Writers: Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, John Magaro, Finn Wittrock, and Brad Pitt
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, John Magaro, Finn Wittrock, and Brad Pitt
They looked. That’s the explanation ‘The Big Short’ gives us as to how a group of outsiders were able to predict, and profit from, the financial crash of 2008. Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a neurosurgeon turned hedge fund manager, spent time looking at the thousands of loans that made up the mortgage bonds and saw a worrying trend. He proceeded to tour the big banks and convince them to allow him to ‘short’ these bonds. Essentially, to bet against the housing market that was considered rock solid. This catches the eye of Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a Wall Street trader who sees an opportunity to make money. He inadvertently comes into contact with Mark Baum (Steve Carell) a Wall Street man who has become disillusioned with the business and life following a personal tragedy. Also along for the ride are two young investors (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock) who, with the help of retired banker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), are able to play at the big boy’s table and short the banks themselves. What connects them all? They looked.
What were we looking at? Celebrities, and it is by using them that writer/director Adam McKay attempts to explain the complexities of Wall Street finance. Don’t know what a subprime mortgage is? Here’s Margot Robbie in a bubble bath to tell you. Don’t know what a synthetic CDO is? Here’s Selena Gomez playing Blackjack. Known for directing comedies such as ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Step Brothers’, McKay may have seemed an odd choice for such a film. However, the end credits sequence of his film, ‘The Other Guys’ hinted at an interest in, or rather rage towards, the big banks. Meanwhile, his comedies have always reveled in absurdity and been stylistically daring. His adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book doesn’t shy away from the density or complexity of the subject matter. Instead he embraces it, and whilst some may find his approach at times jarring, patronizing, or gimmicky, it perfectly illustrates the film’s argument. McKay takes a subject we weren’t paying attention to, and gives it to the people who did have our attention. Now, we too are looking. The scenes in which the fourth wall is broken and the causes of the financial crash are explained make this film required viewing. The Big Short’s big achievement is making a fun and accessible film about credit default swaps and the financial crisis.
What were we looking at? Celebrities, and it is by using them that writer/director Adam McKay attempts to explain the complexities of Wall Street finance. Don’t know what a subprime mortgage is? Here’s Margot Robbie in a bubble bath to tell you. Don’t know what a synthetic CDO is? Here’s Selena Gomez playing Blackjack. Known for directing comedies such as ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Step Brothers’, McKay may have seemed an odd choice for such a film. However, the end credits sequence of his film, ‘The Other Guys’ hinted at an interest in, or rather rage towards, the big banks. Meanwhile, his comedies have always reveled in absurdity and been stylistically daring. His adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book doesn’t shy away from the density or complexity of the subject matter. Instead he embraces it, and whilst some may find his approach at times jarring, patronizing, or gimmicky, it perfectly illustrates the film’s argument. McKay takes a subject we weren’t paying attention to, and gives it to the people who did have our attention. Now, we too are looking. The scenes in which the fourth wall is broken and the causes of the financial crash are explained make this film required viewing. The Big Short’s big achievement is making a fun and accessible film about credit default swaps and the financial crisis.
The film follows a structure similar to that of the heist genre, it’s a traditional underdog vs. the system movie, which deviously puts you in the situation of rooting for economic crisis. However, due to the subject matter and McKay’s approach, the film is never that thematically, morally, or stylistically simplistic. Our heroes are not let off the hook for their own greed and hypocrisy. Underneath the film’s flamboyances is a palpable anger, and disbelief, at how those responsible for the crash avoided punishment. Steve Carell’s character laments the way in which the post-crash narrative blamed the vulnerable, and outsiders, instead of those who were truly responsible. This is a film that seems desperate to correct that narrative, and wants the lingering emotion in you to be one of anger rather than amusement. But are we looking now? Or will we just keep our gaze firmly fixed where it was before? (At the time of writing Star Wars is breaking worldwide box office records whilst in the UK an inquiry into banking culture has been scrapped) And even if we do look, this is a film that is deceptively cynical, and arguably leaves you dejected about a status quo, rather than inspired to make a difference. At the end of the day these characters don’t change or prevent anything, they just manage to make some money out of a car crash they saw coming. The core motivation of this film’s heroes is the same as its villains. Money, money, money...turns out it can be funny in a rich man’s world.
| | Summary: A film full of energy, The Big Short is entertaining and essential viewing. Movie Parliament Rating: MAJORITY GOVERNMENT By Movie Parliament Prime Minister, Michael Dalton Disagree with this review? Give us your thoughts in the comments below. |
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