MONEY FOR NOTHING
US, 1993, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Cusack, Debi Mazar, Michael Madsen, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Rapaport, Maury Chaykin, Fionnula Flanagan.
Directed by Ramon Menendez.
Money for Nothing is about an unemployed longshoreman in Philadelphia who finds a million dollars from an armoured car. There is the question whether he gives back the money or not - especially urged by his family. However, he decides to keep it, splash it around, offer some of it to his girlfriend so that they can leave America. Michael Madsen is the detective who investigates the case. John Cusack is the longshoreman. However, circumstances catch up with him. He tries to leave the country with his girlfriend but is arrested at the airport. He is interviewed, being asked whether he would do it again, and he says he would. However, the real-life longshoreman on whom the film is based, committed suicide not long before the film was released.
The film is an angle on the American Dream, faced with the reality of hardship and unemployment.
1.The impact of this drama about the ordinary American? Money for nothing? The shattering of the dream? The title and its irony? Free money? Money which led to nothing?
2.The Philadelphia locations, the wharves, the roads, homes, offices? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3.The moral issue, the finding of the money, the family and its sense of honesty? Joey and his decision to keep the money, splashing it around, trying to get it laundered, giving it to his girlfriend? The possibilities? The reaction of friends, of family? His being informed on to the police? The pursuit by the armoured car owners? The police and justice? The final interview and the moral issues, dilemmas, solutions?
4.John Cusack as Joey Coyle? 26 years of age, unemployed, unable to get a job from his brother, living at home? Memory of his father? Relationship with his mother? The clashes in the family - especially the earlier talks on honesty and the later discovery that he had the money? Finding the money, the decision to keep it? Splashing it around in the hotels? The proposition to Monica? His going to the money launderers? His friends? The dilemmas about the money, the family discover, his reaction? Giving the money to Debi, her decision, changing his hair, personality, passport, the attempt to leave the United States? The money launderers and their giving him coins? The watching of the television, knowing the request to give the money back, his inability to do this? His future, the loss of the money, money for nothing? The irony of Joey Coyle's real-life suicide?
5.The portrait of the family, the brother and his integrity, the mother and her sense of honour? His sister-in-law, the young girl? Money as the fulfilment of their dreams, their option not to take it?
6.Debi, her relationship with Joey, her progress in the bank, not listening about the money? His bringing it to her office, putting it in the drawer, her decision? Swift action, the dangers at the airport, having to hide the money, overweight luggage? The police and her final decision to thrown the money to the people?
7.Joey's friend, his situation, his being beaten, his decision to speak to the police?
8.The money launderers, shady dealings, tricking Joey?
9.The detective, his work, following leads, his method, media information, discussions with the armoured guard driver? The money, final tip-off? The confrontation at the airport?
10.The background of the wharves, the longshoremen, employment and unemployment, opportunities and lack of opportunity? An American slice of life of the '90s?
