Capital

Director Costa-Gavras was once a celebrated filmmaker and a muckraker with a keen eye. It’s almost hard to believe that the same guy who was responsible for the thrilling, politically deviant films Z and Missing is the guy behind this droll snoozefest. Gad Elmaleh plays a newly minted CEO of a French bank who’s under pressure from shareholders and a villainous American hedge fund guru. Elmaleh takes the Gordon Gekko route and schemes and plots his way to complete control, all the while trying to convince the public he’s a “man of the people.” Elmaleh has a few good Machiavellian moments here, but not enough to hold down the plodding picture. Veteran actor Gabriel Byrne plays the hedge fund manager and turns in one of the most bland performances in recent memory. Costa-Gavras’ tale of financial greed is tired, humorless and best left forgotten.