Today in 1909, Richard McDonald, one of the original owners of McDonald's, is born.
Synopsis
The Founder is a biographical drama that depicts the rise of Ray Kroc (played by Michael Keaton), a struggling milkshake equipment salesman, who transforms a small fast-food restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers (played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch) into the global fast-food empire of McDonald's. As Kroc's ambition grows, he wrestles control of the company from the original owners, leading to conflicts and ethical dilemmas along the way.
Why Today?
February 16th, 1909, is Richard McDonald's birthday. Along with brother Maurice "Mac", he'd go on to found the original McDonald's restaurant.
The McDonald's brothers are heavily features in The Founder, despite not being the titular character. It's a surprisingly nuanced take on "Founder" Ray Kroc, who eventually buys the McDonald's brother out of the business. Presenting a somewhat critical examination of Kroc's actions, along with great performances from the leads, makes what could just be a stodgy, boring boilerplate bio-drama into a fairly good film.