(L to R) Alan Arkin as Albert Garner, Morgan Freeman as Willie Davis and Michael Caine as Joe Harding, all discover that they are getting no more pension.
GOING IN STYLE
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Times have changed a lot since 1979, when the first version of “Going in Style” was released. Growing old is still just as boring, but now seniors have something to get angry about.
Instead of George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg, the new version has Michael Caine as Joe Harding, Alan Arkin as Albert Garner and Morgan Freeman as Willie Davis, as three friends, who all worked for the same company, which is now defaulting on their pensions.
Even Ann-Margaret, who used to be in Elvis films, is in this film, as Alan Arkin’s love interest.
The plight of getting old with limited resources seems to be timeless.
These friends, however, are upset because, after putting in many years of work, their company was just sold to a foreign interest, which will no longer honor their work pensions.
Michael Caine, who is housing his single-mom daughter and granddaughter, will default on his mortgage, Morgan Freeman discovers that he needs a kidney transplant, and the Alan Arkin character will not have any money to pay the rent.
What stays in my mind is the image of these three friends dishing up watered-down spaghetti sauce on very unappetizing spaghetti at the senior center together.
More than anything else, this says “nobody cares about you, and there is nothing that you can do about it.”
As a last ditch effort, with nothing to lose, they decide to rob the very bank that was restructuring their pension deal.
We do not have to think too far back to remember the 2009 housing collapse, the current rent gouging by landlords, or the recent fake bank account schemes.
“Going in Style” 2017 is recommended for anyone who is old, who still has a grandparent, or who is headed toward old age. Basically, this film is for everyone.
Ann-Margaret as Annie Santori, still has the sizzle.
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5/9/2017 # Going In Style