The Fortune

Directed by Mike Nichols, The Fortune follows a pair of 1920s hustlers (Warren Beatty’s Nicky and Jack Nicholson’s Dix) as they conspire to bilk an unsuspecting heiress (Stockard Channing’s Freddie Bigard) out of her substantial inheritance. It’s a seemingly foolproof setup that’s employed to sporadically entertaining yet mostly underwhelming effect by Nichols, which is a shame, ultimately, given that the picture does hold plenty of promise within its loose and laugh-out-loud funny opening stretch – with the above-average vibe perpetuated by the impressively committed (and appreciatively over-the-top) work of stars Beatty and Nicholson. (The latter is especially engaging as the dimwitted Dix, and his “mouse beds” story is undoubtedly a high point within the proceedings.) There’s little doubt, then, that The Fortune slowly-but-surely begins to peter out once it progresses into its distressingly meandering midsection, as Nichols, armed with Carole Eastman’s screenplay, delivers a second half that contains few, if any, elements designed to sustain the viewer’s waning interest – with the ensuingly momentum-free vibe paving the way for a frenetic third act that’s unable to make the riotous impact for which Nichols is obviously striving. The end result is a disappointing misfire that squanders the top-notch efforts of its three leads, although, in fairness, the bumbling dynamic between Beatty and Nicholson’s respective characters is almost strong enough to warrant a very mild recommendation.

** out of ****