The Laundromat (2019)

A widow investigates an insurance fraud, chasing leads to a pair of Panama City law partners exploiting the world's financial system.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writers:

Jake Bernstein (book), Scott Z. Burns (screenplay)

Stars:

Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, AJ Meijer

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Oldman	...	Jürgen Mossack
Antonio Banderas	...	Ramón Fonseca
AJ Meijer	...	Hominid #1
Arsenio Castellanos	...	Hominid #2
Lucy Morningstar	...	Hominid #3
Meryl Streep	...	Ellen Martin
James Cromwell	...	Joe Martin
Jeff Michalski	...	Norm Sidley
Jane Morris	...	Barb Sidley
Robert Patrick	...	Captain Paris
Chris McLaughlin	...	First Mate
Jay Paulson	...	Pastor Conners
Melissa Rauch	...	Melanie
Juliet Donenfeld	...	Thalia
Brock Brenner	...	Kaylen

Storyline

When her idyllic vacation takes an unthinkable turn, Ellen Martin (Meryl Streep) begins investigating a fake insurance policy, only to find herself down a rabbit hole of questionable dealings that can be linked to a Panama City law firm and its vested interest in helping the world's wealthiest citizens amass larger fortunes. Founding partners Jürgen Mossack (Gary Oldman) and Ramón Fonseca (Antonio Banderas) are experts in the seductive ways shell companies and offshore accounts help the rich and powerful prosper. They are about to show us that Ellen's predicament only hints at the tax evasion, bribery and other illicit absurdities that the super wealthy indulge in to support the world's corrupt financial system. Zipping through a kaleidoscope of detours in China, Mexico, Africa (via Los Angeles) and the Caribbean en route to 2016's Panama Papers publication - where journalists leaked the secret, encrypted documents of Mossack Fonseca's high-profile patrons - THE LAUNDROMAT's ensemble ...

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Plot Keywords:

mossack fonseca scandal | panama papers scandal | greed | flamboyant villain | evil banker | 

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Taglines:

Based on actual secrets

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and disturbing images

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Antonio Banderas and Robert Patrick's first collaboration since Spy Kids (2001).

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Goofs

Boncamper's son wants to go to the University of Miami and get an apartment to establish residency to get the in-state tuition rate. The University of Miami is a private institution and does not have a different tuition rate for Florida residents.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ramón Fonseca: First of all, there are some things you should know before we begin. For instance, we are real people, just like you. Secondly, we did not write a word of this. To be perfectly frank, we would have preferred all of this remain a secret. But we had no choice in the matter. We just woke up one day and everything changed. There were stories about us everywhere: TV, newspapers, and the internet.
Ramón Fonseca: And now it is our turn to tell a few stories. Think of them as fairy tales that actually ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in CTV News at Noon Toronto: Episode dated 9 September 2019 (2019)

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Soundtracks

Both Sides Now
Written by Joni Mitchell
Performed by Judy Collins
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Enjoyable exposé of offshore banking

This is an enjoyable, funny, exposing portrayal of the corrupt system of offshore accounts and how some apparently disconnected events share links back to the corruption at work. Maybe it shouldn't be funny because this is an infuriating reality that could be fixed if...well, if legislators were themselves not corrupt. Yes, the telling of the tale is not done in a totally conventional straight-forward linear way. But it is easy to follow and amusing, even as you feel you should be angry. And of course you realise that this film won't change a thing. But it is well made and acted.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin Spanish Russian

Release Date:

27 September 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Laundromat

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anonymous Content, Grey Matter Productions, LS Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1