Money for Nothing [Blu-ray]

I couldn't tell if this was a comedy or not to be honest. I am a big John Cusack film ( loved him since The Sure Thing ). This movie is okay, but a lot of things are missing. The plot is jumbled. John Cusack does good with his acting but the supporting characters are bland, one-sided and boring. Debi Mazar is too annoying for words ( the way she talks bugs the heck out of me ). I've liked her in other films but her character, Monica was way too cold and too much of a golddigger for anyone to believe Cusack's character would want anything to do with her. Michael Madsen is entertaining and Benicio is good ( though is role his rather ignored ). Michael Rappaport is not one of my favorites but he carries his part well. The writing was just too bland. I kept waiting for Cusack's character to do much more with that money. The movie had a hell of a plot if only they knew what to do with it. I thought the sex scene was tacky since this film was more on the PG side. I guess the filmmakers knew this was no prize and added the sex in to entice people. Obviously it didn't work. I don't think more than ten people I've known in my entire life has seen or heard of this movie. It's a film that came and went without any mention in the last ten years. This film was probably Cusack's most ignored at the box office. It came out in 93 and I only remembered it being advertised once. I don't even remember major reviews done for it. This is not Cusack's best film but it's not his fault. He does a wonderful job for what he's given. This film had too many holes and unneeded characters. Like I mentioned before a better love interest ( or an actress with a name ) would have added something to this. I think Mary Stuart Matterson or Bridget Fonda would have rocked as Cusack's love interest. I'm sorry but Mazar was the worst part of this film. This didn't fit her and she didn't fit this movie.

As for the DVD, pathetic. No special features, no photo gallery, no deleted scenes, and no commentary. So what the heck is it in DVD form for then? It could have stayed as a VHS if nothing else was offered with it. Unless you're a Cusack fan like me, don't waste your time. Even John can't make up for the missing link which is this entire film.

This film is based on a true story, where a blue-collar working man finds a bag of money that literally fell off an armored truck. The pandemonium and hilarity that follows is beautifully presented by John Cusack, definitely one of the best actors of our time. I've been following Cusack's films from Class in the 1980s through today, and I have not once been disappointed by his performance. He is in top form here, making the viewer wish that they both were and weren't in his shoes. Benicio del Toro is hilarious as a swindler, and Debi Mazar is pretty good as Cusack's on-again, off-again love interest. Gandolfini of HBO's The Sopranos also costars, and is fantastic as usual. If you like any of the actors mentioned, or just want to see a good film about a real event that seems unbelievable, get your hands on this one!

Don't let this film pass you by. Often stashed in the 'comedy' section of the video shelves this film is often more tense drama due to the fact it is based on actual events. In 1981 unemployed laborer Joey Coyle and his pal drive through the back streets of rotting industrial Philadelphia after another unsuccessful day of looking for work. In the middle of the street they find what Coyle thinks might make a good tool box. It in fact has fallen from an armored truck and contains over a million dollars. There is humor, but more anxiety along the way as John Cusak, who portrays Coyle stuggles with what to do next. Michael Madsen gives an excellent performance as a detective from the same neighborhood who urges a reward that will be enough for the impoverished locals to buy a house. Maury Chaykin has a memorable scene as a mob boss trying to swindle Cusak and explains why Ben Franklin is his favorite currency portrait. A heartbreaking and tragic look at 1980's recession America.