Free Money

I remember seeing Yves Simoneau's "Free Money" in the new release section of a video store, despite its never having been in the theaters. I thought it odd that a movie starring Marlon Brando would appear out of nowhere. It turns out that the movie got released in Singapore in 1998 (see the header about the movie on IMDb). As for the movie itself, it makes no pretense about being silly, with Brando as a sadistic warden whose daughters feign pregnancy to force their loser boyfriends into shotgun weddings. While Brando's role reminded me of his performance as Vito Corleone, it still didn't seem like the sort of role in which I would expect to see him. The rest of the cast is OK in their roles, but the plot is so routine that the movie isn't as entertaining as it could be. Worth seeing once.

'Free Money,'is a film the masses will not enjoy, for its seemingly avantgarde, zany style of film-making. At times the movies disposal of any recognisable main plot, creates not so much a sense of confusion, but focuses the audiences attention onto the true depth of its innovative,darkly sinister, serio-comical undertones. The film follows the story of two 'nobodys,'who end up married to twins of a draconian, bible-loving father (Marlon Brando,) who unfortunately happens to be the towns jailor. As time passes, Bud and Larry, the two hapless 'going nowhere' protagonists conspire to rob a train of money to solve their daily drudges, and to escape the ever-increasing slavery of the deranged 'Brando'!!! However, all does not go to plan, as the 'Swede'(Marlon Brando) smells a rat!!! Will they make it? is the question raised as all their plans buckle under the weight of the 'Swede.' People expecting a film with a good story will be dissapointed, but those seeking comical improvisation from Brando,a well crafted performance from Charlie Sheen, and a refreshing break into the wacky film techniques of 'Free Money,' will laugh and laugh, and possiblly cower- As the 'Swede' played by Brando is genuinely the scariest film character I've seen for ages- Look out!!!! It's a real shame this B movie, with A class actors didn't take off. It had the potential to be a real landmark film within this genre, but unfortunately, it went straight to T.V. Oh well. watch it, if ya dare!!!

If you can handle a world about half a bubble off plumb, there's a lot of fun to be had in "Free Money". It's quite obvious that all of these characters would vanish in a puff of smoke in what we call the "real world", but inside their own rules of logic and social constraints it all makes perfect and hilarious sense.

Brando's warden personifies what Joseph Heller once called "a gigantic belch of a man", and Hayden Church and Sheen are perfect as man's men dragged either unconscious or screaming into their twin high school bride's playhouse version of married life.

Donald Sutherland has a nice turn as a psychotic judge, and Mira Sorvino turns in a fine performance as a kind of bridge between "our world" and the asylum run by lunatics that the rest of the characters live in.

It's quite possible that we could have lived without some of the brutality (cattle prods, gladiator fights in the prison) but then again, what the hell. It's a 90's film.

--bt

This is a good example of a bad movie. I had to take a break in the middle, as I can not sit through the entire 1hr 42 mins in one go. Almost every aspect of this film gets on my nerves...especially the Swedes daughters.

I have vented enough and shall never think of this movie again.

Do yourself a favour and pass this one up.

Free Money was not at all what I had expected. It is an entertaining comedy with Brando having great fun. Charlie Sheen also plays against type as a nerd duped into marriage with one of Brando's daughters.

This premiered on Sky TV in the UK without even so much as a video release but is much more entertaining than a lot of other Charlie Sheen movies of late. I enjoyed it!