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It may not always be wise to judge a film solely by its title, but in many cases, a title may be very useful in encapsulating what the overall idea of a film may be. Take “Crazy Rich Asians” for example; from the title alone, one can easily assume that a) the film revolves primarily around characters of Asian descent; b) all or most of said characters come from a relatively affluent background; and c) the events they take part in are not what most consider normal or ordinary. Sure enough, anyone who has seen the movie might tell you that this information deduced from the title alone is more or less accurate to what happens in the film. Another film where the title makes for a perfect summary of the story in general is the subject of today’s discussion, that being the thrilling crime drama “Movies, Money, and Murder”.
In the film, the young actress Lee McNight joins forces with the respectable Dr. Jim, persuading him to finance her latest picture and promising an opportunity to become a renowned film producer in exchange for his money. Dr. Jim agrees to the deal, and soon production on Lee’s film begins at Jim’s lavish Beverly Hills mansion. While filming an intimate scene together though, the two are walked in on by Jim’s wife, who is not at all accepting of what is taking place in her home. A fit of rage inadvertently leads to Jim shooting and killing his wife, and what follows is a chain of events that force Lee and Dr. Kim to cover up the tragedy while simultaneously finishing production on their movie.
In the role of Dr. Jim is veteran actor Martin Mull, whose credits include the films “The Bodyguard”, “Clue”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, and most recently 2010’s “Killers” starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher, as well as notable appearances on such television shows as “Roseanne”, “The Simpsons” and “Two and a Half Men”. Actress Lainie Kazan, meanwhile, plays Dr. Jim’s wife, building on a career that originated on the stage before becoming part of several other feature films, including one of her most memorable roles to date in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” alongside Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. She has also made many television guest appearances, including roles on “The King of Queens”, “Ugly Betty”, and “Desperate Housewives”.
There are few films that are as perfectly summed up in their titles like “Movies, Money, and Murder”, and the film to which this title is attached does not disappoint when delivering what has been promised. Well acted and intense from beginning to end, the film presents a dark take on the process of filmmaking and how the best of intentions can lead to horrifying consequences. Those curious to see how can find the film here and see its gripping suspense for themselves.
