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The Banker (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Banker (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 120 min · English
Echo score 65
JustWatch #898 27
Directed by
George Nolfi
Starring
Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Harney, Chris Gann, Nia Long

In 1960s America, Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, two pioneering entrepreneurs, devise a bold plan to overcome racial discrimination and help African Americans realize their aspirations. They create a covert system, with Eunice playing a crucial role, where Garrett poses as a wealthy businessman while Morris manages operations behind the scenes. Their actions challenge the deeply ingrained prejudices of the era and eventually draw the attention of federal investigators, risking everything to create opportunity for their community.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Banker
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Banker (2020)

Where can you watch The Banker? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Apple TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

The Banker Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Banker (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Bernard Garrett

    played by Anthony Mackie

    Bernard Garrett is a determined and visionary businessman who dreams of breaking racial barriers and empowering the African American community. His entrepreneurial spirit drives him to challenge the status quo, even if it means resorting to deception. Throughout the movie, his character evolves as he navigates betrayal and loss.

    • 👔 Businessman
    • ⚖️ Ambitious
  • Joe Morris

    played by Samuel L. Jackson

    Joe Morris is a laid-back yet resourceful partner of Bernard, providing a contrast to Bernard's seriousness. His charm and strategic thinking are crucial to their success, even as he grapples with the moral implications of their methods. Joe’s character embodies the spirit of resilience, even when faced with dire consequences.

    • 💼 Partner
    • 🎩 Charismatic
  • Matt Steiner

    played by Nicholas Hoult

    Matt Steiner is a poor white man who becomes an unlikely ally in Bernard and Joe's scheme. His transformation into a front for their banking empire highlights issues of race and privilege. Initially naive, Matt's choices eventually lead to a moral dilemma as he prioritizes self-preservation over loyalty.

    • 🙍‍♂️ Frontman
    • 💔 Torn
  • Eunice Garrett

    played by Nia Long

    Eunice Garrett is supportive and self-assured, playing a vital role in her husband Bernard's ambitions. Her resilience and understanding make her a strong character who navigates the challenges posed by their quest. Eunice's presence adds depth to the family dynamics and the emotional stakes of the story.

    • 👩‍🎤 Supportive
    • 💪 Strong

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:51

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Setting

Where and When Does The Banker Take Place?

The setting of The Banker (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1960s

The story unfolds during the 1960s, a pivotal decade marked by the civil rights movement in America. This era witnessed significant social and political change, as African Americans fought for equality and the right to participate fully in society. The events highlight the struggles against racial barriers and the quest for empowerment through economic means.

Location

Texas, Los Angeles

The movie primarily takes place in Texas and Los Angeles. Texas is depicted as a racially divided region with a history of discrimination, while Los Angeles serves as a backdrop for the American Dream and economic aspirations of African Americans during the civil rights movement. Both locations play a critical role in shaping the journey of the main characters as they navigate the barriers of systemic racism.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🌆 Urban

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:51

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3 major themes

The Banker Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Banker (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Ambition

    Ambition drives the main characters, Bernard and Joe, to challenge societal norms and seek opportunities for the African American community. Their desire to create a successful business empire underlines the theme of aspiration and dedication in the face of adversity. The characters' relentless pursuit of their goals emphasizes the complex relationship between ambition and ethics.

  • Racial Equality

    The struggle for racial equality is a central theme in the film, as it showcases the systemic barriers faced by African Americans in the 1960s. The protagonists' efforts to empower their community mirror the broader fight for civil rights, making this theme both personal and political. The narrative illustrates the lengths to which individuals must go to dismantle racial discrimination.

  • Fraud and Deception

    Fraud and deception play a crucial role as the characters resort to unethical means to achieve their goals. The movie delves into the consequences of these actions, revealing the moral complexities faced by those striving for success in a prejudiced world. This theme serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of ambition without integrity.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:51

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Character & theme questions

The Banker Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Banker (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Banker set?

The movie takes place in Texas and Los Angeles during the 1960s. Texas is depicted as a racially divided region with a history of discrimination, while Los Angeles serves as a backdrop for the American Dream and economic aspirations of African Americans during the civil rights movement.

  • texas
  • los angeles
  • setting
  • locations
  • 1960s
Q2

What time period does The Banker take place in?

The story unfolds during the 1960s, a pivotal decade marked by the civil rights movement in America. This era witnessed significant social and political change, as African Americans fought for equality and the right to participate fully in society.

  • 1960s
  • civil rights
  • era
  • time period
  • historical context
Q3

How does The Banker address racial equality?

The struggle for racial equality is a central theme, as the film showcases the systemic barriers faced by African Americans in the 1960s. The protagonists' efforts to empower their community mirror the broader fight for civil rights, making this theme both personal and political.

  • racial equality
  • civil rights
  • discrimination
  • systemic racism
  • African American community
Q4

What role does ambition play in The Banker?

Ambition drives the main characters, Bernard and Joe, to challenge societal norms and seek opportunities for the African American community. Their desire to create a successful business empire underlines the theme of aspiration and dedication in the face of adversity.

  • ambition
  • entrepreneurship
  • business
  • goals
  • aspiration
Q5

How does The Banker explore fraud and deception?

Fraud and deception play a crucial role as the characters resort to unethical means to achieve their goals. The movie delves into the consequences of these actions, revealing the moral complexities faced by those striving for success in a prejudiced world.

  • fraud
  • deception
  • ethics
  • moral complexity
  • consequences
Q6

Who is Bernard Garrett in The Banker?

Bernard Garrett is a determined and visionary businessman played by Anthony Mackie, who dreams of breaking racial barriers and empowering the African American community. His entrepreneurial spirit drives him to challenge the status quo, even if it means resorting to deception.

  • Bernard Garrett
  • Anthony Mackie
  • entrepreneur
  • businessman
  • protagonist
Q7

Who is Joe Morris in The Banker?

Joe Morris is a laid-back yet resourceful partner of Bernard, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who provides a contrast to Bernard's seriousness. His charm and strategic thinking are crucial to their success, even as he grapples with the moral implications of their methods.

  • Joe Morris
  • Samuel L. Jackson
  • partner
  • strategist
  • resilience
Q8

Who is Eunice Garrett in The Banker?

Eunice Garrett is Bernard's supportive and self-assured wife, played by Nia Long, who plays a vital role in her husband's ambitions. Her resilience and understanding make her a strong character who navigates the challenges posed by their quest, adding depth to the family dynamics.

  • Eunice Garrett
  • Nia Long
  • wife
  • support
  • resilience
Q9

Who is Matt Steiner in The Banker?

Matt Steiner is a poor white man played by Nicholas Hoult who becomes an unlikely ally in Bernard and Joe's scheme. His transformation into a front for their banking empire highlights issues of race and privilege, as he faces a moral dilemma between self-preservation and loyalty.

  • Matt Steiner
  • Nicholas Hoult
  • ally
  • front man
  • race
  • privilege
Q10

How does the Texas setting reflect the movie's themes?

Texas is depicted as a racially divided region with a history of discrimination, which shapes the journey of the main characters as they navigate the barriers of systemic racism. The setting underscores the challenges they face in achieving economic empowerment.

  • Texas
  • discrimination
  • racial barriers
  • systemic racism
  • setting
Q11

What role does Los Angeles play in The Banker?

Los Angeles serves as a backdrop for the American Dream and economic aspirations of African Americans during the civil rights movement. It represents the opportunity and possibility that drives the protagonists' ambitious plans to build wealth and empower their community.

  • Los Angeles
  • American Dream
  • economic aspirations
  • opportunity
  • California

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Banker, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Banker tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Strategic undercover justice movies like The Banker

Cunning plans and high-stakes deceptions to fight a corrupt system. If you liked the high-stakes, covert strategy of The Banker, explore more movies where clever protagonists use undercover operations to fight systemic injustice, blending tense drama with thoughtful planning.

  • tense
  • strategic
  • risky
  • ambitious
  • frustrating
  • somber
  • Tone: tense, somber
  • Pacing: steady, strategic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories follow intelligent protagonists who design and execute intricate, often covert, plans to expose or undermine a powerful, unjust system. The narrative typically builds through strategic maneuvers, leading to a climax where their operation is at risk of exposure, often resulting in complex moral and personal consequences.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on a methodical, high-risk plot against a formidable opponent, creating a consistent mood of intellectual tension and moral resolve, where success is measured in systemic impact rather than simple victory.

Bittersweet victory dramas like The Banker

Stories where achieving a greater good comes with profound personal sacrifice. For viewers who appreciated the poignant ending of The Banker, this list features movies with bittersweet triumphs where characters achieve their goals but at a significant personal cost, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

  • bittersweet
  • somber
  • frustrating
  • ambitious
  • heavy
  • reflective
  • Tone: bittersweet, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc follows a determined pursuit of a noble goal, leading to a tangible success or legacy. However, the conclusion is deeply layered, as this success is inextricably linked to a major personal loss, such as freedom, relationships, or fortune, creating a poignant and reflective ending.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific emotional journey that balances achievement with sacrifice, resulting in a powerfully bittersweet tone. They resonate with audiences looking for stories that acknowledge the complicated, often painful, reality of fighting for change.

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Movies Like The Banker

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Every angle

The Banker (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Banker in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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