The Banker (2020 film)

The Banker is a 2020 American period drama film directed, co-written and produced by George Nolfi. The film stars Anthony Mackie, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long, Jessie T. Usher and Samuel L. Jackson. The story follows Joe Morris (Jackson) and Bernard Garrett (Mackie), two of the first African-American bankers in the United States.

The Banker
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Nolfi
Screenplay by
  • Niceole Levy
  • George Nolfi
  • David Lewis Smith
  • Stan Younger
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyCharlotte Bruus Christensen
Edited byJoel Viertel
Music byH. Scott Salinas
Production
companies
  • Romulus Entertainment
  • Mad Hatter
  • Iam21 Entertainment
  • Hyphenate Films
Distributed byApple TV+
Release date
  • March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
Running time
120 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million[2]

Plot

In 1954, Bernard Garrett wants to get into real estate but encounters racism that prevents him from being a successful real estate investor. After a chance encounter with wealthy club owner Joe Morris, he convinces Joe to be his co-investor. Together they convince Matt Steiner, a white man, to pose as the front of the company in meetings to facilitate the sales. Eventually, they become extremely successful in Los Angeles real estate, with the two teaching Matt the basics of real estate investing. The three secure a number of properties in L.A. and effectively integrate a number of previously segregated neighborhoods by selling and renting to black families. After this success, he sets his sights on the local bank in his Texas hometown to give loans to the black residents. Racist bank practices had excluded black people from receiving loans for small businesses and homeownership. Joe protests the idea at first but eventually relents and the three move to Texas.

Matt buys the bank, fronting for Bernard and Joe, but the local townspeople are extremely suspicious of this move. A bank executive tracks the records of the loans and discovers that they're giving loans to black people, follows Matt and discovers that his partners are black, then threatens them with exposure which would cause "a run on the bank." Matt persuades Joe and Bernard to purchase a second bank and put him in charge of it despite his inexperience. The racist bank executive calls in a federal investigator who checks the records of Matt's bank and discovers numerous infractions attributable to Matt's carelessness. Matt, Bernard and Joe get arrested for violating federal banking laws.

Facing a 50-year prison term, Matt takes a plea deal, falsely testifying that he was duped by Bernard and Joe. The next day, Bernard testifies passionately about black people being given the same opportunity for upward mobility as whites. He and Joe are convicted and serve time in prison; upon release, they go with Bernard's wife Eunice to live in the Bahamas in two homes which Matt had purchased for them with money Bernard had entrusted to him for that purpose the night before Bernard's testimony.

Cast

Production

It was announced in October 2018 that George Nolfi would direct the film, which he co-wrote with Niceole Levy. Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long and Taylor Black were set to star, with filming beginning in Atlanta.[3][4] The film was partially shot in Douglasville, Georgia and Newnan, Georgia.[5] Additional casting was announced in November.[6] The film's early apartment scenes were filmed at La Madre Arms apartments in Atlanta, GA.

Release

In July 2019, Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights to the film.[7] It was set to have its world premiere at AFI Fest on November 21, 2019,[8] followed by a limited theatrical release on December 6, 2019, and digital streaming in January 2020.[9] However, after claims of sexual assault were made against one of the producers of the film, Bernard Garrett's son Bernie Jr., by his half-sisters, the premiere was cancelled and the film was pulled from the schedule.[10]

Bernie Jr's half-sisters also accused the filmmakers of writing their mother, Linda, out of the movie. He denies the claims of sexual assault, citing a family conflict surrounding Linda's infidelity and subsequent separation from his father, and the filmmakers maintain that the account of events depicted in the film are the result of independent research and not Bernie Jr's recollection.

The film was eventually released in a limited theatrical release on March 6, 2020, followed by digital streaming on March 20, 2020.

Reception

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 79% with an average score of 6.8/10, based on 77 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Banker's timid approach to dramatizing its fact-based story is often outweighed by the trio of strong performances at its core."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]

Accolades
Award Year of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Camerimage 2020 Main Competition The Banker Nominated [13]
Georgia Film Critics Association 2021 Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema George Nolfi, Niceole Levy, David Lewis Smith, and Stan Younger Nominated [14]
NAACP Image Awards 2021 Outstanding Independent Motion Picture The Banker Won [15]
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Anthony Mackie Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nia Long Nominated
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture The Banker Nominated
35th Golden Rooster Awards2022Best Foreign Language FilmThe BankerNominated[16]

References
  1. "The Banker". Apple TV. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  2. Lindahl, Chris (November 30, 2019). "Apple's Movie Launch Became a PR Disaster, and One That's Not Easy to Prevent". IndieWire. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  3. Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 9, 2018). "Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Nicholas Hoult & Nia Long Star In George Nolfi-Helmed 'The Banker'". Deadline. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  4. N'Duka, Amanda; Ramos, Dino-Day (October 17, 2018). "Adam Ray To Star In 'The Bellmen'; 'The Banker' Adds Taylor Black". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  5. Ho, Rodney (August 16, 2018). "Samuel L Jackson back in Atlanta to shoot 'The Banker'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  6. N'Duka, Amanda (November 7, 2018). "'The Banker': Michael Harney, Colm Meaney, Jessie T. Usher & Paul Ben-Victor Join Director George Nolfi's Drama". Deadline. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  7. Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 16, 2019). "Apple Makes WW Deal For George Nolfi-Directed 'The Banker;' Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nic Hoult Star In Socially Conscious Jim Crow-Era Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. Pederson, Erik (October 3, 2019). "AFI Fest Sets Apple's 'The Banker' World Premiere As Closing-Night Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  9. Donnelly, Matt (September 27, 2019). "Apple Sets Theatrical Release Dates for Original Films 'The Banker,' 'Hala' and 'The Elephant Queen' (EXCLUSIVE)".
  10. Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 5, 2019). "'The Banker' Director George Nolfi Separates Content From Controversy As Apple Stays Mum On Pic Release Following Sexual Assault Allegation Against Protagonist's Son".
  11. "The Banker (2020)", Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, retrieved October 10, 2021
  12. "The Banker reviews", Metacritic, retrieved April 1, 2020
  13. Giardina, Carolyn (October 23, 2020). "Camerimage Reveals Main Competition Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. "2020 Awards".
  15. Bosselman, Haley (March 28, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards 2021: The Complete Televised Winners List". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  16. Xu Lengyi (徐崚怡) (November 1, 2022). 第35届中国电影金鸡奖公布提名，《长津湖》入围8项. thepaper (in Chinese). Retrieved November 16, 2022.
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