Vlogger Keith Gill sinks his life savings into GameStop stock and posts about it. When social media starts blowing up, so do his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes...
I can’t think of many people who don’t love a story where the little guy takes down a crooked Goliath. That’s why “Dumb Money,” a fictionalized retelling of the true story of small investors who challenged Wall Street by turning GameStop from a failure into a hot commodity, is a rousing crowd-pleaser. While it definitely helps if you know a bit of the background, director Craig Gillespie’s film will win you over quickly with its clear rundown of who’s who and what’s what.
In the middle of the pandemic, regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano) begins to play the stock market. Working as a financial analyst during the day, Keith began to notice a stock that was being shorted by the big money guys (Nick Offerman, Seth Rogen). Taking a gamble, he put his entire life savings into purchasing shares of GameStop. Keith’s hobby eventually resulted in a loyal following and YouTube stardom (through his alter ego Roaring Kitty), as well as a massive payday for himself and his many fans (America Ferrera, Myha’la Herrold, Talia Ryder, Anthony Ramos).
It is the story of one guy’s stock tip that became a movement, often referred to as “diamond hands” or, even more appropriately, the “French Revolution of Wall Street.” The more little people who bought the stock and held their positions, the more the billionaires lost with their shorts. It became a way for normal folks to fight back at financial injustices by squeezing out the elites, and it worked: until the same old story played out. It all came crashing down when the richest of the rich decided to fight back (and effectively cheat the working class).
Gillespie’s directorial style is funky and fun, and he tailors his film to the subject matter. The storytelling is brisk but never too frenzied, and the use of a thumping rap and hip-hop soundtrack feels like a time capsule that embodies the essence of the struggle between the haves and have-nots. It’s a movie that’s hilarious and infuriating, especially in a world where people’s worth is determined by what’s in their bank accounts.
“Dumb Money” throws a lot of information at the audience in record time, but it doesn’t matter if you’re well-versed in hedge funds or short selling (you will be after watching, if you pay attention). It’s well cast (and acted), engaging, and perfectly captures a moment in time. This is a movie for the people.
