Money for Nothing

Joey Coyle (John Cusak) is a young man of twenty-six years old and without any perspective in life: unemployed, with basic level of instruction only. Living with his brother's family and his mother. One day, when he is coming back home with his friend Kenny Kozlowski (Michael Rapaport) after not being hired to work in the dock, he finds 1.2 million dollars that felt from an armored car. He decides to keep the money, and this is the beginning of a series of stupidities, in a true story. Being a simple man, Joey has no malicious and does not know how to handle with such amount of illegal money. This movie alternates action, comedy and drama and entertains. The cast is great. My vote is seven.

This movie is based on the true story of Joey Coyle who found some money lost by a bank and tried to keep it. It is very realistic and the cast includes lots of familiar names like John Cussak, Philip Seymore Hoffman, Benicio Del Toro and Michael Madson, all giving convincing performance. For me it should be rated about 7.2.

"Money for Nothing" shows us what one man did when he found that sum in the streets of South Philly and learned that "finders-keepers" is not an easy caveat to abide. A not-to-be-taken-seriously light drama full of familiar faces which rolls along with tongue-in-cheek, "Money for Nothing" makes for a fast moving sofa spud watch now on broadcast. (C+)

"Money For Nothing" is a watchable little movie, but nothing spectacular. How could it be really, when it's based on a premise that's not particularly interesting in the first place? A guy finds some money and the police is looking for the money. There you go.

The real reason to watch this is the amazing cast, which wasn't very well known yet in 1993 when this movie was made. Michael Madsen, Benicio Del Toro, Philip Seymour Hoffman and James Gandolfini all in one movie, that's really a treat. The shining light, however, is the leading star himself. This may not be John Cusack's best movie, but it may very well be his best performance.

"Money For Nothing" suffers a bit from the fact that it can't decide whether it wants to be a drama, a crime story or a comedy. Still, it makes for an enjoyable viewing. Catch it, if it's on TV.

John Cusack plays Joey Coyle, an unemployed man from Philadelphia who decided to try and keep a bundle of money which accidentally fell off an armored truck...one million dollars to be exact! The story, albeit true, isn't cinematically original but did have some fresh possibilities. Unfortunately, the handling here is colorless and one-dimensional, and the film is saddled with a flat conclusion. Cusack does all right, but too many of the secondary characters are saintly and rather unbelievable. The movie's chummy tone also proved to be a false front, as the life of the real Joey Coyle came to a sad, tragic end. ** from ****