Review | Mountainhead review: Succession creator mocks uber-rich tech bros in satisfying satire
Succession’s Jessie Armstrong pokes fun at the uber rich as four tech bros enjoy a poker weekend while unrest and violence sweep the world
Jessie Armstrong isn’t done skewering the rich and powerful.
The creator of the acclaimed HBO series Succession, a satire inspired by the Murdoch family and its media empire that ran for four seasons, is back on the premium cable network and its streaming offshoot, Max, with the TV film Mountainhead, which he wrote and directed.
Funny and thought-provoking, the film sees four friends – all tech titans – getting together for a poker weekend in the new mountain retreat one of them has had built in a snowy and entirely picturesque chunk of the US state of Utah.
Hugo (Jason Schwartzman) is hosting Randall (Steve Carell), Venis (Cory Michael Smith) and Jeff (Ramy Youssef). They call Hugo “Souper” – short for “Soup Kitchen” – because while they are worth billions, he is good for only about US$500 million and some change.
The weekend is to involve “no meals” – the men will really rough it with cold cuts and the like – and “no deals” – this is not a time for business to be done.