Film: "All the Money in the World"
Ridley Scott’s kidnap thriller starring Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg and Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty.
All the Money in the World tells the real-life 1973 kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather (Christopher Plummer) to pay the ransom. When Getty Sr. refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son’s captors become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her son’s life in the balance, Gail and Getty’s advisor (Mark Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in the race against time that ultimately reveals the true and lasting value of love over money.
But Ridley Scott’s gripping biopic thriller is destined to be remembered best for the drama behind its production, as Kevin Spacey (who originally played Getty) was replaced with Plummer less than two months before the film’s release after a slew of sexual-assault allegations. That Scott somehow managed to reshoot every scene involving Getty in only nine days is nothing short of miraculous. And Getty is not merely a supporting character—he is in nearly every scene. Plummer is so good in this role that it’s almost impossible to imagine that a whole alternate movie exists with another performance (one audiences will never see).
And, of course, the film is back in the spotlight with new revelations about how little Michelle Williams was compensated for the reshoot, compared to costar Mark Wahlberg. Read more in the New York Times.
D: Ridley, Scott, 2017, US, Runtime: 2h15m
