The first big hit of the year has arrived, and it goes by the name of Diane Latifah Holmes. “Mad Money,” the new caper comedy from the creator of the monumental “Thelma and Louise,” will surely echo in eternity as a landmark cinematic achievement.
When Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) discovers her upper-middle class lifestyle is in jeopardy because of her husband’s (Ted Danson) job perils, she is forced to catapult herself back into the workforce. Oddly, the only job she can find is janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank, where she meets a single mom (Queen Latifah) trying to make ends meet, and a young woman (Katie Holmes) who is just trying to have a good time. Together they hatch a plan to rob the bank, and hilarity ensues.
What makes this film Oscar-caliber is the culmination of the magnetic performances, breathtaking cinematography, intelligent screenplay and pitch-perfect direction. Keaton turns in her finest performance since 1996’s memorable “The First Wives Club.” The turmoil she is unwittingly thrown into and her subsequent reaction are both hilarious and endearing. And not since “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” has Queen Latifah had such a profound on-screen presence. Holmes’ versatility is awe-inspiring: From the melodramatic Joey Potter on TV’s “Dawson’s Creek” to the effervescent Jackie Truman in “Mad Money,” her uncanny ability to portray such vastly different characters is astounding.
Supplementing these tour-de-force performances is the electrifying script that induces plenty of laughs ““ and plenty of gasps. Rarely can a film be infused with so much suspense and so much humor. But where this screenplay really scores point is with its heartfelt message with regard to money and its corruptive nature. Crime may be funny and pretty darn exciting, but it does not pay.
Director Callie Khouri sure has an eye for comedic timing, and a Hitchcockian sense of thrills and suspense. Her beautiful shots, rich in radiant color, represent the vibrance that emanates from the protagonists’ personalities. Her meticulous direction and lavish cinematography result in a visual feast satiating the audience’s appetite for entertainment.
This film has it all. From great tunes, to big laughs, to unpredictable twists and turns, “Mad Money” excels on all fronts. All the elements of great storytelling are in alignment and Khouri and her veteran ensemble cast have pieced together a fine piece of celluloid that will leave audience members in stitches and perhaps with a tear or two in their eyes.
-Patrick Mallon