Free Money (1998) Online

If you can handle a world about half a bubble off plumb, there's a lot of fun to be had in "Free Money". It's quite obvious that all of these characters would vanish in a puff of smoke in what we call the "real world", but inside their own rules of logic and social constraints it all makes perfect and hilarious sense.

Brando's warden personifies what Joseph Heller once called "a gigantic belch of a man", and Hayden Church and Sheen are perfect as man's men dragged either unconscious or screaming into their twin high school bride's playhouse version of married life.

Donald Sutherland has a nice turn as a psychotic judge, and Mira Sorvino turns in a fine performance as a kind of bridge between "our world" and the asylum run by lunatics that the rest of the characters live in.

It's quite possible that we could have lived without some of the brutality (cattle prods, gladiator fights in the prison) but then again, what the hell. It's a 90's film.

--bt

Everyone in this movie, Marlon Brando, Donald Sutherland, Charles Sheen, Thomas Hayden Church, Mira Sorvino, seem to simply be going through the motions, yet occasionally, bright moments of very dark comedy arise from the murky script. Speaking of the script, it just never gives the feeling of being fully developed, the actors appear to be simply freewheeling as they go along. Nevertheless, the film is watchable, and there is a chance that repeat viewings may actually improve the experience. A curiosity at best for Brando's over the top performance, a bad film at worst for the uneven script, "Free Money" might have just enough weirdness to survive. - MERK

Free Money was not at all what I had expected. It is an entertaining comedy with Brando having great fun. Charlie Sheen also plays against type as a nerd duped into marriage with one of Brando's daughters.

This premiered on Sky TV in the UK without even so much as a video release but is much more entertaining than a lot of other Charlie Sheen movies of late. I enjoyed it!

Loved this film. Marlon Brando, is a blunt over-the-top parody of a small minded religious, authoritarian, middle American bigot. Very humorous characterization as when Marlon Brando who is a sadistic murderous prison warden, prone to holier-than-thou, fire-and- brimstone religious judgments, covers his beloved truck with a giant American flag and gives thanks to the lord for his truck and all the great trucks America gives to the world. Brando is a genius. He makes these quirky speeches that are soft spoken and impromptu, yet so brilliant, subtle and befitting of the oddball character he plays. Although this movie is perfectly obtuse and surreal, it hilariously portrays a certain truth about dishonest, self- centered, small town Ameircan religious fanatics. Fun just to see the assortment of big name actors even if for minor roles. Sorvino plays an interesting character who makes it big as an FBI agent returning to her hometown to track down Marlon Brando . Lots of interesting comical references to small town politics and culture. Reminds me of David Lynch. Quirky and thoughtful.

Currently this film has a 4.8 rating here at IMDb but in my opinion, VERY unjustly so! It teeters constantly between quirky, sweet humor, and macabre, almost cartoonish dark comedy. Which is to say, it's quintessential Brando. There's even a brief freeze-frame in the film of Brando with his hands flapping by his face in a 'neah-neah' gesture that is so 'Brandoesque'. He knows that his physical presence (a seemingly 500-pound ballet dancer) is a grand mixture of Father Christmas, Charlie Chaplin, Edward G. Robinson, and the man who bites off the heads of chickens at the circus. You just never know what you're going to get with him, so you - and the other characters in the film - are always kept a bit on edge (he played a somewhat similar character in "The Freshman"; another film that I've always thought was underrated).

Anyway, the train heist is merely a minor plot point, so I'm guessing that maybe that's why the movie bombed. Audiences were probably expecting a heist story with a solid, formula plot (probably along the scale of "Oceans Twelve"), and I'm guessing they felt extremely uncomfortable with the film's humble speed. The big-name cast also probably didn't help, because the film has a real 'Canadian provincial' feel to it (Hollywood, this film is not!). Nevertheless, the entire cast is fantastic; particularly Thomas Haden Church who I never would have guessed was the same guy in "Sideways"! Perhaps I'm just nuts, but I think this is a sleeper gem that has yet to find its true audience.

Any film with Marlon Brando is worth watching and I was not disappointed by this one. It is as though a bunch of big name stars got together and decided to make a screwball sicko black comedy. The film is erratic but overall they succeeded.

Marlon Brando is superb as The Swede, a vicious and sadistic prison warden and a true `River of Fire' on earth. He clearly enjoyed this role. Charlie Sheen is funny but badly miscast loser due to his lack of accent (more on that later). Thomas Church is wonderful as Larry, a dim bulb but big-hearted co-accomplice with Bud. Donald Sutherland is very disappointing as Judge Rausenberg, as is Mira Sorvino as his daughter the FBI agent. The scheming, teenage twins were funny and wonderful.

As with many screwball comedies, the plot jumped around frenetically and was difficult to follow. Still, I found it cohesive if lacking in continuity. The strongest points were the scenes with the Swede, the twins, and Larry and Bud while the weakest point was probably the laughably easy train robbery. Also, I found the pit bull like violence in the prison unrealistic and difficult to deal with.

Having lived in Minnesota, I was disappointed by some of the details of the movie. First, Marlon moved his hands a lot when he talked while any Minnesotan knows that a true Swede talks with his hands still --- very still indeed --- at his sides. Yah sure, yabecha! Also, the accents were very erratic. Larry had a true northern Minnesota accent while Charlie Sheen had no accent at all --- he was miscast. Marlon and Donald did fairly well but the twins sounded like Valley girls pretending to be Minnesotans --- their enthusiasm for their roles made this cute rather than annoying.

The film was so erratic and had such poor continuity that I can't give it more than a six but it still was worth seeing at least once. I recommend it to anyone with an open mind who can deal with the violence and the sexual content. This film definitely is not for children.

If you are a Brando fan, you'll love this film. He appears to be improvising throughout the film and takes everyone along for an hilarious ride. Sheen and Church deftly underplay their roles of the town dunces (although an argument could be made that the entire town is full of dunces). Good performances all around but the real treat is Brando. He fills the screen, literally and figuratively, with his presence.

'Free Money,'is a film the masses will not enjoy, for its seemingly avantgarde, zany style of film-making. At times the movies disposal of any recognisable main plot, creates not so much a sense of confusion, but focuses the audiences attention onto the true depth of its innovative,darkly sinister, serio-comical undertones. The film follows the story of two 'nobodys,'who end up married to twins of a draconian, bible-loving father (Marlon Brando,) who unfortunately happens to be the towns jailor. As time passes, Bud and Larry, the two hapless 'going nowhere' protagonists conspire to rob a train of money to solve their daily drudges, and to escape the ever-increasing slavery of the deranged 'Brando'!!! However, all does not go to plan, as the 'Swede'(Marlon Brando) smells a rat!!! Will they make it? is the question raised as all their plans buckle under the weight of the 'Swede.' People expecting a film with a good story will be dissapointed, but those seeking comical improvisation from Brando,a well crafted performance from Charlie Sheen, and a refreshing break into the wacky film techniques of 'Free Money,' will laugh and laugh, and possiblly cower- As the 'Swede' played by Brando is genuinely the scariest film character I've seen for ages- Look out!!!! It's a real shame this B movie, with A class actors didn't take off. It had the potential to be a real landmark film within this genre, but unfortunately, it went straight to T.V. Oh well. watch it, if ya dare!!!

It's a good thing The Score came along for Marlon Brando as a farewell performance because I'd hate to think of him going out on Free Money. Not what his fans ought to remember him by.

Brando in his last years is looking more like Orson Welles and Free Money is the kind of film Welles would have done looking for financing of his own work. Brando is the warden of a local prison which in America, when it's located in a small rural setting is usually the largest employer in the area. That gives one who is in charge a lot of clout.

Unfortunately he has one weakness he indulges, his two twin bimbos otherwise known as daughters. Even when they get simultaneously pregnant by a pair of losers, Charlie Sheen and Thomas Haden Church, their hearts still belong to Daddy.

Not to fear because Brando's willing to give them jobs in the prison where they work under conditions not much better than the convicts have. What to do, but commit a robbery of a train which goes through the locality every so often carrying used money to be burned by the Treasury.

Although Free Money has some moments of humor, for most of the time it's quite beneath the talents of all those involved. Some of them would include Donald Sutherland as an equally corrupt judge and Mira Sorvino as his stepdaughter, but also straight arrow FBI agent.

Of course these people and the rest of the cast got to work with someone who many rate as the greatest American actor of the last century. Were it not for Brando's presence and were it some 40 years earlier, Free Money would be playing the drive-in circuit in red state America where the populace could see how they're being satirized.

Or a feeble attempt is made to satirize them.

I don't know how this film received so little fanfare or notice. I am a Brando fan and am still amazed at the actor's range. This is a wonderful comedy turn for him and the famous supporting cast is equally fun to watch. I think viewers will be surprized at what a completely entertaining film this was. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to have a good laugh. Does anyone know why this was not released in movie theatres???

Marlon Brando had long since lost interest in acting when he made this film. His performance as "The Swede" is the worst of his career, and that is precisely what he intended it to be. He doesn't overact. Instead, he simply acts in a bizarre fashion and pokes fun at his embarrassingly gargantuan girth. The scene where Brando climbs over the toilet stall is probably the worst, funniest moment in the history of cinema. As we witness him fall head-first into a toilet, it is hard to believe that we are watching the same actor who starred in A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, and The Godfather.

I guess the real question is why Marlon behaved like this in his later years. Was he sick of the movie business? Did he just like making a complete and utter fool out of himself? I guess we'll never know. But this film serves as a fascinating study as to what bad acting is all about.

On that note, watch fellow acting veteran Donald Sutherland as he struggles to deliver his lines, embarrassed at himself for agreeing to participate in this travesty.

This movie, with its superb cast, starts out as a lighthearted comedy. All of a sudden, it takes a hard left turn - leaving the viewer wondering, "What happened? Is this the same movie I was watching a minute ago?" Brando is absolutely charming and hilarious in this dark comedy and the writing is first-rate. The cinematography of the woods and country is breathtaking and you really get a sense of this "small town" from the script and acting. Sheen and Church are fabulous in their parts although Sheen sometimes speaks a little fast in some of the comic punchlines, so seeing it more than once would be of benefit. The jokes are terrible, and it's all in poor taste. The other actors {Sheen, Sorvino, and Sutherland} are O.K. in their roles. It's Brando that you can't take your eyes off of. He only made one more film after this " The Score" and that was more of a cameo. This was his last starring role in a movie and it is worth watching.

Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

Very little to like here, even if you love Brando. Although incredibly overweight in this one (and probably without extra padding),

he remained true to his character despite having very little to work with. Sutherland's brief appearance is hardly more than a cameo and wasn't given any chance to show his stuff. The two leads were more than adequate with their portrayal, however, the weak screenplay and unfunny farcical plot cannot be save by good, named actors. Waste of time and money. At last the casting was decent, although little or no character development wasted the talent. The best part was the train wreck, which pretty much sums up the movie.

If any film deserves to become a cult classic, this is one. It is very bizarre and, truly, unlike anything I've ever seen. It might be trying to rip off the Coen brothers' slapstick comedies, but it has its own strange tone unlike their films. It's like a living cartoon, basically. It feels even broader than even something like 'The Ladykillers' or 'Raising Arizona' - if that seems possible. The main point of watching it is Brando, who is unrecognizable with his hysterical swede accent. He even does slapstick ... using his enormous girth for comic effect. It is strangely enduring and, despite everything, likable! Overall, this is not for all tastes. But if you like iconic stars in very strange films, this is for you. It might deserve a rediscovery sometime soon. When the comments pages mainly only has two responses -- it's great or it's horrible -- you know something interesting is going on.

Sven "The Swede" Sorenson (Marlon Brando) is a feared prison warden. His only weaknesses are his two twin daughters Liv and Inga. The girls lie to him about being pregnant forcing their boyfriends Bud Dyerson (Charlie Sheen) and Larry (Thomas Haden Church) into shotgun weddings. The Swede murders an escaped prisoner. FBI agent Karen Polarski (Mira Sorvino), the daughter of corrupt Judge Rolf Rausenberger (Donald Sutherland), investigates and finds a pattern of killings. The boys decide to escape the tyranny of The Swede by robbing a train carrying disused bills to be burned by the Treasury.

There is an ugliness to this film. Brando is cartoonishly ugly. The girls are poor actors in their one and only credit. They probably got the job because they're twins and they're pretty enough. The boys have their own ugliness in that they're dumb but not in a funny way. None of this is funny. The most notable aspect is that this is Brando second to last film. It's better to remember The Score as his last. At least, that one is pretty good and he gets to leave on a high note. This one is a dark comedy that isn't any fun.

I remember seeing Yves Simoneau's "Free Money" in the new release section of a video store, despite its never having been in the theaters. I thought it odd that a movie starring Marlon Brando would appear out of nowhere. It turns out that the movie got released in Singapore in 1998 (see the header about the movie on IMDb). As for the movie itself, it makes no pretense about being silly, with Brando as a sadistic warden whose daughters feign pregnancy to force their loser boyfriends into shotgun weddings. While Brando's role reminded me of his performance as Vito Corleone, it still didn't seem like the sort of role in which I would expect to see him. The rest of the cast is OK in their roles, but the plot is so routine that the movie isn't as entertaining as it could be. Worth seeing once.

This is a good example of a bad movie. I had to take a break in the middle, as I can not sit through the entire 1hr 42 mins in one go. Almost every aspect of this film gets on my nerves...especially the Swedes daughters.

I have vented enough and shall never think of this movie again.

Do yourself a favour and pass this one up.

Such great actors such a disappointment. Marlon Brando plays and awful character, the movie is not funny at all, a subconscious message can be seen "IT IS A DAMN CRAP!!!", "IT SUUCKS SO BADLY!!", "THROW YOUR TV THROUGH WINDOW", and so on. It is simply disgusting and irksome. In addition to foolish plot, sense of humor, there is something else. The way the rooms are decorated, the colors. It makes me sick, everything is so colourful that it might cause epilepsy. Usually I do not care about the decoration in movie but this from "Free Money" made me angry. Avoid at all costs! "Free Money" - probably for Charlie Sheen, Sutherland and Brando, but a viewer gets nothing! One watches it at cost of sanity.

I watched Free Money last night & it was the longest 90+ minutes of my life. With such an intriguing cast, I really thought that I was in for a treat - especially since I'm a Brando fan. WRONG! What a waste of talent. It's almost embarrassing to watch at times (like the cattle prod scene), & there were so many missed opportunities for humorous setups (why didn't they show Charlie Sheen's character going back to tow Brando's truck?) Ugh. It tries to be a slapstick comedy, but I just wasn't buying into it. Skip this one. Only for die-hard Brando fans.

I'm giving it 2 out of 10 because I still think the worse movie ever made was Skidoo.

"Free Money" is a middle of the road "comedy" with next to no laughs.

This Charles outing is decent but this is a pretty low-key performance. Marlon Brando stands out as the big fat warden who is of father of two twin daughters that Charles and Thomas Haden Churches' character want to date. Brando brandishes a whip for no reason. He actually tortures Sheen and Church for minutes on end. It is kinda weird. There's also a subplot with Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland that forgets to develop and it hurts the film a little. I'm still trying to figure out why Charlie want to change his name. Every movie with "Charles" has been pretty bad.

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If I told you the story outline you might not think the film could be so funny. But if you like off-beat comedy with a twist then just see this film. Go on - you know you want to!

Best bit - Brando with his head in the toilet ! It has to be seen to be believed.

Absolutely wonderful. Marlon Brando shines again on the silver screen as The Swede, with a moustache that goes with his attitude. The script is also without holes, and a lot of ear candy. Sheen great, Sorvino her usual self.

This wretched movie shows that not even some of Gollywood's best can salvage a true landfill deposit..

I could spend much time describing everything that was bad about this effort, but that would require more time and I've already wasted 91 minutes watching...IT.

Looking at it now, after Brando's death, shows how tragic the life of one of our greatest actors had become.

Donald Sutherland? Why?

I have to fill more lines to get this accepted. I have to fill more lines to get this accepted. I have to fill more lines to get this accepted.

Don't waste your time with this movie. I'm overdue to do something interesting. Bye.

I, too, am a fan of Marlon Brando. The talent the man has is unbelievable. Who could have imagined a brilliant slapstick comedy featuring Brando, Sheen, and Sutherland? Both the writer and cast director deserve an award. The shifting role Brando plays as overprotective father to ruthless Warden is one of the best things about the movie. But the show also belongs to Sheen and Church. I hadn't seen much of the other actor, Church, before, but he was hilarious in this movie, too. I never saw this in the theaters, I don't know if it showed. If you want to see a good, light-hearted movie that will keep you laughing, go and rent this movie tonight. This is one of the few actually funny comedies to come out of the 90's.