Good story, Not enough for a whole film

good back-story, and good acting

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The Founder has a bit of a familiar, procedural skin in its story of McDonald's, but the through-line of how one man can so steadily lose his integrity is a strong one. Ray Kroc is one of the most intentionally unsympathetic protagonists ever, with Keaton awesomely portraying the man's slow descent from simply self-centered to full-on monster.

McDonald's is a Kroc, in more ways than one. One of the world's greatest swindles was how an average schmuck was able to discover an ingenious fast food restaurant and pull the rug out from under the humble owners. McDonald's is a global fast food empire, but not in the ways that you might have thought it was. The Founder is truth to power, and it's a great film. Ray Kroc, portrayed here by Michael Keaton is as toxic to look at and listen to as eating a single McFlurry. He is slimy, gross and crooked, but that's what makes The Founder so intoxicating to watch. Ironically enough, this film about a businessman taking advantage of others was brought to the silver screen by Harvey Weinstein. I know art can at times imitate life, but this is ridiculous. I guess Weinstein, in that sense, is a kindred spirit to Kroc. Nice guys sadly finish last.

For as much as I went to McDonald's when I was younger I think I just had to go see the film solely based on that. I am glad I did though because even though I learned about how McDonald's was founded back in the day it was a good reminder of how everything actually went down. The acting in this was great and gave you a good feel about how all of the different characters would have reacted to what was happening when all of this actually played out

THE FOUNDER is a film much like Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK: a business-based biopic that sounds rather dull on the page, but which turns out to be spellbinding when on the screen. It's a tale looking at the inception and growth of McDonald's in the 1950s in the hands of the ruthless salesman Ray Kroc, who saw potential in a small business and made it into the franchise it is today. The film is lengthy but perfectly made with just the right pace, and the acting from the principal players is exemplary: Michael Keaton is fully enjoying his career renaissance and as good as he was in SPOTLIGHT, while John Carroll Lynch brings the same heart to the film as he did to FARGO. As with THE SOCIAL NETWORK, this turns out to be less about business and success than about the human capacity for greed and ruthlessness, and man's ability to step on his fellow man in order to reach the top of the ladder. It's remarkably engaging.