This film is crazy good.
The story is completely bizarre. J. Paul Getty (a very good Christopher Plummer) is the richest man whose ever lived, investing heavily in oil but he is frugal and looks for every loophole possible when doing his taxes, and he had a pay telephone installed in his London mansion so his guests could make calls.
Even when his young grandson, Paul (Charlie Plummer, no relation) is kidnapped, he won't pay the ransom, refusing to give in. His mother, Gail (a brilliant Michelle Williams) doesn't have the money and no one believes her.
She is smart and shrewd but is no match for her former father-in-law. And there are many theories as to who kidnapped the pyrotechnic teenager, who was kicked out of his school for setting it on fire, including one that he staged the whole thing. Which is not the case, as who would arrange to have his ear chopped off?
In the end, all it took when Getty's hunchman, Fletcher Chace (Mark Wahlberg) calling him out for what he is for Getty to pay the ransom so at least the film has a relatively happy ending, proving that money doesn't truly buy happiness.
I cannot believe that this film had numerous scenes redone filmed in just a matter of days. And Plummer did brilliantly as though the role was made for him. Williams and Wahlberg are solid in their roles also and the film has a lovely old-fashioned feel to it which is just awesome and rare. The film, despite being rushed, pays attention to all the little details such as all of Getty's rare artwork which he will spend more on that his family, and he dies surrounded by his artwork, not his family. Grade: A-
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