Sometimes the title of the movie is more revealing than you would think. Good People is an average, clichéd movie that works because it has “good people”. Franco, Hudson, and Wilkinson immensely helped the movie with their believable performances of somewhat unbelievable characters. The main thing that they were going for was that sense of identification with the protagonists, a couple with financial problems (broadest possible audience). However, after the first half of the movie, and as we approach the final showdown, the intensity slowly dissipates.
I think we all dream about finding a huge bag of cash in our basement and then just going wherever the story takes us. Good People did the same thing, they basically made a daydream into a movie. To further prove that, we can see Kate Hudson’s naked ass. And I know what you’re thinking right now, isn’t this No Country for Old Men? And you would be right if it weren’t for the whole couple angle that shifts the story somewhat. Both of these movies are based on novels, and this one was written by Marcus Sakey.
Tom and Anna Wright decided to move to Great Britain in search of a better life. They were hoping to start over, hopefully with a child, but life can be cruel sometimes (first-world problems). They are broke and one step away from losing the house. At the same time, their tenant just pulled off one of the more successful heists in his life. Too much of a good thing will kill you, especially if the good thing are drugs. One dead junkie tenant and 220 000 pounds, sounds like a win-win doesn’t it? What would you do if you found that cash?
The thing that I liked about Good People is the ruthlessness of the script that shows that you are in a different world now, a world you’re not prepared to be in… And yet they manage to escape it, this is the thing that annoyed most of the critics, the potential that wasn’t used. If we continued for real in that direction, this would turn into a fucked up horror. So, the decision of the writers to go with an easier approach is an understandable one. And a more commercial one.
Just lower your expectations a bit and you will enjoy this little thriller. And with a runtime of just over eighty minutes, this is, indeed, a little thriller. And while some viewers didn’t like the somewhat cheesy finale, I quite enjoyed it. I know it’s a bit over-the-top but at least it was entertaining.
Director: Henrik Ruben Genz
Writer: Kelly Masterson, Marcus Sakey
Cast: James Franco, Kate Hudson, Anna Friel, Omar Sy, Tom Wilkinson
Fun Facts: Omar Sy is a massively famous French actor and he stars in almost exclusively comedies.
Rating:
IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1361318/
