Creators of future film about Steemit/Hive takeover saga have their work cut out. Presenting concepts like financial manipulation and hostile takeover in comprehensive audience-friendly way is very difficult and this is the reason why Hollywood film makers were quite wary of the task. And when they actually tackle it, results can be disappointing, even in case of directors who had built their reputation on dealing with important social issues. One of those was Norman Jewison whose 1991 drama Other People’s Money left too much to be desired.
The main character, played by Danny DeVito, is Lawrence Garfield a.k.a. “Larry the Liquidator”, New York investor who became rich and successful by buying stocks in undervalued or struggling companies in order to take them over and sell their assets for a profit. His next target is New England Wire and Cable, old business run by Andrew “Jorgy” Jorgensen (played by Gregory Peck), patriarchal traditionalist owner who wants to preserve company as pillar of community and provider of jobs in small Rhode Island town. When Jorgy refuses Larry’s initial overtures to buy the company, Larry begins to work behind the scenes and slowly buys stocks, rising their price and leading small stockholders to sell their stocks for a profit. Jorgy, in his efforts to preserve the company, receives help from his family that include Kate Sullivan (played by Penelope Ann Miller), New York corporate lawyer. She proves to be as ruthless and crafty in her work as Larry, but her most effective weapon against Larry is beauty and charm that makes Larry romantically attracted to her.
Basis for Alvin Sargent’s script was stage play by Jerry Sterner, author who had based most of his work on his successful career in real estate. Other People’s Money in many ways reflect Hollywood disdain of Wall Street and its “masters of the universe” – investors and bankers who exploited deregulation and globalisation to become filthy rich while contributing to economic and social decay of American cities and industrial heartland. While Oliver Stone’s Wall Street dealt with those issue in form of serious drama, Sargent and Jewison opt for more light-hearted, almost comedic approach. In order to do so, they gave Larry’s role to Danny DeVito, immensely talented comedian whose formidable skills are work in this film. He manages not only to make his vulgar, ruthless and unapologetically greedy character alive, but also makes it likeable and even allows audience to accept his arguments. This is best seen in the stockholders’ meeting scene near the end when the impassioned speech by Jorgy, effectivelly played by patrician Gregory Peck in his last feature film role, preaching traditional American values and other noble ideals is followed by much worse, less eloquent speech by Larry that is nevertheless proves to be more successful simply through appealing to the more basic instincts of his audience. Film is, however, less successful when it comes to developing character of Kate as his adversary. Penelope Ann Miller is beautiful actress, but she fails to develop credible chemistry with sometimes overenthusiastic DeVito and their relationship doesn’t work on screen. Other People’s Money in the end left most critics disappointed and audience indifferent. The main reason for disappointment is probably the terrible deus ex machina ending which seems artificially attached to the otherwise bleak story in order for make audience happy. Audience today, which knows how such stories usually end up in real life, would have even more reason to view this film as nothing more than another Hollywood fairytale.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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