The Big Short
Parental Rating: R
Contains: Language Nudity Adult Content
Jill's Review
Opens December 23, 2015
Runs 130 minutes
A rag-tag group of cynical Wall Street types, led by Dr. Michael Burry (Christian Bale) discover that the "Big Banks" are selling Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Debt Obligations backed by mortgage loans that are all on the verge of default. Burry decides to bet against the system and creates his own prospectus and financial instrument, a credit default swap, that allows him to hedge against these securities. The Big Banks laugh and willingly take his money because everyone knows that mortgages are backed by actual assets and can't fail. Along the way, Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) catches on to what Burry is doing and he piggybacks on Burry's deal with one of his own and takes it to a hedge fund within Morgan Stanley headed by Mark Baum (Steve Carell). Additionally, a couple of very raw investors, Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock) and Charlie Geller (John Magaro) realize that these guys are on to something and they team up with Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), a disillusioned former trader, to get in on the action. These semi-outsiders realize that there is a bubble and predict that the housing collapse will have dire consequences. They see the Big Banks ignoring all of the signs and forging ahead, caring only about profits and their bottom lines. They bet against the Banks and come out on top, even against their better judgment.
If this movie sounds complicated, it is. But, as directed by Adam McKay, it is also accessible to normal people like us. Various famous stars pop up every once in a while to explain what certain terms mean and what the Banks were doing in laymen terms. It is a light and funny way to keep everyone on the same page. And, the movie is surprisingly funny. It is fast-paced and well-cast. It keeps you interested and dumb-founded at the same time. Definitely one of the best movies of the year. Go see it!!
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