A trailer has arrived for Jodie Foster’s much anticipated "Money Monster." The star-studded drama focuses on a TV personality, financial guru Lee Gates (George Clooney), who is taken hostage by a viewer (Jack O’ Connell, "Unbroken"). Meanwhile, the show’s producer (Julia Roberts) tries to defuse the crisis — which involves a bomb-rigged vest that Lee is forced to wear at gun point. And, per the gunman’s request, all of this is televised live.
The attack is not random. The perpetrator, Kyle, is an investor who followed Lee’s advice on a stock and lost all he had. The stock market is notoriously fickle, but Kyle has reason to suspect that something immoral and illegal played out with his stock’s mysterious crash.
"I might be the one with the gun here, but I’m not the real criminal," insists Kyle.
As the tense spot unravels and a live investigation is launched, there’s reason to believe that there is merit to Kyle’s claim, and the system is in fact rigged. "You came here to get some answers," says Lee, conceding, "You deserve to get some answers."
Adam McKay’s "The Big Short," another big-budget, movie star-filled Wall Street takedown, is doing well at the box office and with critics, suggesting that there’s a demand, even a need, for these kinds of stories. That this one is directed by a woman and has an actual female character is a huge win in our (check)book.
"Money Monster" opens May 13.
