The film looks like it’s gonna be a smart satire, but ends up being a sharp indictment of the fast fashion industry. Steve Coogan stars as a smarmy, self assured billionaire who’s made his fortune selling cheap clothes. Much of the movie revolves around the extravagant 60th birthday party he’s throwing for himself, but the timeline also bounces between his history of unscrupulous deal making and a public inquiry that’s threatened his fortune and reputation. While the movie is set up to look like a witty send-up (common territory for director Michael Winterbottom), this film, and the rich people who populate it, are mostly mean-spirited, insensitive and entitled. The side stories about their disregard for the poor and struggling begins to overshadow the fun. As a result, the film ends up being a bleak condemnation of the lust for money over humanitarian considerations. There is even a parade of condemning statistics at the end. (Criterion Cinemas only)
(2.5 / 5)