Chase’s gain is wine bar’s loss
The cinematic portrayal of Nick Leeson’s misadventures on the Nikkei that led to the collapse of Baring Brothers in 1995 has not met with universal acclaim, to say the least. The film Rogue Trader treats moviegoers to a high-octane comedy romp through Singapore’s financial community, as seen by history’s most notorious futures trader. It will receive added publicity from the fact that Leeson is released from prison in Singapore this month.
The film has Leeson magically reincarnated into the nubile body of Scots hunk Ewan McGregor (full frontal nudity included), recently seen as Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. He comes across as the victim of nothing more than a prank gone wrong. Each trading loss prompts bigger laughs from the audience, as does the stilted script and wooden acting (“Oh Nick, what ‘ave you done now?”, wails wife Lisa Leeson, played by the delightful Anna Friel).
The Barings bankers are mercilessly played as upper-class dilettantes by the some of the UK’s best comic talents. The Singaporean traders are seen as naive fools caught in the spell of Leeson’s irrepressible charisma.
Only Nick and Lisa are flattered by the casting director. So what next for financiers on film?
Will we have Jim Carey playing John Meriwether in Rogue Hedge Fund? Will a Hollywood studio present Bill McDonough (Robert Redford), David Komansky (Brian Dennehy) and Jon Corzine (Joe Pesci) thrashing out a deal to save LTCM? Fortunately, not.
But if some film maker is hell-bent on serving us another turkey like Rogue Trader, Euromoney is prepared to help out with screenplay and casting ideas (for the right price). Our suggestions for blockbusters:
Banker vs Banker – Frank Newman (Dustin Hoffman) and Rolf Breuer (Ruttger Hauer) in a touching tale of unconsummated passion, ending in Frank leaving home after winning custody of the $55 million.
André et Daniel – André Lévy-Lang (Alain Delon) and Daniel Bouton (Daniel Auteuil) fall for each other, but are rudely interrupted by hitman Michel Pébereau (Jean Reno).
The Odd Couple – starring Jack Lemmon and Walther Matthau as John Reed and Sandy Weill.
Good Morning Eurozone – motor-mouth Romano Prodi (Robin Williams) brings us hilarious moments and plunging exchange rates. Bring back the riotous outbursts of Oskar Lafontaine (Benny Hill) – all is forgiven! Marcus Walker, Rebecca Bream
