Review: Billionaire Boys Club

The true rise-and-fall story of Joe Hunt (Ansel Elgort) who along with his even more unscrupulous pal Dean Karny (Taron Egerton, with a fairly convincing American accent) and other likeminded youngsters starts a Ponzi scheme that results in two murders when the investment scam goes to shit. Kevin Spacey turns up as flamboyant Wall Street con artist Ron Levin, Emma Roberts is an artsy-type, whilst Rosanna Arquette and Judd Nelson play parents, and Cary Elwes has a cameo as Andy Warhol (!).

 

The off-screen ‘issues’ involving a certain ‘persona non grata’ in the cast saw this fact-based James Cox (writer-director of the 2003 John Holmes biopic “Wonderland”) film shelved until 2018 despite being in the can by early 2016. It’s not a bad film, but it’s an overly familiar California “Boiler Room” (a more apt comparison than “The Wolf of Wall Street” in my view). It’s ultimately it’s just shy of getting a recommendation from me, but there’s some fine elements here.

 

Although I have a hard time watching him on screen in some things these days (I was fine re-watching “Se7en”, for instance), Kevin Spacey is probably the only actor who could play his role so perfectly. Smug-smart and devious? Yeah, that’s very Kevin Spacey. It’s pretty much the Kevin Spacey role, and the storm hadn’t quite hit whilst this thing was shooting. Unlike “All the Money in the World” I don’t think the studio could’ve really cut him out of the film so easily. His role is much bigger here. So he’s here, he’s good, and it’s awkward as fuck watching him act sleazy in a film with all these hot young actors. Even better though (and less awkward), is Taron Egerton who I found much more convincing here than he was playing “Robin Hood” or Elton John in “Rocketman”. He’s a talented young actor and very effective in the right role, he’s far and away the best thing here. In fact, I found him a whole lot more compelling than lead actor Ansel Elgort, who is a bit bland and out of his depth in this kind of thing. Emma Roberts is a bit more likeable than usual here, but a little too self-conscious. The Parker Posey of her generation, Roberts’ supposed talent and charisma are something I guess I’m never going to ‘get’. As for Cary Elwes’ portrayal of Andy Warhol…I wasn’t convinced, to be charitable.

 

My feelings throughout here were that just because something is based in truth doesn’t mean it needed to have a film made about it. Well, this one has actually had two films, including a 1986 TV movie with Judd Nelson, who plays one of the dads in this version (a role anyone else could’ve played. It’s a nothing part). The film holds no surprises. However, I can’t deny that the film is actually pretty watchable, if occasionally rather uncomfortable due to Spacey’s presence. It may not be remotely original, but I wasn’t bored. There’s definitely some interest here in just how dark and out of control things get for these enterprising young idiots.

 

Watchable but overly familiar tale gets a boost from Taron Egerton’s excellent performance. Other performances are variable, Kevin Spacey being well-cast. It’s not bad, it’s just nothing you haven’t seen time and time again. Being based on fact is no excuse. Cox co-wrote the screenplay with the fabulously named Captain Mauzner (“Wonderland”, “Factory Girl”).

 

Rating: C+