There are zero likable characters in this film. Everyone is strictly out for themselves, and how much they stand to gain from a leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco. The battle for the company between James Garner and Jonathan Pryce is the primary focus of "Barbarians at the Gate". The best attribute of this movie is not the acting, not the story, but the sharp dialog. The outcome is always in doubt, but the greed is always obvious. In the final analysis, this comes across more like a business instructional film than entertainment. The whole thing is rather sterile, because there really are no heroes to root for. ................................... MERK

"Barbarians at the Gate" focuses on KKR's leveraged buyout of RJR-Nabisco in 1988-89. The movie does everything to a tee. James Garner plays Ross Johnson, the smooth-talking RJR executive. His affable demeanor and joke-telling affinity hides Machiavellian schemes, and all the while he really just likes his company's perks. Jonathan Pryce was practically born to play Henry Kravis: Pryce's devilish physiognomy perfectly represents what sort of a person this is.A particularly effective scene is when the executives are flying in their corporate jets side by side, conversing with each other on their cell phones while servants prepare them drinks. It's the ultimate display of greed.All in all, the whole thing captures what the '80s were all about, all the while managing to be humorous. It should come as no surprise that the first decade of the 21st century (The Aughts? The Noughts?) saw things like Enron. Perfect.Also starring Joanna Cassidy (Dolores in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and Brenda's mom on "Six Feet Under"), former presidential candidate Fred Thompson, Jeffrey DeMunn and Peter Riegert (Boone in "Animal House").

This was my first HBO made for TV film and holds a dear place in my film collection. Not only that, "Barbarians at the Gate" holds a dear place among the explanation of greed in the 1980's - right next to my other favorite depiction of greed in the 80's film, Oliver Stone's "Wall Street".But this isn't too much pulp fiction, it's based on a real tale of the sale of RJR Nabisco where its CEO (played brilliantly by James Garner), his financiers at American Express, the board and all the other barbarians who find out its for sale wanting a piece of it. Doesn't sound funny? Oh, but it is. When you have something as popular as a profitable tobacco company which owns several other family oriented divisions such as cookies and crackers, the fight for ownership becomes very real and very profitable.And the fight is played out well within the 1980's theme of The Regan/Bush era of greed and is very funny. Sad, true and funny. From the CEO's greed of private jets, several homes, humongous salary and failed product introductions to the CEO's obviously younger, trophy wife who is just about to have her husband buy her a PhD so she can be seen as 'serious' and not be called 'cupcake' all the time; to the public relations expert who wants the account-if not from her neighbor/friend then from the person who will eventually give the winning offer, to the brokers who put together buying plans to usurp his offers, to the board that never liked the CEO's extravagances but if his money deal was big enough, who cares?; to the CEO's family dog who's spoiled rotten while you know during that time there were people starving in the streets -- you'll watch in some shock and awe but can't help but laugh at how all of this comes together. And how everyone will mess over everyone just to get it. All for the top prize: Ownership of RJR Nabisco.Excellent, excellent film.

Entertaining look at the in-fighting involved in the takeover of the Nabisco Co. The CEO of Nabisco wants to buy out the company, but is thwarted by the machinations of a big money rival. A rousing financial war begins leading to a satisfying grand finale. I liked the dialogue, especially the witty quips that James Garner was fond of throwing out. Jonathan Pryce was great as the chilling corporate raider. Thumbs up.