User reviews

Inspired by true events The Banker shows how in a not that distant past black people just didn't have the same rights and opportunies as white people. Nowadays there is some progress made even though there are still a lot of people that will judge people just by the color of their skin and that without knowing the person. There always will be people that base their judgement of somebody by the color of their skin, racism is for dumb people and dumb people we will always have. That said this story is worth to be told, and definitely helped in giving everybody, no matter what race or religion you belong to, a chance to have equal opportunities and rights to make money or to live where you want. Great job from Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult and the rest of the cast, excellent acting from their part. George Nolfi made this movie most enjoyable to watch. The movie deserves a high rating and certainly doesn't deserve negative reviews.

Really enjoyed watching this. A good story very well acted and directed.

The movie had a good pace and never felt rushed or laboured.

If you liked Green Book and Hidden Figures you will enjoy this.

I am glad that I was able to learn about the story of Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris. This movie was enjoyable to watch and Samuel Jackson and Anthony Mackie are excellent together in this film. Of course it is upsetting to watch the racism of that period continually roadblock and take from Garrett and Morris but, it was much more enjoyable watching their accomplishments. History its what it is...it can't be erased.

Samuel L was excellent, it was well acted, it was on mission, the film kind of gripped... then lost that grip with an abrupt ending. Worth the watch though.

This is a replay of The Morning Show. It got horrible ratings immediately before people even had a chance to watch it just because people love to hate Apple.

This was a superb movie with fantastic actors, excellent writing and beautiful cinematography. Jackson is fantastic as always but Mackie was powerful as well; the entire cast did a great job. The plot advances at a nice pace and there is a great mix of drama and comedy that keeps the momentum going. The social statement is built into the storyline without bludgeoning you over the head. This is a huge part of US history and it's a story that needed to be told, I say well done

Engaging tale of two men trying to make money despite the unequal laws back then. It really draws me into the story, and I feel for the characters who faced so much injustice.

I can't think of many subjects more dull than banking , so you wouldn't think that a film about that world would be a great idea but you'd be wrong . This is a film that has an important story to tell and it tells it well .

Its about two African-American entrepreneurs in the 1960's who hire a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire while they pose as a janitor and chauffeur to be close to the discussions.

I enjoyed this for the most part . It's amazing how racist America was back than , and some would say still is , and how black people put up with it . I suppose what happened in the late 60's proved they'd had enough and rightly so .

There are good performances from Anthony Mackie and Nicholas Hoult . Samual L Jackson is enjoying himself immensely, laughing , Smoking and playing golf . Basically being himself.

If I had to be critical. I'd say the last third is a Little dull . It gets too technical and I found myself drifting off . It doesn't help that it's at least half hour too long .

Overall , it's another nice piece about how black people were ( or are ) treated and how , if you have the gumption , you can almost get around the prejudice.

It was a powerful film and the actors did their part quite nicely. don't understand the low ratings on this.

The story is great but the acting in the film was Oscar worthy. Anthony Mackie stood out in this film based on actual events. Movies like these are important for understanding history. Please watch and share with your friends. I loved it!

"The Banker" is a Biography - Drama movie in which we watch the real story of Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, two African-American entrepreneurs who built their business empire by hiring a white man pretending to be the head of their businesses.

I liked this movie very much because it was based on a simply amazing true story. The direction which was made by George Nolfi, it was very good and I liked very much that in the end of the movie showed us real photographs of the real people. The interpretations of both Samuel L. Jackson who played as Joe Morris and Anthony Mackie who played as Bernard Garrett were very good and I was really surprised by the interpretation of the last. Another interpretation that has to be mentioned was Nicholas Hoult's who played as Matt Steiner. To sum up, I have to say that "The Banker" is a nice movie that I highly recommend everyone to watch it because everyone needs to know about this story.

I love seeing this type of genre pop up. We so desperately need to show our children this kind of American History. Where we were only 50 years ago, and how far we have come. The acting and storytelling was super enjoyable and one for the whole family to watch and discuss.

Its nice once in a while to watch a film that is just good , easy to follow and is just all round enjoyable to watch. Plus the added bonus of learning something new as well, is always nice.

Two things drew me in to watch this film , 1) The fascinating story of two black men during the 1950's and 60's in America managing to own a company by having a white man be the face of them. Sign me up to watch that..........I do love some true story drama's this certainly is one of them....2) Samuel L Jackson...........Do I have to say anymore, I'll watch anything with him in!!!

There are two main reasons why this film works for me. Firstly the cast , all of them are great.....there is not a single actor out of place, all of them just fit so well and have great chemistry between. That chemistry is amplified between Samuel L Jackson's character and Anthony Mackie..........they work extremely well together , bouncing off each other in scenes...great to watch. You can tell that the two actors actually get on...........I would go as far as to say that is the best thing I've seen Mackie in........doesn't do as many serious roles like this being tied up to the Marvel films all the time......he should definitely do more!!! Jackson is well.............just his usual best.

The other shoutout on the acting side I want to mention is Nicholas Hoult.......again similar to Mackie doesn't appear in many roles like this but definitely should be given the chances more often. I thought he was great in the film and was a good counter to Jackson and Mackie.

The other/final reason this film works for me is, somehow the writers have written a script making this subject matter interesting and not boring!! Like who really wants to hear about buying property......snore or calculating banking............With the help of great actors they got all the relevant information in the film and it was easy for the audience to digest. Big praise for this because even though it seems simple, if this part of the film doesn't work and becomes to overbearing or too much..........it could easily ruin the film and make it bland.

I think its a really eye opening story to something that I am not surprised was happening but was fascinated to see what would happen to the two gentlemen in the end.......these two men had a much bigger impact on society in America than I could have imagined......Samuel L Jackson's character was right , they started a revolution !!

70% out of 100 its a good solid film , as I said in the beginning of this review......this film is nothing mind blowing, its not gonna change the world nor is it gonna win any awards.......but does every film have to do either of those things.....Nope! Its just an all round good enjoyable film with some great performances , a fascinating but yet sad story , with a great script and adequate directing.........You cant go wrong!!

Production: Decent editing, typical generic biopic script, well made 50s set design. 5/10.

On Screen: Samuel L Jackson's performance took over the film. The other performances are decent given the script. It's great to see stories about black businessmen, but Nicholas Hoult's character, Matt Steiner, had way too much screen time. Also, there wasn't fleshed-out characters. I would have liked to see more backstory on Bernard Garrett, played by Anthony Mackie. The plot is easy to follow, but the pacing is too quick which didn't help develop three-dimensional characters. 6/10.

Content/Impact: Although it was great to see a story about black businessman, it seemed like they cared more about Matt's Steiner's story making him look like "a good guy," then Bernard Garrett's. It's great to see stories like this being created, but this damn would have been better if it was directed and written by black creatives. 6/10.

Overall: It's a movie made for TV, not to experience in theaters. This is another film that had great promise but is ruined by white people trying to tell a story about the black experience. I'll give it an 5.6/10.

I enjoyed this movie a real lot. It was funny and the movie stars were good too. I don't remember knowing about these people before so I liked that it was also educational but it didn't feel like I was learning in school - not boring ever. It was a real fun way to pass the day inside when you can't go outside right now. Now I want to read the book! I wish I could have seen it in the theater though.

Greetings again from the darkness. The 'long con' usually doesn't work for movies since the story must be told within a 2 hour window. However, writer-director Georg Nolfi and co-writers Brad Kane, Niceole R Levy, David Lewis Smith and Stan Younger deliver a story inspired by the true actions and events of men who found a clever way to circumvent a system designed to prevent people of color from succeeding in business.

Anthony Mackie puts on glasses and a few sharp suits to play Bernard Garrett. We see young Bernard as a shoeshine boy in Willis, Texas in 1939, eavesdropping on the businessmen as they chat about high finance, and then taking notes on subjects such as return on investment and calculating property value. Young Bernard grows into a math whiz adult ... one whose ambition is hampered only by the color of his skin. He has a chip on his shoulder and is intent on proving the world wrong. His supportive wife Eunice (Nia Long) introduces him to Los Angeles entrepreneur Joe Morris (Samuel L Jackson), whose enterprising approach and bold lifestyle both complements and contrasts with Bernard's ambition and straight-laced personality.

Bernard realized early on that in order to build the real estate portfolio he envisioned .one that could provide opportunity for others in the black community .he needed the face of a white man to handle the negotiations. Initially that white face belonged to Patrick Barker (Colm Meaney), and the business grew quickly. Things really take off for the Garrett - Morris partnership when they begin training Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult) how to be the face of the company. Bernard's shrewd business and financial sense flies over Steiner's head, but with practice, he learns to "act" the part. Steiner's training involves everything from golf to math to dinner table etiquette.

It was the late 1950's and early 1960's . racism was rampant. The Garrett - Morris story plays like an underground rebellion, and one that is surprisingly fun to watch unfold on screen. While the two men built their personal wealth, their actions also helped fight against racism and inequality. They ended up owning 177 buildings, and things might have continued on had Garrett not, against Morris' better judgment, decided they were strong enough to change things back in his hometown of Willis, Texas. Morris labeled Garrett's plan as "social activism" rather than business. Their real estate venture morphed into banking so that blacks could have access to business and personal loans. What seemed like a minor misstep from Steiner, blew the wheels off and created a worst case scenario for Garrett and Morris.

Mackie, Hoult and Jackson are all fun to watch here, with Mr. Jackson offering up many of his patented reaction shots and laughs. If anything, the filmmakers play things a bit too safe with the story-telling. It's all a bit too slick and glossy, given the times. Sure, it's a pleasure to see what amounts to a classic car show on the street, but it's difficult to imagine things went quite this smoothly right up until they didn't. This is an Apple TV production, and its release was delayed due to controversy surrounding Garrett's second wife (not depicted in the film) and his son, who was originally listed as a Producer. An "Inspired by true events" banner to open a film typically means some dramatic license was taken, which we can assume was the case here. Regardless, the story of Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris and Matt Steiner is fascinating, and worthy of being told.

I love this story. Actors were great, very important film for all to see

Still amazes me the level of corruption, and racism innocent citizens experience just 40 years ago. If they don't let you come thru the door you come in thru the window. This are the type of actions that create change in our society. Good acting, great movie.

One of those films that has genuine history and a story that needs to be told. But when you tell the story you have to make it interesting enough to make you think I'm glad I saw it and at the same time entertaining enough to keep you interested. I'm pleased to say this ticks all the boxes. Samuel L Jackson is made for a role like this. Just watch it with an open mind and then judge. I don't give 10 out of 10 only on the basis that I've never seen a film that truly deserves it, I'm not sure when that'll be but when I see the film I'll give it hence 9 as it's that good in my opinion.

This biopic tells the tale of two African-American men who helped dismantle Los Angeles' housing segregation during the 1950s and went on to invest money in the Texan black-owned businesses that previously weren't able to secure a loan due to systematic racism. To achieve this, the pair enlist the help of a white man and teach him how to pass as a rich entrepreneur in order to do business with racist property owners. Though 'The Banker (2020)' is well-made on all fronts, the piece is pretty much standard biopic fare. Having said that, it's also consistently interesting and enjoyable. It has a lot to cover but it moves at a quick pace, leaving little room for boredom. In fact, it often brushes over large chunks of time that feel like they ought to have been explored more thoroughly. Similarly, the movie always seems somewhat surface level; it doesn't dig into its underlying issues as deeply as it could. However, it does a good job of getting you to care about its characters and their big-money business by making a point of portraying it as pseudo social-activism. Even if the audience can't relate to the large amount of money coming to our characters, they can relate to the same characters' struggles against an unfair system. The flick's most straightforwardly entertaining stuff comes during its almost heist-like undercover segments, during which the white frontman learns to (and subsequently does) convincingly con his counterparts. It is a little strange that a story centred on the black experience of racism spends so much time with a white lead, but it's a necessary part of the story and doesn't feel ill-intentioned at all. In general, the movie is well-meaning and well-executed. It's typically an entertaining experience, even if it is somewhat flat overall. 7/10

TL:DR- Great acting, great presenation, unclear about the true exact story but I feel like it gives the average viewer a good insight on how hard it was to succeed as an African-American.

First and foremost, I absolutely loved this movie. It was an emotional rollercoaster, having me at the edge of my seat wondering "how the hell are these two black men going to succeed in real-estate in the 60s?"

It's been a while seeing Mackie back in the light besides his Marvel fiesta, but every time I see his work it just gets better and better. I love the way he can captivate what the reality of a smart person generally is. Usually, smart people are very logical and straightforward thinkers as you can see in the movie. They are only worried about getting the job done efficiently and effectively. I see people say he should have been a little more happy and bright and was at times a bore to watch, but I believe that's the joy of his character. As you can see in the movie and back in the 60s, for African-Americans not everyone could just smile as they were being treated with injustice and racism every single day. He was ambitious and passionate about a his aspirations and he was willing to do everything it took, even if it meant blackening his heart and keeping his head down to avoid his oppressors iron fist. And in the long run he achieved not only his goal as a successful black businessman, but also made revolutionary vibrations in the US for his people.

Samuel Jackson, while it's always lovely to see him doing his thing, I believe he could have toned down just a bit to keep a more serious flow in the story as this was an extremely detrimental and morally degrading time period, but all and all you must laugh a little in the face of conflict. Great performance as always.

My girl Nia out here still out here crushing her roles. I loved her acting as Mackie's wife. As stated, Mackie's character is so logical, as seen numerous times in the film, he can get tunnel vision and it clouds his judgment. Nia's overwhelming warm energy and side of sass and overall charisma made me really connect with her character and had me yelling when she was putting his man back on track. Love you Nia <3

Nicholas Hoult's acting was astounding as well as I could tell it was out of his spectrum of movies. Nonetheless, I feel that he really did his best and it honestly showed. He put a lot of time into his character and he played his part to the note.

To finalize I had no clue of the true story before watching, so I'd need to do some research. I've seen other critics say it doesn't capture the entire brutality of this entire story and I'm not going to say it should or shouldn't. But I do believe for an opening course on African-American real-estate in the 60s, it does a mighty fine job of presenting it. It maintained it's 60s vibe throughout all the dialogue and settings and they remind you every so often.

This is a good movie but, in my opinion, is the lack of drama that doesn't make this a perfect one. My first impression was that the plot is too liniar, no big twists, no broken hearts just a cool, calm but in the same time more enjoyable than many movies outhere.

Hollywood movies are becomming just too commercial, too soulless. They just make movies to make money. They don't make movies to teach somebody anything, to make us feel anything great.

In the end this movie is worth watching because had remind me of something : not to take anything for granted, not even my own rights.

The summary of the movie actually was more interesting than the movie itself. But I guess there was just not enough meat to the story, to carve it into something really breathtaking. It is an ok-ish movie, the performances are mediocre, SLJ seemes bored at times. Cinematography in my eyes was also not special in any way. Therefore, an average movie, limited by its limited premise.

Giving a 9 or 10 for this piece is clearly an activist rating of someone who either never saw it or didnt take their rainbow glasses of while watching it.

I recommend watching it if quarantine is about to kill you through boredom, otherwise see something else.