Margin Call (Chandor, 2011)

[X.]

J.C. Chandor's "corporate procedural" dramatizes 24 hours preceding the financial crisis of 2008 featuring men for whom making money is more than an ambition; it's a way of life. Chandor suggests greed is a universal desire, and that for some it's easier to replace morality with enterprise. Possessing a calculated thematic construction, precise acting and careful mise-en-scene, MARGIN CALL is a sobering insight into capitalism. Recommended

[animatedude]

although this movie is marketed as the "24 hours preceding the financial crisis of 2008" it actually isn't.It's about the early 2007 crash....and many ppl thought the movie is about Lehman Brothers but it isn't, it's about Goldman but the director denies it for legal reasons.more on this here..

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/board/thread/190112454

great movie, maybe my favorite of 2011...too bad it had weak company behind it.

[X.]

Sometimes I think Animatedude should get into distribution and marketing. I mean that seriously. You seem to have a natural predilection for it!

One of the companies behind it (Roadside Attractions) have done a really terrific job getting it out in the market. They've actually made the film lots of money on VOD and international sales (the money in theatrical is not huge for an indie of this size); plus, most importantly, Roadside Attractions has been raising the film's profile within the festival and critical circles. MARGIN CALL is set to sweep the Spirit Awards (I saw this at the Spirit members'  screening tonight in downtown LA). In fact, I'll be voting for it in the Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay categories...

By the way, thanks for the heads up on the Goldman vs. Lehman Brothers point. I was actually not aware of it.

[animatedude]

thanks AK!

[kaytee]

For whats it worth the movie only holds up for the actors in it. The whole urgency of the situation looks fake and the writing is amateurish. But I love the selection of actors in their respective roles, they all fit the bill just like they would in an actual hierarchy of an organisation.

That being said I still prefer Too Big Too Fail the HBO film over this anyday.

[X.]

Kaytee, you have a point re. the ticking time bomb structure of the film; it's a narrative conceit, and an obvious one. However, I thought Chandor was able to successfully milk drama from it in a way that did not seem overtly manufactured. I am not a big fan of the plot, but I am definitely an admirer of Chandor's wit and his skill at writing dialog. I accept MARGIN CALL as solid entertainment crafted with taste and intelligence. But it's a *movie* at the end of the day.

I am curious though, given your familiarity with trading, did you feel the "science" of the movie detracted from your enjoyment of the film? Was it dumbed down? (I counted at least six times when characters would go "speak to me in plain English!").

[shariqq]

The worst of those dumb-down scenes was when Jeremy Irons asks Zachary Quinto to explain like he's talking to a child. It is to Irons' credit that he can even make that sound menacing, but it should have cracked them up when they read the script.

[shariqq]

Oh and I agree with Kaytee: the organisational hierarchy and the individual performances were excellent, especially Kevin Spacey and Paul Bettany. Stanley Tucci, without being outstandish, is so good and convincing in every role he plays.

[kaytee]

The movie was not really dumbed down but they didn't overuse financial terms that would not make any sense to a layman. I believe the reason for people mentioning that speak to me in plain English is because what actually happened did not make sense to anyone even the people higher up the ladder. They knew what they were into but didn't expect the shit to hit the ceiling the way it did.

Terms like MBS and CDO never existed prior to 2007, and even if they did there was no reference to use them against.

The movie ends up telling us that greed indeed is good if you are higher up the ladder. Jeremy Irons has a chopper that takes him around, Kevin Spacey lives in a mansion, Paul Bettany has still some way to go thus drives fast cars, indulges with hookers and booze while Zachery Quinto travels in taxis, Stanley Tucci has a mortgage and jobless.

Moral of the story - Get high up on that corporate ladder quick.

[X.]

I like the film for its cool, detached logic. Man made money; money is not evil. Greed is universal.

[ayaa1977]

I found the film well acted, everyone except a role or two (Demi Moore, and Simon Baker mainly) were great, and Spacey was exceptional. I would buy that a scenario like this would  play in real life exactly as what was portrayed in the film. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean it makes for a great cinematic experience. It was a bit boring and ultimately the ending was anticlimactic. By that I mean the thriller/mystery angle with Stanely Tucci[/i'd character disappearance. I get this add to the realism of the film, but it bored me just a little bit, and I feel bad for that, because this film is timely and talk about a very serious global issue.

 I still think it deserves to be seen and I am happy it was made. Not to be patronizing, but for a first time director it is a good film, and he is someone we should watch for.

My Rating Good