When cash becomes villain

SUSPENSE: GETTY KIDNAPPING EXPLORES DARKER SIDE OF LIVES OF SUPERRICH

Makes you think about your own toxic relationship with bank cards.

All the Money in the World

Cast: Michelle Williams, Mark Whalber and Christopher Plummer Director: Ridley Scott Classification: 16LV

Money is a decider. The pitfall of that is that those with too much sometimes lose their humanity. Maybe that’s the reason there’s always friction between the haves and the have-nots, and it’s this tension that makes All the Money

in the World such a great thriller. Based on the true story of J Paul Getty, who negotiated the ransom of his grandson after a traumatic kidnapping, the film is an affirmation on how power is an absolute corrupter.

Starting with how Getty accumulated his wealth, the film quickly turns dark when his son’s story is introduced. From his marriage to Abigail Harris and his downward spiral into alcoholism and addiction, the Getty family’s lives were filled with turmoil.

Abigail (Michelle Williams) eventually escapes the dark shadow of Getty and his son after a divorce that leaves her without money, except for the allowance their children receive.

But the allure of the Getty fortune stays with the young mother, leading to the kidnapping of her teenage son, John Paul (Charlie Plummer).

The film turns into a desperate attempt by his mother Gail to convince his billionaire grandfather to meet the demands of his kidnappers.

John Paul’s story is especially harrowing and the kidnapping left him traumatised for most of his life. A key point that eventually led to some of the ransom being paid was his kidnappers cutting off his ear and posting it to an Italian newspaper.

The race to find money to save her son, her former father-in-law’s unwillingness to cooperate and the emotional roller-coaster of finding her son makes All the Money in the

World a great white-knuckler. Christopher Plummer as the patriarch is especially striking, making the film a worthy contender to watch this weekend.

Kevin Spacey was originally cast in the role and Plummer reshot Spacey’s scenes in a few months before the film’s release.

While the race to find John Paul is exciting, the film is best when Plummer commands the screen, bringing to life a fascinating and jarring person.

Charlie Plummer as the young victim, who becomes an accessory, is equally fascinating to watch as the story unfolds. Although the film never reaches greatness, it does deliver solid performances and a gripping story. You don’t leave All the Money in

the World without thinking about your own relationship with bank cards and how toxic it can sometimes be.