Tropic Sprockets / Dumb Money

Tropic Sprockets / Dumb Money

By Ian Brockway

“Dumb Money” by Director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) is a case study of the GameStop stock inflation of 2020. While the film is somewhat conventional in its narrative, it is nevertheless engaging with solid performances. [Showtimes and trailer at TropicCinema.com.]

Actor Paul Dano plays Keith Gill, a retail trader and YouTube commentator. His alias is Roaring Kitty. From online chatter on Reddit, a chat platform, Gill gets word that the stock named GameStop is being purposely undervalued by financiers, to the benefit of hedge funds. GameStop is a brick-and-mortar videogame store, similar to the former Blockbuster video, but less popular.

Despite the stock’s dismal performance, Gill likes the stock and buys into it. Gill soon gets an online following. Everyday working people like his self-deprecating and homespun mannerisms. As a result of Gill’s underdog charisma, and his enthusiasm about the name, GameStop goes wild in value.

The hedge fund managers, worth billions of dollars, become stupefied. The circumstance of GameStop’s sudden rise becomes a David and Goliath Story of the common trader versus the behemoth of Wall Street.

Seth Rogen is Gabe Plotkin, the CEO of Melvin Capital, a millionaire mover and shaker. Vincent D’Onofrio is Steve Cohen, hedge fund billionaire, along with Ken Griffin who is played by Park and Recreation’s headliner Nick Offerman.

Keith Gill is an underdog of sorts who wants to stick it to the status quo of Wall Street. He is one of the few sympathetic characters in the film. Steve Cohen stomps around with his pet pig while Gabe Plotkin runs at breakneck speed from mansion to mansion. Ken Griffin cares more about his lunch at Four Seasons.

Saturday Night Live’s star comedian Pete Davidson stays in his lane as a stoner underachiever agog at all the tumult.

This is not an edgy film, but it is a solid one and it will give the laymen a balanced understanding of events as they occurred. The film fits well in place along with “The Big Short”and “Margin Call.” In many ways these three films create a three-cornered portrait of selfishness where capitalism is enshrined in adamantine columns with little room for eccentricity, rebellion, or reform.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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