THE FOUNDER Review

In The Founder, Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc favors the saying, "fortune favors the bold," but the question that comes to mind as the The Founder reaches its denouement and shows us not just what Kroc became in the professional world, but who he became as a person is just how bold was this guy? As it turns out, quite. There were risks involved in his journey that were never guaranteed to pay off and he arguably had a vision no one else did-or at least the balls no one else had to risk it all. In the end, fortune obviously favors Ray Kroc, but at what expense to his humanity and decency? Some may say such things don't matter when you're worth $500 million, but in those final moments of The Founder where Kroc rehearses lines for a speech he stole from old motivational records when his wife, who he also stole, walks into the room and he catches her eye that there is a hint of self-awareness; of knowing that there was a price for all that he now looked down upon. Keaton, in all his charming and endearing glory, snaps his face out of the thought that dazed him only for a moment as if to say such was a price he'd gladly pay again and again. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence he tells himself-not talent, not education-persistence. It is in this train of thought, this idea that Kroc is never complacent or content with his life that confounds though as the movie that now tells his life story tends to air on the side of being exactly that-content. Directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) The Founder is a perfectly acceptable slice of cinema as it is obviously well-crafted, hits all the right notes, and features a handful of appealing performances with Keaton being a whirlwind of as much sly charm as he can possibly muster-carrying this thing across the finish line with ease. It's not that there is anything particularly bad about the film, but there isn't anything that is rather exceptional either. Instead, The Founder more or less delivers what is expected of a biopic these days with only slight indications that there was a deeper, more cutting ambition to the project that maybe took a backseat to safety. There have been many a comparisons between The Social Network and this film with its protagonists being ruthless men who take ideas from smaller thinking men and turn them into multi-billion dollar businesses, but where David Fincher's film had a specific tone and a certain state of mind that was in place from the get-go, The Founder never feels as personal or alluring. It, ironically, never feels bold enough to transcend its genre lines.

First Trailer for THE FOUNDER Starring Michael Keaton

Can Michael Keaton go three years in a row starring in three Best Picture nominees? Potentially even three Best Picture winners? It seems slight with his new film getting an August release, but if this first trailer for The Founder is any indication it looks as if Keaton and his crew are at least ready to compete. Telling the story of McDonald's founder, Ray Kroc, the film was written by Robert D. Siegel (The Wrestler, Big Fan) and is directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) so it certainly has the credentials to go far, but only time will tell given Hancock's last effort seemed a shoo-in for many major awards, but was ultimately looked over. I can't help but feel The Founder is different though, and that the combination of story, social relevance, writer, director, and especially star will push this thing to become something more than another awards season offering, but possibly something of a cultural conversation piece. It is inevitable that the portrayal of Kroc as this charismatic, but sleazy businessman will serve as a commentary on the many alternative and ugly ways one can go about achieving the pureness of the American dream. What pushes this even further into potential awards season glory though, is the dynamite performance Keaton looks to be giving. There is no denying that the actor is in the midst of a very real resurgence with both Birdman and Spotlight winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards the past two years and with future prospects of being the new villain in a Marvel Studios produced Spider-Man film there is no stopping him. I still believe Keaton should have won for Best Actor for Birdman, but maybe this will be his year to claim that honor even if The Founder doesn't take home the big prize. Regardless of awards potential, this looks great and I can't wait to see if it delivers. The Founder also stars Nick Offerman, Linda Cardellini, Laura Dern, BJ Novak, John Caroll Lynch, Patrick Wilson, and opens on August 5th, 2016.