Directed by: Norman Jewison
Starring: Danny DeVito, Penelope Ann Miller, Gregory Peck, Piper Laurie, Dean Jones
I referenced Other People's Money in my review of Wall Street because both are about greedy corporate raiders who take over companies only to liquidate them. Wall Street is a drama with an insider point-of-view. Other People's Money is a lighter romantic comedy which plays to the considerable strengths of its star Danny DeVito. His Lawrence Garfield is a shrewd, no-nonsense tycoon, but can't help but lust after (or even fall for) his adversary, a sexy corporate lawyer named Kate Sullivan (Miller).
Kate's job is to block Garfield from acquiring New England Wire & Cable, owned by her stepfather Andrew "Jorgy" Jorgensen (Peck). Jorgy is a well-loved community figure in his native Rhode Island. He believes in principles and being debt-free, which makes his company a target for Garfield's takeover. If Jorgy has any weakness, it is his stubborn refusal to recognize that his company is a dinosaur in an ever-changing technological market. He believes his company will be around forever. His Chief Operating Officer Bill Coles (Jones) disagrees and makes a crucial decision later favoring security over loyalty. It is difficult to blame him.
DeVito is a commanding presence. He oozes confidence and vulnerability sometimes in the same frame. Sure, he's a greedy SOB, but we like him anyway. He confesses in the movie's opening monologue, "I love money more than I love the things it can buy." The market is a game. Like poker chips, money is the only way to keep score. Even Kate, who has been around the block, is surprised by Garfield's quest for cash. She may even like it when he uses come-on lines like, "Let's talk about what I want to talk about. You and me sweating between satin sheets." He is honest, sometimes brutally so, but at least we know where we stand with him.
I enjoyed the little touches that show Garfield in a light you wouldn't expect. He loves donuts, shares meals with his loyal manservant, and even has boundaries in his financial dealings. ("I don't take money from the poor or from women,") I also liked how Garfield, despite his love for Kate, stays the course in his attempts to win the company in a shareholder vote. I was halfway expecting Garfield to give up on the sale and declare his eternal love for Kate. I was happy to be wrong.
We also like Peck, who plays noble and prideful better than almost anyone. When the shareholder meeting finally comes, Jorgy expounds on the importance of family and community over money. It is a compelling argument. Garfield then takes the mike and defends making money. ("That's the reason you all became shareholders in the first place. You wanted to make money. You didn't care if we made wire and cable, fried chicken, or grew tangerines." ) His argument may be a more compelling and practical one.
Other People's Money is fun. Unlike many movies about the financial market in which we are pelted with jargon and need a degree in finance to decipher, this movie makes it simple to understand. It doesn't need to wow us with its financial knowledge. It is more concerned with its people and Garfield's realization is that Kate is one commodity he finds he may not be able to buy. It has a heart and we like the characters, even Garfield. If a different actor played him, maybe not so much.
Kate's job is to block Garfield from acquiring New England Wire & Cable, owned by her stepfather Andrew "Jorgy" Jorgensen (Peck). Jorgy is a well-loved community figure in his native Rhode Island. He believes in principles and being debt-free, which makes his company a target for Garfield's takeover. If Jorgy has any weakness, it is his stubborn refusal to recognize that his company is a dinosaur in an ever-changing technological market. He believes his company will be around forever. His Chief Operating Officer Bill Coles (Jones) disagrees and makes a crucial decision later favoring security over loyalty. It is difficult to blame him.
DeVito is a commanding presence. He oozes confidence and vulnerability sometimes in the same frame. Sure, he's a greedy SOB, but we like him anyway. He confesses in the movie's opening monologue, "I love money more than I love the things it can buy." The market is a game. Like poker chips, money is the only way to keep score. Even Kate, who has been around the block, is surprised by Garfield's quest for cash. She may even like it when he uses come-on lines like, "Let's talk about what I want to talk about. You and me sweating between satin sheets." He is honest, sometimes brutally so, but at least we know where we stand with him.
I enjoyed the little touches that show Garfield in a light you wouldn't expect. He loves donuts, shares meals with his loyal manservant, and even has boundaries in his financial dealings. ("I don't take money from the poor or from women,") I also liked how Garfield, despite his love for Kate, stays the course in his attempts to win the company in a shareholder vote. I was halfway expecting Garfield to give up on the sale and declare his eternal love for Kate. I was happy to be wrong.
We also like Peck, who plays noble and prideful better than almost anyone. When the shareholder meeting finally comes, Jorgy expounds on the importance of family and community over money. It is a compelling argument. Garfield then takes the mike and defends making money. ("That's the reason you all became shareholders in the first place. You wanted to make money. You didn't care if we made wire and cable, fried chicken, or grew tangerines." ) His argument may be a more compelling and practical one.
Other People's Money is fun. Unlike many movies about the financial market in which we are pelted with jargon and need a degree in finance to decipher, this movie makes it simple to understand. It doesn't need to wow us with its financial knowledge. It is more concerned with its people and Garfield's realization is that Kate is one commodity he finds he may not be able to buy. It has a heart and we like the characters, even Garfield. If a different actor played him, maybe not so much.
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