Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I am an admirer of long standing of some of the films of my fellow University of Toronto (Victoria College to be specific) alumnus producer/director Norman Jewison (whose comic highpoint was achieved in 1966 with "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" and who has made three important films on race: "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "A Soldier's Story" (1984), and "The Hurricane" (1999).) And I miss Gregory Peck, who died in 1993 and only made some cameos in two theatrical-release movies after his fairly large part as Andrew Jorgenson in "Other People's Money" that Jewison directed in 1991.

The immediate stimulus to watching "Other People's Money" is the interest in work of cinematographer Haskel Wexler growing out of watching Mark Wexler's documentary about his father"Tell Them Who You Are." There is some topical continuity (a focus on greed) with John Sayles's "Silver City" (2004) also shot by Wexler that I just watched, though political corruption (which is a leitmotif of Sayles's work) is not on view in "Other People's Money."

"Other People's Money" pits a corporate raider, Larry "the Liquidator" Garfield played by the very short Danny DeVito against Andrew Jorgenson (Gregory Peck, still lanky in his old age, looking down from a great height on DeVito--and DeVito's character's soullessness) who is committed to keeping a copper-wire manufacturing plant in Rhode Island running. The other parts of the corporation he has inherited and run for decades are making a profit, but the "flagship" operation is not. Larry "the Liquidator" is ready, more than willing, and quite able to inspire a majority of stockholders to close down the factory.

Eventually, both Jorgenson and Garfield address the stockholders. Both make powerful speeches (Jorgenson's is Capraesque; Garfield's an unsentimental appeal to self-interest), the stockholders vote... and then there is a copout coda.

The economic conflicts are IMO the interesting part of the movie. Alas, seemingly more than half the running time is occupied with Larry attempting to bed attorney Kate Sullivan, Jorgenson's step-daughter who is trying to block Garfield's hostile takeover. In the part, Penelope Ann Miller (whom I don't remember from major roles in Biloxi Blues, The Freshman, Carlito's Way, Awakenings) is entertaining parrying his every thrust, but it's difficult for me to believe that he is so set on bedding her. He doesn't seem the type unable to recognize hopeless causes (Peck on the other hand is convincing in holding beliefs in responsibility to those who have worked for him and for his father before him...).

It is remarkable that Danny DeVito became a movie star in the late 1980s and early 90s, but it is indisputable that it happened (Ruthless People (1986) Throw Momma from the Train (1987) , Tin Men (1987), Twins (1988), and major roles, albeit supporting ones in The War of the Roses (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Get Shorty (1995), and L.A. Confidential (1997).) I find the arrogance of his characters noxious, but his assertiveness tickled audiences. I would not want to work for the Lawrence he brings to life, but he might convince me to vote my stock with him.

The most sympathetic character is Bea Sullivan, Andrew Jorgenson's wife who is very much involved in the business, as played by Piper Laurie (whom I well remember could be less nice convincingly (Carrie) and more vulnerable (The Hustler). Former Walt Disney regular Dean Jones is also on hand as the frustrated announced successor to Jorgenson when he retires (if there is a company left, that is...)

The movie has its doldrums of attempted romance (though there are some funny touches there). Wexler supplies visual panache -- more like what he supplied Jewison for "In the Heat of the Night" than the exercise in visual style that was their "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968).

"Other People's Money" did not bore me nor did it fascinate me. It was well thought through (at least up to the "have your cake and eat it too" coda) and well-crafted.

© 2008, Stephen O. Murray




Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD