DVD review: All The Money In The World
The life of his grandson was only worth what was tax deductible, and then only after an ear was removed.
Reviewed by: Samantha Keogh
Review made possible by: Empire Entertainment
All The Money In The World is the story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
The youth, known to his family and friends as Paul, was kidnapped at 3am on July 10, 1973, and kept captive until December 15 of the same year.
As the richest man in the world, thanks to his oil business, Jean Paul Getty would seemingly have enough money, and the desire to rescue his grandson.
This, however, is not the case.
Throughout the movie, it is clear that he will not even entertain the notion of paying the $17-million ransom, seemingly because he does not want to open the door for the kidnapping and ransoming of his other 13 grandchildren.
However, as the movie progresses it becomes obvious that he simply doesn’t want to part with his money.
After five months in captivity, and spurred on by the fact that his captors cut off one of his ears and mailed it to a newspaper, John Paul Getty paid the ransom which had been brought down to $2.9-m.
However, he would only give his daughter-in-law the amount allowed as a tax deduction ($1-m in the movie but in reality R2.2-m) and lent the rest to his son who would pay it back with interest.
The movie is based on the real-life events and is a harrowing watch, especially when the boy, while conscious, has his ear cut off.
It is very well executed and takes the viewer on an emotional roller coaster from pity for the boy to disgust at his grandfather valuing his money over the life of his grandson.
A thoroughly enjoyable movie, but not one for the children or very faint of heart.
Parents be warned – this movie will definitely pull at the heartstrings eliciting every emotion from disgust to empathy with his mother and elation when he is finally reunited with her.
Keep the tissues handy and just remember – at this point – it’s only a movie and the villain of the piece (whether that’s his grandfather or captor) is long dead in real life.
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