Barbarians at the Gate
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Movie Reviews of Barbarians at the Gate
Movie Review: Greedy Financial Gladiators
Summary: 3 Stars
"Barbarians at the Gate" is based on the true story of the RJR Nabisco leveraged buy out (LBO). The movie was set in the 1980's but kept reminding me of today's LBO's, derivatives, and short selling. The Global reach of exponential leveraging caused the mortgage mess that led to the financial crisis. None of this was anticipated during the 1980's. Though the movie is witty and frames the avarice and greed in charming settings and quick-witted script, it felt abstract and focused only on winning a game. The real fact is a deal like that ends up hurting people's lives and jobs.
If you watch the movie in the spirit intended, it is funny, full of the high life perks and expected glamour and grand homes filled with fine art. James Garner plays a charming, ambitious CEO, Ross Johnson, who covets the brass ring when he decides to buy out the RJR conglomerate. His competitor is investment banker Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce) who has the same goal. Both are determined, smart and true financial gladiators.
The actors did well and Barbarians at the Gate is serious comedy, however, it unintentionally hit current financial sore-spots.
Movie Review: Worth watching twice
Summary: 3 Stars
I think this film conveys effectively the essence of the story told in the book, and portrays convincingly the "look and feel" of the period.
James Garner, playing the central character, F. Ross Johnson, turns in a sparkling performance that makes this film entertaining enough to watch more than once.
I also applaud actor Tom Aldredge for his artful performance in a supporting role, playing board chairman Charles Hugel.
The DVD presentation lacks luster: adequate picture and sound; adequate menu; a few dull text biographies; cardboard snap case. Look for an inexpensive used copy.
Movie Review: Betraid
Summary: 3 Stars
You had to be there. I was and so were thousands of other people. Ross Johnson was and is a tyrant in its truest form. Through the early 80's RJR was deeply involved in investing in other product industries, thus taking focus off the tobacco and allowed NABISCO's hinchman, Roos Johnson to take over.
I rate this movie at a 4 for comedy content only, because I'm a fan of James Garner. But the seriousness of this story goes much, much deeper into the actual lives and story that was never told. Imagine
Carson Strickland
Movie Review: If you read the book, it's a disappointment.
Summary: 3 Stars
If not, it can be funny even to laymen. Obviously, it's practically impossible to transfer everything from the book to movie. So don't expect too much, Wall Street guys.Movie Review: The creator of M*A*S*H wrote this?
Summary: 2 Stars
I was surprised to see Larry Gelbart wrote the screenplay of this unfunny movie. I can recall very few laughs in this film. The premise of the film is to highlight the greed of the 1980's, but the lesson is quite dated in the era of Enron and WorldCom. The greed here is apparent and at least honest and upfront, in contrast to the dishonesty and deception of some of the greed of the late 1990's. As for the message, I certainly don't think the shareholders of RJR Reynolds minded being courted so well. If I were a shareholder of a slumping company I'd be mighty grateful to live in a society where people have the freedom to pay whatever crazy price they want for my stock! James Garner is wonderful in this show, and the movie does a nice job of laying out the business concepts in terms your grandmother can understand. I do have to confess, however, to dozing a bit in the middle of this movie, so perhaps I missed the funny parts.