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The Founder

6.5

8,149

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Original title: The Founder
Year: 2016
Running time: 115 min.
Country: United States
Director: John Lee Hancock
Screenwriter: Robert D. Siegel
Music: Carter Burwell
Cinematography: John Schwartzman
Cast: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Laura Dern, Linda Cardellini, Patrick Wilson, B.J. Novak, Lauren Denham, Catherine Dyer, Ric Reitz, Wilbur Fitzgerald, Valeri Rogers, David Silverman, Abbey Ferrell, Tracy Goode, Franco Castan
Producer: FilmNation Entertainment / The Combine. Distributed by The Weinstein Company
Genre: Drama | Biography. 1950s
Synopsis / Plot: The story of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton). This biopic of such an important businessman chronicles his work transforming McDonald's from a small burger chain in 1950s California to a global franchise. Along the way, he wrests control of the company from its actual founders, the McDonald brothers (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch), who believe that Kroc's business decisions are stripping the restaurant of its heart and soul.

Critics' reviews

"An unexpectedly piquant moral parable for the Trump era (...) ['The Founder'] spins a classical tale of underdog entrepreneurship and American Dream-chasing with one eccentric twist"

Guy Lodge: Variety
"Hancock's apparently irrepressible penchant for folksy Midwestern types and perky montages dilutes any cynicism or misanthropy that might have given this material the edginess it deserves"

Leslie Felperin: The Hollywood Reporter
"The tale of how Ray Kroc stole McDonald’s should be trenchant in its corporate satire, but it’s as bland and unchallenging as a Big Mac"

Alonso Duralde: The Wrap
"The details of the story are often fascinating (you'll learn a lot about burger production), and the cast find plenty of moments to shine."

Moira MacDonald: Seattle Times
"Keaton makes this electrifying take on the godfather of fast-food resonate for the scary here and now. (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"Ray remains an unanswered, not especially compelling, question, but Mr. Keaton comes close to making you believe there's soul to go with the fries and freneticism."

Manohla Dargis: The New York Times
"Keaton’s drilling performance reminds the viewer in Trump’s America that 'nothing in the world can take the place of persistence”'(..:) In its frank and finger-pointing portrayal (...) the film is similar to 'The Social Network' or 'Steve Jobs'"

Fionnuala Halligan: Screendaily

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Ranking Lists Position

83 My Top 10 Movies from 2016 (30)

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