Jodie Foster mines human impact of financial risk in 'Money Monster'

Record ID: 104142

  • Title: Jodie Foster mines human impact of financial risk in 'Money Monster'
  • Date: 11th May 2016
  • Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 11, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, JODIE FOSTER, SAYING: "Technology and the glitches that come with it, the abuses that come with technology, this weird false virtual connections that we have that aren't real, they're virtual and in a weird way they seem closer than in real life - that's the bad side. The good side is a guy from Korea and a guy from South Africa and somebody from Iceland who don't have any money and they who have no power can join hands through technology and bring down the president of the United States if they need to."
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2016 15:29
  • Keywords: Cannes Film Festival George Clooney Julia Roberts Jodie Foster journalism presidential campaign
  • Location: CANNES, FRANCE AND UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
  • City: CANNES, FRANCE AND UNKNOWN FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Film
  • Reuters ID: LVA0084HD66OD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ahead of the world premiere of 'Money Monster', which is screening out of competition at the Cannes film festival, actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts and their director Jodie Foster on Wednesday (May 11) talked about the financial comedy thriller.
    In the film, Clooney plays Lee Gates, the irreverent presenter of a financial television whose live programme, overseen by Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) is hijacked by a young man (Jack O'Connell) who has lost everything by following the show's quirky financial advice.
    "We are specifically examining finance as entertainment and how that can be so misinterpreted for people sitting at home watching a show thinking that they're being informed when really they're being more entertained than informed and that gap, that chasm between what we're doing and what people are perceiving that we're doing and what can happen in that situation," actress Julia Roberts said.
    Clooney's father was a television news anchor and the actor believes that television news journalism has changed over the years.
    "That's what's really happening because what happens is in a 24 hour news cycle we'll keep hearing this drumbeat of these things, these elements, and you'll start thinking 'oh my god, the world's coming to an end. ISIS is going to be on our front step' when the reality is that it needs to be put back in perspective and I think that's part of the thing that happens in news and journalism - just a biproduct of 24 hour news," he told Reuters Television.
    Addressing the presidential race in the United States, Clooney added: "Well I think it has been entertainment, that's unfortunate for an informed electorate but I actually have such faith in our country to get things right. I think it was Winston Churchill that said you can always count on the United States to do the right thing after they've exhausted all other possibilities. I feel I always have great optimism that we get it right eventually so I feel like we will."
    The film is directed by Jodie Foster, who has left her acting career behind her to focus on production.
    "Well I really appreciate my acting career. It was amazing and it is such an incredible film school and I'm proud of the movies that I was involved in and I got to work with incredible technicians. But being a director has always been my dream. It's something that I've always wanted since I was a little girl, to have the full vision of the film and to have my signature to be the one for better or for worse - maybe it's terrible - but it's a full signature on the product," she said.
    'Money Monster' also tackles the role that technology plays in people's lives when a glitch in an algorithm causes a company's stock to crash.
    "Technology and the glitches that come with it, the abuses that come with technology, this weird false virtual connections that we have that aren't real, they're virtual and in a weird way they seem closer than in real life - that's the bad side. The good side is a guy from Korea and a guy from South Africa and somebody from Iceland who don't have any money and they who have no power can join hands through technology and bring down the president of the United States if they need to."
    With the threat of death, both Gates and Fenn have to confront the companies they cover on a daily basis to get answers they've never researched before. In reality, when asked if there was someone he'd like to get answers from, Clooney said he would like to discuss with Pope Francis.
    "I'd love to hear an in-depth interview with the Pope. I think he's a fascinating character. I'd like to hear his ideas and his thoughts on refugees in the world. He talks about them a lot, but I'd love to have a sit down with him. I think that would be exciting, so."
    When asked the same question, Foster replied "Why do we have so many plugs? Can't we just have one? Can't we just have one plug and then we only have to buy one charger?' Why do we have to have 400 different chargers? I feel like it's a plot and I want answers to that. I'd like to rap someone over the head and say 'One charger from now on, that's it."
    'Money Monster' goes on release in the United States on May 13.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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