Page 6 December 21, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Entertainment Film Review Check It Out Séance Infernale Ridley Scott’s Latest Tells True by John Skariton Story of Kidnapped Getty Heir By Ryan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com It’s not likely that you’ve heard of All the Money in the World, the true-life story of the kidnapping of a Getty heir, without also hearing of the off-screen drama that has accompanied the film. Sexual misconduct allegations against the film’s main star--Kevin Spacey--sent the movie into crisis mode only weeks before the film was scheduled to open. In an unprecedented move, director Ridley Scott decided to cut Spacey out of the movie altogether--a head-spinning decision since the actor had not only completed all of his scenes, but because Scott announced that the film would also still meet its scheduled release date in the coming weeks. This feat would be accomplished by re-shooting the movie with Oscar-winning actor Christopher Plummer in Spacey’s vacated role. This race-against-the-clock, behind-thescenes story no doubt has as much suspense Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg in All The Money In The World. Courtesy of Sony Pictures. as the material on which it’s based. The inevitable question that the movie won’t ever be able to escape from is, how does the film, also starring Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg, hold together? With a screenplay by David Scarpa, based on a novel by John Pearson, All the Money in the World holds together surprisingly well. This big studio movie is certainly ambitious in scope, as Scott takes the film across continents with action, period piece designs, and a smart screenplay that provokes the audience to think. All the Money in the World tells the true story of kidnapped 16-year-old Getty heir J. Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and the ransom race led by his mother, Gail Harris (Williams) and family advisor Fletcher Chase (Wahlberg) against the foreign kidnappers as well as her miserly father-in-law, J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer, no relation to Charlie). The drama, of course, comes in J. Paul Getty’s decision not to pay Paul’s $17 million ransom. For someone who at one time was considered to be “the most wealthy man in the world,” paying the ransom for the safe return of his grandson would seem to be the obvious decision. It’s a psychological study that Scott is interested in exploring here, showing Getty as a man who didn’t get to be where he was by conceding or being bested in any way, whether in business or in a hostage negotiation with his family. As Getty, Plummer brings light-hearted, unaffected poise and power to his character. Simultaneously confounded and enraged is Gail, who can’t understand why this man won’t pay for her son’s safety. Williams’ resilience and focus keep the film moving forward. For a hostage movie, All the Money in the World isn’t as much white-knuckle tension as it is more a broad character and period piece. There are certainly a number of moments that will make impressions on viewers, and the final sequence of the film in which Getty arises out of bed to take a precious painting off a wall is one of the best sequences in cinema I’ve seen all year. It reminds us that Scott is a master of his craft…and at 80 years old is one of the few filmmakers who not only commands a production as big as this, but can handle any obstacles that would end the career of other filmmakers. Ironically, the shared symbolism is that the story of the former star of All the Money in the World, like Getty himself, reflects powerful men being brought to their knees. For our interviews with Ridley Scott, Christopher Plummer, Michelle Williams and more, visit www.cinemacy.com. 132 min. All the Money in the World is rated R for language, some violence, disturbing images and brief drug content. In theaters on Christmas Day. • By Roz Templin, Library Assistant, El Segundo Public Library Séance Infernale crosses many genres, which makes the story exciting and informative. It’s kind of film-geeky, since the title itself refers to a film that “might” exist, made by a pioneer in moving pictures before Edison and the Lumiere brothers. It’s an adventure story since many people want this film. Some are pretty shady and some are just downright dangerous. The film may contain certain images that are clues pointing to a bigger mystery, so its value is more than monetary. It’s a crime novel: a subplot involves an unhinged fellow who seems to be a serial killer. How does this tie in with a race to find an old film that might exist? Just wait…you’ll see. And finally, it has paranormal elements--both in the subject matter of the desirable film, but also in the lives of those either assisting or hindering the pursuit. There is an Aleister Crowley-type character who figures prominently, giving it a mystical spin. Our hero (anti-hero?), Alex Whitman, is like a bounty hunter for lost films and memorabilia, and he has some pretty questionable motives and methods himself. He is hired by a collector of cinema memorabilia to track down a film by early inventor Augustin Sekular (who is based on a real person, the author tells us in his notes in the back of the book). Sekular was scheduled to premiere his “moving picture machine” to the world in 1890, but disappeared aboard a Paris train, never to be heard from again. Alex launches a worldwide quest to run down the information he has managed to gather and soon finds himself the quarry when he stumbles upon a few frames of the elusive film. We discover that Alex has a burden of his own that seems to become part of his mission. Despite beatings, torture and near-murder, he and his cohorts decipher riddles that ultimately lead to the sought-after “treasure.” Can they reach it before their menacing opponents? Fast-paced and suspenseful, there are times of true page-turning breathlessness while reading this tale. I couldn’t decide whether Alex was someone to root for, to pity or to revile at times. Those characters that populate his life seem to have secrets of their own. Who can anyone trust? The theme music playing in my mind ranged from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Mission Impossible, with a few spooky notes of Rosemary’s Baby tossed in. Don’t be afraid to sample Séance Infernale. You might grow to like it! Visit the library and find new books and materials have arrived. Seasonal programs, music and reading are available for your enjoyment. Library staff can help you find what you are looking for. • 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 Roz Templin. Séance Infernale by John Skariton. “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri DEADLINES OBITUARIES: Monday at noon. CALENDAR ITEMS: Monday at noon. PEOPLE ITEMS: Monday at noon. CLASSIFIEDS: Tuesday at noon. LEGAL NOTICES: Wednesday at 11:00 am. REAL ESTATE ADS: Monday at noon. AD CANCELLATIONS: Prior Thursday. LATE CANCELLATIONS WILL BE CHARGED 50% OF AD
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