Being caught up in the Tel Aviv underworld of 1973 teenager Izek decides to emigrate to Los Angeles . Howeer he soon finds that crime is a universal aspect of the human condition and that in the United States the stakes are much higher
Reportedly based on a true story FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY is a film where you're constantly reminded of the style of Martin Scorsese . Take for example the early scenes featuring Ed Furlong playing violent foul mouthed psychotic Tommy . Was there anyone not reminded of Joe Pesci ? Likewise the constant use of a musical soundtrack and narration gives the impression director Ellie Kanner is trying to emulate Scorsese down to a tee but at the same time you're constantly reminded that you're most certainly not watching Scorsese
I also had a slight problem with Izek who is maybe a little bit too stand up and self righteous to be taken seriously especially since he's supposed to be based on a real life character . Take for example the scene where he agrees to be a get away driver for two characters he knows are gangsters . They go round to someone's business to extort money , beat the victim to a pulp and when they go back to the car Izek remonstrates and leaves them . Let me get this straight , he knows they're violent criminals and he's upset they batter people half to death . It's not like the job description advertised " Driver for Mr Whippy's ice cream van required " . I think Izek is spinning himself as being a bit too innocent . That said it was the same in GOODFELLAS
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY isn't a a bad film just an over familiar one with a slightly cynical air where the big names such as James Caan and Paul Sorvino seem to be included for a marketing excises and Sorvino especially is confined to a blink and you'll miss it cameo . That said despite the flaws Ellie Kanner does bring a sense of time and place to the proceedings and it does genuinely look like a 1980s movie . Just a pity there isn't a more idiosyncratic flourish to the movie that feels to need to ape Scorsese in everything
Reportedly based on a true story FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY is a film where you're constantly reminded of the style of Martin Scorsese . Take for example the early scenes featuring Ed Furlong playing violent foul mouthed psychotic Tommy . Was there anyone not reminded of Joe Pesci ? Likewise the constant use of a musical soundtrack and narration gives the impression director Ellie Kanner is trying to emulate Scorsese down to a tee but at the same time you're constantly reminded that you're most certainly not watching Scorsese
I also had a slight problem with Izek who is maybe a little bit too stand up and self righteous to be taken seriously especially since he's supposed to be based on a real life character . Take for example the scene where he agrees to be a get away driver for two characters he knows are gangsters . They go round to someone's business to extort money , beat the victim to a pulp and when they go back to the car Izek remonstrates and leaves them . Let me get this straight , he knows they're violent criminals and he's upset they batter people half to death . It's not like the job description advertised " Driver for Mr Whippy's ice cream van required " . I think Izek is spinning himself as being a bit too innocent . That said it was the same in GOODFELLAS
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY isn't a a bad film just an over familiar one with a slightly cynical air where the big names such as James Caan and Paul Sorvino seem to be included for a marketing excises and Sorvino especially is confined to a blink and you'll miss it cameo . That said despite the flaws Ellie Kanner does bring a sense of time and place to the proceedings and it does genuinely look like a 1980s movie . Just a pity there isn't a more idiosyncratic flourish to the movie that feels to need to ape Scorsese in everything