The Founder 7 Stars out of 10
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FILM PEOPLE OF BY FILM PEOPLE R FILM PEOPLE FO Movie Title: The Founder 7 stars out of 10 Starring: Michael Keaton Nick Oerman John Carrol Lynch Linda Cardellini B.J.Novak Laura Dern Writer: Robert D Siegel Director: John Lee Hancock First o, it could have been a solid 8 possibly an 8 1/2. But because they lmed in Georgia for the location of the rst McDonald’s hamburger stand, instead of San Bernardino, California or at least somewhere that looked like San Bernardino, it lost 1 to 1 1/2 stars. There is no other corporate brand more widely known in the world than McDonalds. So why blow it by not making it authentic in the movie? There are two reasons that this is a big deal to me. I believe in authentic history, not the fabricated version that Hollywood so often spews forth. When you start a lm with "based on a true story" should it not start out true? There is no way to mistake the desert of San Bernardino, CA with the foliage and soft rolling hills of Georgia. I get it, Hollywood: the lm rebates are better in Georgia, but when you are making a movie about the most iconic corporation in the world, lm it in the right location. It matters. It would be like lming a movie about the Daytona 500 and using Anchorage Alaska as the backdrop. It starts the lm out as unbelievable. But soon the acting, script and DP work makes you temporarily forget that huge faux pas. Second, my mother grew up about 5 blocks from the rst McDonald's hamburger restaurant, and she knew the McDonald brothers, not as friends but as friendly owners of a mom and pop restaurant that you frequented. She always said that they were very nice guys (as she put it). When you think of the rst McDonald's you think San Bernardino, California. Other than that, it is shot well and the acting is superb. I heard prior to watching the lm that Keaton outshined everyone on the screen, but I did not nd that to be true. Although Michael Keaton gave a stellar performance, Nick Oerman (Dick McDonald) and John Carrol Lynch (Mac McDonald) did an outstanding job as well. They all played their roles wonderfully. That is not to exclude Linda Cardellini and Laura Dern looking sad as usual, but in this lm for a good reason. The look that John Carrol Lynch gave during the nal attorneys’ meeting at the end of the lm is riveting – a picture truly worth a thousand words. Technically, with the exception of the complete and utter blunder trying to make Georgia back streets look like the desert of California, it is good. The shots are pleasing to the eye, the DP and editing was solid and the sound great. I left with a feeling that the writer, director, producer, actors and everyone involved did their jobs and did them well. Although I knew the story, when you watch it told with great actors, great images and a good script it leaves a more lasting impression. Mixing images with a story makes it that much more identiable and evokes more emotion. As per the story, it made me feel like I had been hit in the gut morally. That is what it should do, so kudos to the writer, director, producer, actors, lm crew and everyone involved. It reminds me of the transformation of common goodness and people believing in your word is as good as gold into the modern day litigious, alien culture we nd ourselves in – always wondering how the next person is going to screw you over and justify it along the way. Being born in the 1960s and growing up in rural areas, I was around during the transition from times when the hand shake was better than a contract and most people stuck to their word even if it did them harm. As a foreign ideology crept into our society, that all changed. It really hits home when the parasitic player came along with his parasitic, morally bankrupt ways and gave Kroc the idea of how to screw over the McDonald Brothers. It was a sick reminder of how something pure and trusting has turned into something parasitic and shifty. These thoughts were heightened by a few people in the audience that would break out into laughter every time Kroc screwed over the McDonald brothers. I enjoyed it and I would suggest that everyone see this lm. You can take the whole family as it is pretty clean. There are a few curse words but nothing really foul. McDonald’s Hamburgers has had a tough go of it with many exposes in the last many years, and I do not know if you will feel like supporting them after watching what took place. But do go see the lm about the building of an American and global empire. If I could have spoken with Ray Kroc a day or two before he passed, I would have liked to ask him: Was it worth it? Just as the saying goes, "there are no atheists in a foxhole," it is also true that when people die slowly rather than suddenly in a massive heart attack or car accident, they start to prepare for a meeting about what has taken place in their life and their part in it. Kroc’s answer would have been interesting. That being stated, with me wanting to ask that question, obviously the lm worked, because I thought about it after I left the theater. It also inspired an hour long discussion and it was already midnight when we left the theater! My recommendation: go to the theater and watch "The Founder" and take a few friends. It is worth the price of the ticket and you will get more than your money's worth in thoughtful discussion afterwards. Larry Green.