All the Money in the World is based on the true story of the kidnapping of (John) Paul Getty, grandson of the famous billionaire. His mother, Gail has split from her Getty husband and has no money of her own to pay the ransom. She attempts to convince Senior Getty and he refuses.

 

Paul is kept as a hostage in a dirty shed in a remote location in Italy. He attempts to cooperate and his captors are sympathetic to his situation. However, the weeks start to go by and Gail becomes desperate. Senior Getty recruits Fletcher Chase, a Getty Oil negotiator, and former CIA operative, to investigate further and secure Paul’s release.

 

Negotiations have stalled, so Paul’s captors raise the stakes. Gail and Getty’s advisors try to outsmart the kidnappers, but Paul is then transferred to a second party with sinister intentions.

 

The film is based on the book “Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty” by John Pearson.

I accidentally found out the ending of this piece of Getty family history, so for me the thriller aspect didn’t get tense enough. I didn’t warm to any of the characters. In the end, the film raises the discussion about what are the best strategies when negotiating?… and how much is a person worth?

 

All the Money in the World is a solid recounting of the pivotal kidnapping story affecting the Getty family and their legacy.

 

All the Money in the World is currently showing in Australian cinemas with a release date of Thursday 4th January 2018.

Starring: Michelle Willians (“My Week With Marilyn”, “Blue Valentine” and “Manchester By The Sea”), Christopher Plummer (“The Sound Of Music”, “Up” and “A Beautiful Mind”) and Mark Wahlberg (“Ted”, “Patriot’s Day” and “The Italian Job”).

Genre: crime thriller

Directed by Ridley Scott
Written by David Scarpa