Where the Money Is
The “money” of the film’s title should refer to Paul Newman, because the actor’s presence elevates this routine caper into a pleasantly bankable diversion. In Where the Money Is, Newman plays an apparent stroke victim who is transferred from prison to a nursing home. His nurse (Linda Fiorentino) discovers that he is a notorious bank robber and wonders whether he is faking the illness. Along with Fiorentino’s high school sweetheart-turned-husband (Dermot Mulroney), they concoct a scheme involving raiding an armored truck. Fiorentino (The Last Seduction) can play icy manipulation to perfection, though here her bread-and-butter character is toned down somewhat. Particularly amusing are scenes between her and the salty Newman in which she tries to extract information from him. “Honey, I’m playing brain dead, not brain damaged,” he tells her. The interplay between the characters is better than the standard heist nonsense that Where the Money Is succumbs to. The unlikely methods adopted by the film’s police are as dopey as the sub-Driving Miss Daisy musical score. But director Marek Kanievska (Less Than Zero) seems to understand that his trump card is star power, and that aspect of the picture is always well-played. (PG-13) Rating: 5
