terrific, Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg and Christopher Plummer deliver outstanding performances in this film.

Williams earnestly and effectively conveys Gail Harris's desperation to get her son back

Charlie Plummer is also deeply effective as John Paul Getty III, effortlessly

It's Getty's journey - or lack thereof - that underpins the entire film,