MOVIE REVIEW by Lucas Allen: ‘The Banker’ not as good as it should be

The Banker
(Apple TV)

By Lucas Allen

Apple may have been known for computers and smartphones, but that won’t stop it from dipping its toes into the business of streaming. Apple’s first film from the new Apple TV+ is “The Banker,” based on a true story not known to many. Directed by George Nolfi, this movie is about the courage and perseverance against bigotry in both banking and capitalism.
Growing up in southern Texas, Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) learned about banking from working as a shoeshiner in front of a local bank. Then in the early 50s, he along with his wife, Eunice (Nia Long), and son, Bernard Jr., moves to California for a new start in real estate. Despite his talents, he unfortunately has to contend with the racism from the local community. To build a better reputation, he tells his wife’s good friend Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) a radical idea of buying one of the biggest banks while having someone else be seen as the bank’s president.
Soon enough, they implement their plan by hiring a factory worker named Matt (Nicholas Hoult) and teaching him the ins and outs of the business. Once Matt is well trained at crunching numbers and making good deals, the group become successful businessmen by financing real estate to the African-American community. Later on, Bernard heads back to Texas to try bring more change to his community. Though he and his team manage to do similar business, they find more opposition that could destroy everything they worked hard for.
While there is certainly some effort put into this film, there are still some lapses in storytelling logic that almost hurts it. Structurally, it drags its first and second acts before the third when it quickly gets to its resolution. Then you have most of the dialogue be more about banking and crunching numbers than the real issues presented. When characters spend more time with learning algebra and playing golf than moving the story along, it makes the two-hour experience feel more like three. The Big Short suffered from the same problem, but at least they tried their best to be an entertaining story.
Considering it’s a true story, it could’ve been rewritten as a civil rights story or give a light touch on the subject with a mix of comedy and drama. Maybe this movie could’ve taken a cue from the recent “Just Mercy” by having the main characters be more insightful with their roles in the story through their witty and more interesting dialogue. Those expecting to see a stellar story don’t want an extended educational lesson in real estate.
On the bright side, the acting is fine enough for this film. Mackie seems to be directed to be stoned-face while trying to go for some solid serious acting. Jackson on the other hand gives his usual and typical Jackson performance without his signature F-bombing. Both Hoult and Long are decent enough in the roles that you wish they could’ve brought more personality to the roles.
“The Banker” is only good for a weekend afternoon at home when there’s nothing else to watch on TV. As admirable in its effort, its script issues and overuse in banking lingo prevents it from being as good as it wants to be. Looks like Apple has a long way to go if it wants to be ahead in the streaming wars.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for some strong language including a sexual reference and racial epithets, and smoking throughout)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2.5 Stars (Out of Four)