Mad Money
Tags: satire, flashback

Plot synopsis:
The film begins in medias res, with the suspects getting caught and being interrogated. Then it flashes back to three years earlier and the film continues forward from there, interspersed with occasional bits from the interrogation.
Three years before getting caught, Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) lived a comfortable upper middle class life until her husband Don Cardigan (Ted Danson) was "downsized" from his position and sank into debt. The paycheck for Selina, the housecleaner, bounces again. Selina confronts Bridget and suggests she take a job as a janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
On her first day on the job, Bridget hatches a scheme to steal worn-out dollar bills slated for destruction. For her team she chooses Nina (Queen Latifah), who works the dollar bill shredder, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), who takes bill carts from the Secret Service room to the shredding room. It takes some work to persuade Nina to join, but Jackie joins them quickly.
The plan is that in the Secret Service room Bridget will switch a cart's official Master-brand lock with a near identical lock she purchased at Home Depot. Bridget will tell Jackie the cart number and give Nina the official lock. When Jackie gets the chosen cart, she dumps some bills from the cart into a trash can before taking the cart to Nina, who then uses Bridget's key to open it and restores the official lock, and then proceeds to shred the remaining bills. Meanwhile, Bridget, in the course of her janitorial duties, retrieves the dumped bills from the trash and splits them among Nina and Jackie in the women's restroom.
Their first robbery is a success though the take is not as big as they had hoped. However, they're emboldened to do it repeatedly. Once Don and Bridget pay off their debt, Don suggests they stop before they get caught. Bridget rejects this idea and persuades Nina and Jackie to keep going. They almost get caught but they end up cutting in Barry (Roger Cross), one of the security guards, who is attracted to Nina.
A Federal Bank Examiner shows up at a party at Bridget's house, and the next day Bridget sees him at work. The Examiner confronts Glover (Stephen Root), who is unwilling as a matter of professional pride to admit anyone has stolen a single bill out of his bank. Tipped off, that night Bridget and her accomplices begin trying to get rid of all the loot stashed in their houses, but the cops move in before all the evidence is destroyed. Bridget escapes but the others get caught.
Bridget hires a tax attorney to defend them. The lawyer gets Bridget and all her accomplices off the hook for their crimes, because neither the law enforcement, nor the examiner can prove that the large stash of cash in their homes came from the Federal Reserve Bank. Technically, it isn't illegal to have a couple of hundred thousand dollars in cash lying around inside a private residence. However, they spent a large sum of that stolen cash to buy expensive objects and improvements on their houses, and did not pay the taxes for them because they couldn't justify the income. The IRS demands they pay their taxes, which turn out to be equal in amount to the money that still remains.
Eight months later, Bridget reveals to Nina and Jackie that she had stashed away much of the stolen money in the basement of a friend's bar.

Review: Once they get what they need, Bridget is so satisfied with how smooth everything went, she wants more and they go for it, but they should learn not to get so greedy since someone is on their tale.Mad Money is a chick flick, but it's one of the rare one's that I liked.
Queen Latifah was just so funny and Diane Keaton was a perfect choice for Bridget, Katie Holmes was pretty decent for the comic relief.
Please don't take the rating on IMDb seriously, I think that Mad Money was just a fun little comedy that deserves a better chance.6/10.
"Mad Money" has reasonable entertainment value, great characters, and even a nice little unexpected twist at the end to satisfy the escapist movie-goer.
Heist movies are almost a dime a dozen these days, with fair such as "Oceans 11" (both the old and the new versions), its subsequent sequels, "Heist", "The Score", etc.What gives "Mad Money" a unique flavor is the characters who enact the heist, essentially the Neapolitan kind: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
In "Mad Money", the team of schemers are three women working at below-sea-level jobs at the Federal Reserve building: a white grandmother of the upper middle-class variety (Diane Keaton), a middle-aged African-American single mother trying to stay above water (Queen Latifah, who actually stuffs packs of bills into a large shredding machine), and Katie Holmes as a 20-something scatter-brain who will probably lose the better part of her hearing by movie's end.
However, a unique chemistry between the actors somehow makes the movie work, and the writers took the story seriously enough to give a lot of unexpected laughs, the way comedies of this type should be written.
In other words, luckily the writers didn't try to make the movie "funny".On a final note, the outstanding talent of the cast has to be Queen Latifah who does an excellent job of portraying a single mom who wants the booty but has ambivalence about the entire scheme.
But, in order for the scheme to work, she needs the aid of Nina (Queen Latifah), who operates one of the shredders, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), whose task it is to transport the cart of paper money to and fro.
Directed by Callie Khouri (best known for writing the famous Ridely Scott film "Thelma & Louise"), Mad Money tells the story of three women working at the Kansas Federal Reserve Bank (though the movie was shot in Louisiana) who work out a system to steal money that is about to be shredded.
Diane Keaton is certainly better here than in her horrible performance in the previous year's Because I Said So, and while some may find baffling that Katie Holmes chose this over The Dark Knight, she certainly does a better job here at playing a ditz than her uselessness in Batman Begins.
While I really love Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah, I was not particularly excited about Mad Money.
I could never look away, because I was so interested in the plot; they set everything up really well and the movie was nicely paced with some fun and surprising twists and turns that keep the viewer on edge.Like I said, easily the best thing about this movie is it's performances which ultimately make the only decent movie otherwise more than decent and highly rewatchable, and the cast pull off the material that could be seen as poor amazingly and overall make the movie worth the while.
Mr. Lee also knew that you must choose a style.Director Kallie Khouri, best known for writing and producing the feminist cult classic "Thelma & Louise" failed in every conceivable way - she demonstrates no eye for cinematography, a tin ear for dialogue, no timing for pacing, no point of view, and no talent for directing actors."Mad Money" is based on an British caper television movie "Hot Money", produced by Granada Television.
If I ever was so lucky to have a cast with Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton, I'd be embarrassed that I had put such a blemish on their filmographies, by giving them so little to make great.No comedy, no drama, no thrills, no real danger, and no romance creates no film worth watching.
An Oscar winning actress (Keaton), an Oscar nominated actress (Latifah), and the current spouse of an Oscar nominated actor (Holmes) shine in this delightful comedy/crime film as three employees of a federal reserve who plot to steal a large sum of disposable cash.
Though I am not familiar with director Callie Khouri who apparently won an Oscar, the cast of this movie was compelling, from Diane Keaton to Ted Danson, from Katie Holmes to Queen Latifah.
Along the way, the characters are making what seem to be really obvious mistakes that any law-enforcement official with a lick of sense would catch on to in no time.The main characters are pretty nonchalant about stealing gobs of money, and the supposedly vigilant security staff is equally blasé - barely expending the energy to raise an inquiring eyebrow when they see suspicious behavior.
Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, and Callie Khouri (the screenwriter of Thelma and Louise) come together so perfectly in this entertaining crime adventure.Bridget (played by Diane Keaton) is the wife a laid-off a corporate manager Don (played by Ted Danson) and when he tells her they will be downsizing (selling their beautiful house, living simpler, etc.), she looks for a job to desperately keep them in their respective status.
As they keep taking more, their actions catch the eye of the IRS, and their perfect plan starts spiraling out of control.No, it doesn't have the intensely, complicated wit of other heist movies like the Oceans 11-13 or The Italian Job, but it is fiendishly entertaining.
Diane Keaton is the queen of comic (yet not over-the-top) acting, Queen Latifah is sensible and sophisticated, and Katie Holmes morphs back into a teenage-twenty-something with flair.This is an simple, enjoyable crime romp, with a great script that is just MAD FUN!.
Keaton, Queen Latifah and Holmes are three great actors who play three totally different characters in this film.
The three women who are trying to rob the bank are Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes.
As bad as that allegedly funny comic caper is, Callie Khouri directs a caper headed by old folk Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) that makes Manna look smart.
Mad Money, about three chicks who rip off the Federal Reserve, is a bankrupt comedy for which there was not a laugh for over an hour, and that's with an audience at a sneak preview, one of the easier groups to please.Diane Keaton shows no comedic skills beyond the lines Woody Allen has given her in previous movies long ago; Queen Latifa as single mama Nina Brewster has no range beyond the broad beam of her smile and her bod; Katie Holmes as daffy Jackie Truman is a much more successful wife of Tom Cruise.
The only one with half-way funny lines is Ted Danson as Don Cardigan, but his perfect white-haired, brush-cut hairpiece distracts from his delivery.Mad Money appears in early January, an infamous graveyard for films studios know flat-out won't be successful but distribute to satisfy investors and actors that the film actually played theaters.
Mad Money is a very fun caper/comedy film that I always love seeing over and over again!
Then there's Katie Holmes, who I really liked as well, I didn't enjoy her performance quite as much as Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton's, but it was still fun to watch.
Diane Keaton...well, either I'm getting old - or she's getting better.Heck, in some shots; she even looks hot - like a MILF...if you don't know what that means, look it up.Anyway, it was entertaining for the most part and I think that Ted Danson's role was good, but small.While he has had a decent career, it has never been huge outside of Cheers; however he always does a great job of portrayal and in this movie, I feel he outshines the rest of the major players.Entertaining and even funny to some degree with a life lesson.Don't get greedy.Do I feel that stealing money from the MAN is wrong?
It was nice to see Katie Holmes return to acting, after becoming Mrs Tom Cruise, she was real funny in her role alongside Diane Keaton, and Queen Latifah.
(Hot Money 2001(uk, TV.)) I'm not saying Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah aren't good actresses but this kind of stuff doesn't do them justice.
I will start with the casting Katie Holmes' performance at first was a little bit immature I was expecting more from her, her role was probably the most enjoyable and happy from the film her acting as a young women was just incredible I've never seen her doing so good in film before.
Then comes Queen Latiffa I think that her role was the most touching heart worming in the film she is just amazing this is her comedy just when you think that an actress is doing bad she gets the perfect role it was a good thing to see Queen doing a great job, and last but not least Dian Keaton she was the perfect to play that role her acting on this movie was so good you cannot compare it to last year's Because I said so, this was real acting this three actresses give such an amazing job thanks to this ladies the film is good.
Three female employees of the Federal Reserve plot to steal money that is about to be destroyed.This movie better than I expected it to be.
The three lead stars, Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes, and Queen Latifah, all seem to have fun in here.This film is kind of predictable, like many movies but it is certainly entertaining for most of the time.
I finished this film, thinking, "I too have a thirst to steal lots of money from the man!" Great performances help enhance a story of friendship and thievery..
She's amazed at the sight of all the money, and comes up with a scheme to steal the old cash with her fellow workers Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes) and Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah).Katie Holmes could have been in 'The Dark Knight' instead of this.
Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes are in search of "Mad Money" in this 2008 comedy with Ted Danson, Christopher McDonald, and Adam Rothenberg.Bridget (Keaton) and her husband (Danson) are $260,000 in debt, and after losing his job, he hasn't been able to find another one.
Everything goes well until Bridget notices a strange man in her yard during a party...and sees him again at the Federal Reserve the next day.This film is reminiscent to "How to Beat the High Cost of Living," which was funnier, but "Mad Money" is amusing and clever with a strong cast or pros.
Katie Holmes' was very good as a young, ditsy woman who thinks it all sounds like fun; Queen Latifah brings her usual warmth to her role of the nervous one in the group; and Diane Keaton is terrific as the greedy mastermind who pushes the boundaries and won't take no for an answer.Very enjoyable, a good rental..
every year the federal reserve destroys worn out , and bills that are frayed , and such, well all that money has to go somewhere doesn't it?, yes it does,, but these clever ladies have other ideas for that money,, they figure that if the United States Government is going to destroy the money anyway,, then it really shouldn't be a crime afterall,, actually I don't think it should be either,, so these girls come up with a foolproof idea to steal the money,, but they do need some help, not a bad comedy,, Queen Latifah, Dianne Keaton, and of all people,, Katie Holmes,, along with Ted Danson,, this makes for a decent comedy..
In this movie 3 women who work at a federal bank come up with a scheme to steal worn out money that is going to be destroyed.
Despite the silly ending, we have a fairly good film here led by Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Ted Danson who all become involve from stealing money from the Federal Reserve Bank.Keaton and Danson are a wealthy couple who lose everything when Danson is a victim of his firm's downsizing.
With little skills, Keaton goes to work as a cleaner for the Federal Reserve Bank where she meets up with Latifah and others as they steal money.It's hilarious how they do this and get around a boss who is constantly watching them.Don't be disappointed by the ending, since despite it all, crime does not pay..
Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes work together to make a great team as the three criminals.Although of its nasty box office performance and harsh reviews, Mad Money delivers as a comedy that is a lot fun from start to finish.
Diane Keaton does well and looks to slowly be returning to form, Queen Latifah is always so much fun and she fails to disappoint and even the usually annoying Katie Holmes is fun to hang around with.Overall, Mad Money is a lot of fun, mainly because of its three leads who are extremely enjoyable to hang out with..
Diane Keaton comes up with the scheme, which viewers are hardly privy to (she buys a lock and looks something up on the internet); Queen Latifah warns her not to spend any of the money, but a few scenes earlier is seen enrolling her child in a prestigious school and offering to donate a large sum to the library.
(Synopsis) Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) is a dedicated mother and corporate wife living in an upper middle class neighborhood when her husband Don (Ted Danson) is downsized from his job of 30 years.
The one-time corporate wife now works with Nina (Queen Latifah), a single mom with two kids who shreds old money, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), young, beautiful, and a little strange, who moves the money cart.
Then we have Queen Latifah, who is the best character in the movie--but who still goes for the "I'm American and I'm entitled to something because I want it." Forget about Katie Holmes.
She's a Type 1 diabetic and any idiot would know that diabetics often use syringes to inject insulin--but Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah imply Katie Holmes' character is a drug addict.
"Mad Money" (**** out of ****) finds Keaton teaming up with Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes.
Poor Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) sees her life going down the drain when her out-of-work husband Don (Ted Danson of CBS-TV's "Becker") cannot find another job.
Queen Latifah has played her role several times before and should be a pro at it and she does a good job.
Roger Cross is decent as Latifah's love interest but he's mostly quiet and brooding and doesn't really do anything to stand out.The most important thing I think with a buddy crime comedy is that the main characters (in this case the trio of gals) have great chemistry and in the end they are the best of friends and you believe it and Mad Money successfully pulls that off considering how different the characters and the actresses really are.
If however you do want to watch it you can on YouTube and after the first 10 minutes the sound is much better - well worth a look if you found Mad Money entertaining.
Its strengths lay in a very strong cast (headed by Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Ted Danson) as well as an intriguing story that is worth watching.Essentially, Bridget (Keaton) sees her comfortable, upper class life fall apart when her husband (Danson) loses his high paying job and they're left saddled with huge debts.
To try to make ends meet, Bridget takes a job as a janitor at the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, and while she works there and watches the operation, she concocts a scheme to rob the place of old money that was about to be shredded.
Diane Keaton plays suburbanite Bridget Cardigan, whose husband Don(Ted Danson)loses his job and has spent a year without finding another one.
So you have Nina(Queen Latifah),a single mother, and Jackie(Katie Holmes),a young free spirit, getting ready to pull off a heist with Bridget that will change all of their desperate and diverse lives.
Mad Money (2008): Dir: Callie Khori / Cast: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Roger Cross: Formula comedy about our constant strive for riches.
Mad Money is a comedy heist movie, with an unusual wrinkle in that the crooks are all women.They work at the Federal Reserve Bank, and the thought of all that worn out money simply being shredded proves to be too much for the unexpectedly impoverished Bridget (Diane Keaton), reduced to cleaning after husband Ted Danson loses his job.
So she recruits single mom / money shredder Nina (Queen Latifah) and dippy trailer dweller money mover Jackie (Katie Holmes) and the three of them demonstrate how easy it is to recycle" some of this unwanted money, albeit not without some wobbly moments on the way.This movie features pleasing performances from all the main characters, but particularly from Diane Keaton.
Katie Holmes' dozy Jackie is good fun, too, and Queen Latifah's sincerity gives the film some much-needed heart.Enjoyable, if a little frothy..
That the film works at all is testament to the three leads, Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes (how is correctly cast here unlike Batman Begins) and Queen Latifah.
So Bridget needs to work.She finds a job as a janitor in a Federal Reserve bank, and it just breaks her heart to see them having to destroy all that worn-out money each day.
It has money in it.' I only watched it because it had Diane Keaton in it, but after about 20-30 minutes, I started to realise this isn't such a bad film after all.