MONEY

US, 2016, 86 minutes, Colour.
Kellan Lutz, Jesse Williams, Jess Weixler, Jamie Bamber, Frederick Lehne, Lucia Guerrero.
Directed by Martin Rosete.

Money was written by Josep Ciutat, his sole screenplay which won a number of awards and nominations. It is quite theatrical, relying on words, character interactions in limited sets. It could be adapted for the theatre.

The film is a moral fable about money, greed, deception. But, with its twists, it is an amoral fable, considering the moral character and flaws of the protagonists.

Two men in their 30s work for a company but have siphoned off a considerable amount of money which they conceal. The central character, Mark, does not tell his wife – ultimately admitting that they are living beyond their means and about to go bankrupt. His friend, Sean, is far more cavalier and unscrupulous in his behaviour. He has brought along a girlfriend who, ultimately, is prepared to deceive him about the money.

A stranger, claiming to be a neighbour, is invited in to share a meal. He is British. He reveals that he knows all about the characters, knows all about the money and the stealing, demands the money from them. After denials, interactions, the men get the upper hand of their visitor and threaten him. However, he has done a deal with the girlfriend, and the wife of the house spends some time attending him in his wounds, discussing literature – with the audience not knowing until the end how she has manipulated the situation.

By the end, one character is dead, another with less money than she thought, the main character bankrupt, his wife getting away with the money – robbing the man who had come to threaten.

A film of moral tangles.

1. The title, big money, the two men and their stealing the money, reporting it, deceiving the women? The British visitor, threats? Twists and turns with each character? Motivations, greed?

2. The setting, the mansion, interiors, outside, the meal? The musical score?

3. The screenplay, very much like a play, theatre, dialogue, theatrical interactions?

4. The situation with Mark and Sean? Their friendship, work together? The initial meeting, Sean being cavalier, Mark more cautious? Sean open about the money? Mark concealing it in the safe in the bedroom?

5. The women, Mark and his wife, Sylvia, the comfortable lifestyle, her confidence in Mark? The interactions between them? Sean, bringing Lucia? The relationship, the issue of money?

6. John coming to the door, the neighbour, the plausible explanation, courtesy, charming Sylvia, her letting him in?

7. The discussions, the issue of money, John’s mysterious background, his knowing about their lives and the money in great detail, the revelation of his demands, the men and their lies, the women discovering the truth? The pressures, John and his British style and charm, becoming more menacing?

8. The violence, guns, the effect on Sean, his denials, getting the money? The violence and his death in the pool?

9. Mark, denials, eventually revealing the money? Sylvia and her surprise?

10. The turning of the tables on John, the men getting the gun, the threats? The violence?

11. Lucia, talking with John, betraying Sean, the money? The tables turned on her?

12. Sylvia, looking after John, the conversation, the sharing of literature? The bag with the money?

13. Mark and his fate, Sylvia leaving to go to her parents? John and his getting away with the money? Lucia and her taking some of the money? Sean dead?

14. John, opening the bag, discovering the book, his being deceived?

15. Sylvia, manipulating the bags, getting away with the money?

16. A sardonic moral fable?