EL SEGUNDO HERALD January 19, 2017 Page 7 By Jasper Bernbaum for www.cinemacy.com It feels eerily appropriate that The Founder is being released nationwide on the same day as the presidential inauguration. It’s a film that serves as both a necessary history lesson and cautionary tale about the beginning of big business and modern consumerism, a concept that could potentially continue to dictate our political climate more than it ever has. Politics aside, The Founder is also a highly entertaining rush of popcorn Americana--light, enjoyable, dramatic fare. A tasty biopic, but one that may not sit well after you leave the theater--a little bit like the restaurant on which it focuses. The Founder, directed by John Lee Hancock, follows not the foundation but the expansion of McDonald’s into modern cultural ubiquity. Ray Kroc (another winning performance from Michael Keaton), a traveling milkshake machine salesman, finds his business stalling until he receives an unusually large order from a restaurant in San Bernardino, California called McDonald’s, run by the eponymous brothers Mac and Dick McDonald (John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman). Kroc, fascinated by their innovative methods of delivering food in an instant, convinces the brothers to let him expand the business through franchising. Soon, Kroc’s obsessive quest for success knocks the brothers out of the company and leads McDonald’s to its current corporate domination. The story of McDonald’s is inherently fascinating to watch unfold (though especially now considering the current affluenza rampant in American politics). It is a saga that most consumers are ignorant to, despite being the origin of one of the most recognizable symbols of American culture. Thus, it provides a rather gripping tale of competing definitions of the American dream. The warring visions of Kroc and the McDonald brothers establish a revealing dichotomy of old and modern business, and consequently old and modern America. Conceptually, these ideas are rich and compelling. Narratively, the film is quite compelling as well. A lot of this can be attributed to Keaton’s nifty casting as Kroc. Slimy, but nimble as a lizard, his performance is quite magnetic. But while the historical story is subjectively enthralling, it’s hard to call The Founder a Entertainment great movie. It is a highly competent film, but far too methodical. Its central conceit, putting Kroc as the main role, proves to be perhaps its greatest flaw. As an anti-hero, his character doesn’t work because there isn’t much he has been given in the film to make us like him. He’s greedy. He’s sleazy. All he does is take without much to lose and succeeds without much complication. Everything written into the film seems intended to forward Kroc’s success and, in turn, the plot. If the supporting characters don’t participate, they are unceremoniously dropped out of the film (i.e. Laura Dern’s depressingly two-dimensional role as Kroc’s first wife). Some characters exclusively speak blunt exposition. BJ Novak’s role as Harry J. Sonneborn--the first president of McD’s--is literally only inserted to explain McDonald’s real estate business. One can only wonder if the film focused on the McDonald brothers, who actually have an emotional character progression, if that could have made The Founder more effective (because at least they have a soul). But, like in the film, they sell out too, perhaps unintentionally, for something flashy… just like the Golden Arches at night. The Founder is rated PG-13 for brief strong language. Runtime of 115 minutes. Now playing at The Landmark. • Check It Out SBA loans. Business credit lines. Cash management services. Commercial RE, construction and equipment loans. Ed Myska Senior Vice President 310.321.3285 emyska@grandpointbank.com 1960 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 1200 El Segundo, CA 90245 grandpointbank.com Five-Star Superior Rating by BauerFinancial Film Review Michael Keaton Reveals the McDonald’s Empire’s Unsavory History in The Founder Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc in The Founder. Courtesy of The Weinstein Company. The Family Plot By Cherie Priest Reviewed by Roz Templin, Library Assistant In The Family Plot, Dahlia works in a salvage business in Nashville with her father, Chuck Dutton. Chuck takes a gamble on a house near Chattanooga. Wealthy Augusta Withrow offers exclusive rights to whatever they can haul away from her despised family mansion before it suffers the wrecking ball. Chuck sends Dahlia, her cousin Bobby, Bobby’s teen son Gabe and new employee Brad to do the job. They don’t count on unexpected nor unexplained phenomena to interfere. Not only does author Cherie Priest explain the antique salvage business to the reader in great depth, which really piqued my interest, but her characters are realistic and you soon care about what may happen to them in this obviously disturbed place. Are they susceptible to ghostly possession? Will remaining on the property and finishing their job open them up to physical harm? Add to that the discovery of a cemetery on the grounds and combine that with a huge storm--yes, the power goes out--and Dahlia and crew have got some real trouble! There are some passages that may make you jump and some plot twists that also may alter your thinking as you attempt to solve the puzzle: Is this a true supernatural occurrence or is somebody playing a joke on Music City Salvage’s team? With an experienced ear to Southern twang and history, Priest delivers a solid and surprising take on the haunted house tale. I recommend The Family Plot to those readers who appreciate a good scare now and then. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out The Family Plot by Cherie Priest, or any other title on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your library card, or please contact the reference staff for further assistance. • Roz Templin. The Family Plot by Cherie Priest. Like Us on Facebook
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