The Founder

Released 16th December 2016, The Founder follows Ray Kroc in his expansion of a small business called McDonalds. The film operates as a biopic for the real life Ray Kroc which follows him from Kroc selling milkshake machines in 1954 to 1970 where he delineating the importance of persistence in success. Through this narrative the themes of persistence are well exemplified as well as sacrifice, ethics and greed too; each theme is easy to latch onto and acknowledge through the perfect pacing of the film which keeps the audience engaged with the narrative. Michael Keaton does a fantastic job of bringing Ray Kroc to life through every aspect of his performance. Keaton is able to encapsulate the salesman pace and intonations to his vocalisation while his physicalisation enables flamboyant gestures and paced movements to enhance the vocals; that said, Keaton never comes off as goofy due to his sublime facial performance and moments of quiet.

Nick Offerman and John Caroll Lynch also give strong performances to Dick and Mac McDonald. Whereas Dick is presented as the more business-savvy of the two (aided greatly by Offerman’s controlled vocalisation and jaded physicalisation), Mac comes across as the more sociable, people-person of the two (with the help of Lynch’s lofty physicalisation). Both actors also manage to present different responses to Kroc’s rising ambition and boundary pushing: the tension between the brothers and Kroc is thoroughly believable and you know that it will not end peacefully. Laura Dern is also quite good as Kroc’s wife Ethel. While she does not hold a hefty presence in the narrative, she is able to deliver the domestic consequences of business people’s ambitions rather well. Similarly, Linda Cardellini gives an intriguing performance as Joan Smith.

Whereas Ethel provided insight into marital influences of business ambition, Joan can connect to Kroc through their business-savvy interests and subsequently draws Kroc away from Ethel. One particularly brilliant aspect of the film is the 1950/1960s production design and costuming; naturally, we see various aspects of 50/60s lifestyle incorporated into every scene which enables the story to feel all the more grounded in its time period. Another aspect which is superb is the soundtrack; Carter Burwell delivers a memorable soundtrack which utilises several leitmotifs across the narrative which tie into the themes very nicely. Overall, The Founder is a well made and well told story of the American Dream manifested through business opportunity and insightful characters.