The Big Short (2015) - Film Review
I'm lucky. In many ways, but particularly the fact that I get to watch lotsa Wall Street films with a stockbroker and his wife. This was a big one. It's about the crisis surrounding the housing bubble of 2008 and why it caused the downfall of so many. It was based on the bestselling novel by Michael Lewis. The stockbroker was around to explain difficult concepts to a schmuck like me.
Talk about an ensemble cast... This was more star-studded and glittery than a Princess Barbie Prom Party! Christian Bale as Mike Burry. Ryan Gosling as Jared Vennett. Steve Carell as Mark Baum. Brad Pitt as Ben Rickert. Maybe these names mean something to you, maybe they don't. I can tell you that particularly Steve Carell was excellent in his role and was responsible for many laugh-out-loud moments.
So what do we say about the plot? I've been informed that it was true to real life in almost every way. That's good. What did I learn from the film? I didn't know at all how the banks messed up so badly before I watched the film. Gosh, they were screwing the guy on the street. They have this thing called CDOs - Collateralized Debt Obligations.
The earliest CDOs were constructed in 1987 by assembling portfolios of junk bonds issued by different companies. Securities firms subsequently launched CDOs for a number of other assets with predictable income streams, such as car loans, student loans etc. However, CDOs remained a niche product until 2003-04, when the U.S. housing boom led the parties involved in issuing CDOs to turn their attention to sub-prime mortgage-backed securities as a new source of collateral for CDOs.
In the mid 2000s CDOs exploded in popularity, with CDO sales rising almost 10-fold from $30 billion in 2003 to $225 billion in 2006! These CDOs are basically tranches that are too junky and risky to sell to investors on their own, all thrown together into one big cesspool, which THEN becomes ok and reasonable(!).
If you don't understand at least that little bit, you're not going to fully grasp the film. They still tried to make it entertaining and understandable for the masses though. What I found particularly interesting were the segues from the main storyline to someone like world-renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain, explaining an investment-related topic. It was cleverly and rather creatively done.
The soundtrack was unobtrusive, but the makeup was super! They made it look like Christian Bale had a glass eye, and gave Steve Carell a Jewish haircut that really suited him and made his character more believable. Everyone fit their personas magnificently. :-) Sure, it's not gonna win the Best Makeup Oscar, but I like little touches like that.
Overall, they made a real life drama as exciting as they could. A film like Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is infinitely more glamorous and exciting, but you can't fault the film for that. I enjoyed it and can honestly say that I was never bored.
15/21
Talk about an ensemble cast... This was more star-studded and glittery than a Princess Barbie Prom Party! Christian Bale as Mike Burry. Ryan Gosling as Jared Vennett. Steve Carell as Mark Baum. Brad Pitt as Ben Rickert. Maybe these names mean something to you, maybe they don't. I can tell you that particularly Steve Carell was excellent in his role and was responsible for many laugh-out-loud moments.
So what do we say about the plot? I've been informed that it was true to real life in almost every way. That's good. What did I learn from the film? I didn't know at all how the banks messed up so badly before I watched the film. Gosh, they were screwing the guy on the street. They have this thing called CDOs - Collateralized Debt Obligations.
The earliest CDOs were constructed in 1987 by assembling portfolios of junk bonds issued by different companies. Securities firms subsequently launched CDOs for a number of other assets with predictable income streams, such as car loans, student loans etc. However, CDOs remained a niche product until 2003-04, when the U.S. housing boom led the parties involved in issuing CDOs to turn their attention to sub-prime mortgage-backed securities as a new source of collateral for CDOs.
In the mid 2000s CDOs exploded in popularity, with CDO sales rising almost 10-fold from $30 billion in 2003 to $225 billion in 2006! These CDOs are basically tranches that are too junky and risky to sell to investors on their own, all thrown together into one big cesspool, which THEN becomes ok and reasonable(!).
If you don't understand at least that little bit, you're not going to fully grasp the film. They still tried to make it entertaining and understandable for the masses though. What I found particularly interesting were the segues from the main storyline to someone like world-renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain, explaining an investment-related topic. It was cleverly and rather creatively done.
The soundtrack was unobtrusive, but the makeup was super! They made it look like Christian Bale had a glass eye, and gave Steve Carell a Jewish haircut that really suited him and made his character more believable. Everyone fit their personas magnificently. :-) Sure, it's not gonna win the Best Makeup Oscar, but I like little touches like that.
Overall, they made a real life drama as exciting as they could. A film like Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is infinitely more glamorous and exciting, but you can't fault the film for that. I enjoyed it and can honestly say that I was never bored.
15/21
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