Money for Nothing (1993)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Ramón Menéndez

Writers (WGA):

Mark Bowden (article)
Ramón Menéndez (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

There were a million reasons to give the money back. But Joey Coyle couldn't think of one.

Plot:

When unemployed dockworker Joey Coyle finds $1.2 million that fell off of an armored car, he decides to do the logical thing: take the money and run...

Plot Keywords:

Money | Dockworker | Finders Keepers | Ex Girlfriend | Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Cast

John Cusack	...	Joey Coyle
Debi Mazar	...	Monica Russo
Michael Madsen	...	Detective Laurenzi
Benicio Del Toro	...	Dino Palladino
Michael Rapaport	...	Kenny Kozlowski
Maury Chaykin	...	Vincente Goldoni
James Gandolfini	...	Billy Coyle
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Mrs. Coyle
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Eleanor Coyle
Ashleigh Dejon	...	Katie Coyle
Lenny Venito	...	Hrbek
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Cochran (as Philip S. Hoffman)
Currie Graham	...	Dunleavy
Frankie Faison	...	Madigan
Ed Pansullo	...	Carini

Also Known As:

The Joey Coyle Story (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Joey Coyle uses the alias Frankie Santos. In real life, a friend named Frank Santos took him to the airport to flee. (There was no Monica in real life.)

Goofs:

Factual errors: Joey Coyle found the 1.2 million dollars in 1981. There is a scene where the Philadelphia Flyers are on TV and you can see player Rod Brind Amour who didn't join the Flyers until 1991. The year Joey found the money Rod Brind Amour was only eleven years old.

Quotes:

[about the money]
Joey Coyle: Think about it Kenny. Did we hurt anyone?
Kenny Kozlowski: No.
Joey Coyle: Did we steal it from anyone?
Kenny Kozlowski: No.
Joey Coyle: Are we giving it back. *Hell no!*

Movie Connections:

References "Batman" (1992)

Soundtrack:

MONEY TO BURN

Great cast, average premise

"Money For Nothing" is a watchable little movie, but nothing spectacular. How could it be really, when it's based on a premise that's not particularly interesting in the first place? A guy finds some money and the police is looking for the money. There you go.

The real reason to watch this is the amazing cast, which wasn't very well known yet in 1993 when this movie was made. Michael Madsen, Benicio Del Toro, Philip Seymour Hoffman and James Gandolfini all in one movie, that's really a treat. The shining light, however, is the leading star himself. This may not be John Cusack's best movie, but it may very well be his best performance.

"Money For Nothing" suffers a bit from the fact that it can't decide whether it wants to be a drama, a crime story or a comedy. Still, it makes for an enjoyable viewing. Catch it, if it's on TV.