FILM REVIEWS: Welcome to the world of Sir Richard 'Greedy' McBride

GREED 
Release Date: 21st February
Director: Michael Winterbottom.
Starring: Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson, Isla Fisher and David Mitchell

If you like your laughs in shades of darkly cynical, Greed will probably hit the spot. Based around the ruthless antics of a famous retail tycoon, writer/director Michael Winterbottom cuts to the heart of a thoroughly dislikeable individual - exposing warts, warts and more warts. Peppered with cutting quips and wicked one-liners, it offers the life story of Sir Richard ‘Greedy’ McBride (Steve Coogan) - a man to whom subtlety and generosity are unknown attributes. 

Coogan said he based his performance on Philip Green, but his look, especially the blindingly white teeth, on Richard Caring, the trendy London restaurateur. Coogan was well chosen for the role - easily wearing the ruthless, heartless bully-boy antics of an individual as repulsive as he is filthy rich. 

The story opens on the Greek island of Mykonos where the ‘King of the High Street’ is hosting a lavish party to celebrate his 60th birthday. Among the guests are his feisty Irish mother Margaret (Shirley Henderson), his former wife Samantha (Isla Fisher), and his nervous biographer, Nick (David Mitchell) - avidly charting how the tycoon’s billion pound empire was built, leaving out the tax dodges, forced job losses and shady business practices. Spotting a group of Syrian refugees camped out on a neighbouring beach, McCreadie has the cameras film him giving them food - only to pluck the meals back when the cameras have stopped rolling. 

A similar scene later on sees McCreadie in Sri Lanka, searching out the cheapest sweatshop and bullying the already exploited workers into lower wages - and then skipping out on a taxi fare. 

The cast also includes cameos from stand-up comic Jessica Fostekew, Asim Chaudhry, Will Smith and Stephen Fry. Winterbottom collaborated on the screenplay with television Veep writer Sean Gray resulting in plenty of cracking dialogue. Plus the ending gives a nod to the recent Tarantino hit, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. 
It’s dark stuff with a keen underlying message on greed - but packed with hilarious moments.  

FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)