Film review: The Big Short (15)

It was hard not to feel a little disappointed with the human race after taking in Adam McKay’s black comedy The Big Short.

Based on the Michael Lewis book of the same name, McKay’s (Anchorman) latest offering portrays the lead up to and beginning of the global financial crisis in 2008.

It’s the true story of how four businessmen anticipated the crash of America’s property market and got incredibly rich by betting on the nation’s economy to fail.

Having watched Netflix’s incredible Making A Murderer immediately prior to taking in The Big Short, I was already feeling a little angry at the abuse of power shown by certain individuals in positions of authority.

Here it’s the incredible ignorance shown by those in the financial quarter that will rattle your cage – not the four parties we see benefit.

The main players are mostly unconnected, but all find different cracks in the doomed housing market.

Michael Burry (Christian Bale – The Dark Knight) gets the ball rolling with the most ballsy of the moves you’ll see.

He’s a socially awkward former doctor that sees what others don’t – and even mock.

Then there’s slick, fast-talking banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling – Drive), who also acts as the film’s narrator.

He brings the situation to the attention of money manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell – Anchorman), who serves as the film’s conscience in many ways.

Completing the key players are relative unknowns Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock), who are small-time investors seeking a seat at the top table.

They are advised by retired trader, Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt – Fury), who has very much had enough of the Wall Street life.

Although it’s hard to root for people that plan to make money from the misfortune of others, it is fair to say that they all come off much better than the bankers and brokers they are betting against.

As anyone that has ever applied for a mortgage or loan will know, there’s an awful lot of financial lingo that is actually more complicated than it sounds.

The Big Short is ram-packed with them – and I must admit to feeling a little lost at times (American financial terms seem to differ a lot to those we use over here).

Fortunately, the film does break them down in layman’s terms with largely amusing cut-scenes involving well-known faces.

Don’t understand how credit default swaps work? No problem, Margot Robbie will explain it to you while sipping champagne in the bath.

Those sequences (there’s also one involving Selena Gomez) were both funny and welcome.

Of all the characters, you’ll relate to Carrell’s Baum the most. He’s literally disgusted by the situation and speaks for the masses. I thought it was one of his best performances to date, too.

Bale was also very good as the unorthodox Burry. The fact he was so eccentric is probably why nobody listened to him.

As for Gosling, he was both funny and smug in equal measure. The role was perfect for him and he duly delivered.

Pitt’s presence helped the lesser-known Magaro and Wittrock ease into their roles well too. All three are very likeable characters.

On the downside, the film very much outstayed its welcome at 2hrs10mins. The audience already knows what’s going to happen – and with that in mind, the middle section dragged on way too long.

Saying that, it’s a film I’d advise everybody to watch.

The mistakes highlighted here changed the modern world for the worse – and the more people that are aware of them, the better.

Voice Verdict: 8/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Superb cast
+ Great cameos
+ Good true story
+ Does its best to explain itself…
–…but still a little complicated
– Too long

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Jan 29 to Thurs, Feb 4)

**13 HOURS: THE SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI (15)
2.20pm (Fri/Wed), 5.20pm (daily), 8.20pm (daily)

**GOOSEBUMPS 2D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat/Sun)

DIRTY GRANDPA (15)
4pm (daily), 6.20pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

RIDE ALONG 2 (12A)
12.30pm(Sat/Sun/Wed), 3pm (Sat/Sun), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (not Thurs)

**CAPTURE THE FLAG (PG)
10am 3D (Sat/Sun), noon 2D(Sat/Sun), 2.10pm 3D (Sat/Sun), 4.20pm 2D (daily)

THE BIG SHORT (15)
1.30pm (Fri/Wed), 6.20pm (Mon – SUBTITLED), 8.30pm (daily)

CREED (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun), 3.15pm (not Sat/Sun)

THE REVENANT (15)
1pm (Fri/Wed), 8.10pm (daily)

DADDY’S HOME (12A)
2.45pm (Sat/Sun), 3.15pm (Mon/Thurs), 6.20pm (not Mon/Thurs)

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (12A)
2.20pm 3D (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.20pm 2D (daily)

THE PEANUTS MOVIE 2D (U)
10am (Sun), 12.10pm (Sat)

THE GOOD DINOSAUR 2D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun)

EVENT CINEMA/LIVE EVENTS

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE – LA TRIVIATA (12A AL)
6.45pm (Thurs)

**FREE LIST SUSPENDED