Equity

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: July 29, 2016

6.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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TVJerrySep 11, 2016

Anna Gunn plays an investment banker who's trying to launch a new IPO, while all manner of intrigue swirls around her. Unfortunately, the plot machinations are relatively bland and lack any surprises. To make matters even less exciting, theAnna Gunn plays an investment banker who's trying to launch a new IPO, while all manner of intrigue swirls around her. Unfortunately, the plot machinations are relatively bland and lack any surprises. To make matters even less exciting, the low-key approach and lax pacing hinder any tension from building. Gunn is OK, but never really grabs the screen. She mostly just looks stern and steely. While the film is trying to make a feminist statement, it doesn't succeed in being sufficiently interesting or compelling to complete the argument.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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jrodfilmsAug 28, 2016

it had a pretty slow buildup, but it ends up reeling you in with its two lead performers, even if the film feels like a slightly above average hbo movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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smiyamotDec 23, 2016

An okay movie about insider trading and the people who are involved. What are their motivations? Do they get caught? We have 4 main characters who have romantic ties, old college chums, etc, and how this plays into what happens.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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iTheViewerAug 14, 2016

Wall Street movies are one my favorite genres, and I was really looking forward to this, but it's just a bad movie. I see those favorable critics reviews over there on the left, but you might notice that most of them mention something aboutWall Street movies are one my favorite genres, and I was really looking forward to this, but it's just a bad movie. I see those favorable critics reviews over there on the left, but you might notice that most of them mention something about women on Wall Street. If you're looking for a supportive tale about women on Wall Street maybe you will find some affirmation, but no one will be entertained by this movie. It is a dud on so many levels. There is no sparkling dialogue or acting. Neither the writer nor the director seem to know how to create suspense or excitement. There are no peaks into how Wall Street works that aren't already widely known. The fashion and styling is not much more than middle class. The smallish homes of these powerful Wall Street execs were furnished from the Pottery Barn. Despite the fact we see Anna Gunn frequently sweating over punching bags, she is obviously not in good shape. Does all this sound petty? It's because there's nothing much more to say about this completely uninspired movie. You have been warned, you will be bored.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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LeZeeDec 24, 2016

It's a men's club or women's, but jobs are done in the same way.

It's a woman oriented financial film drama directed by a woman filmmaker. That makes it empowered by women. On the perspective it was my first experience, so I think it couldIt's a men's club or women's, but jobs are done in the same way.

It's a woman oriented financial film drama directed by a woman filmmaker. That makes it empowered by women. On the perspective it was my first experience, so I think it could be the only of its kind. It is not as bad as it looks, those who liked financial related films like 'Margin Call', 'The Big Short', 'Glengarry Glen Ross' et cetera would enjoy it as well. This film stayed true to its title, so that's what you are going to expect, but nothing a bit more than that.

There are unexpected turns in the narration. Particularly the characters, that too the females. It is about the commitment and trust in the colleagues. No matter what you do, the company always judges you by your result. The pace might look slow, but it gets better in the latter half. The film turned into kind of thriller and ended with a little drag, though satisfying.

Anna Gunn was so good and looks like we have here another talented woman director Meera Menon. This film did not get as popular as its counterpart on the same theme, I mean men's Wall Street thriller. But somewhat I liked it and seems a sequel is not a bad idea, after how this story had ended. Finally, this is for the selected viewers, so those who are from the outside of its bandwidth won't end watching it happy, hence the film will lose its rating, but not the quality.

6/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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SpangleJan 13, 2017

Equity feels like a debut from director Meera Menon and though it is not, it does still highlight a certain rawness. The characters are there. The themes are there. The story is there. Yet, it does not all come together. It feels agonizinglyEquity feels like a debut from director Meera Menon and though it is not, it does still highlight a certain rawness. The characters are there. The themes are there. The story is there. Yet, it does not all come together. It feels agonizingly close, but perhaps with her next feature, Menon will be able to put the whole puzzle together. As is stands, Equity is an average financial thriller with themes that are far too on the nose and in your face for the film to be both a successful financial thriller and feminist success story. In fact, it almost feels like these two facets of the film are fighting against one another, struggling to see which one will be the center of attention.

The financial thriller element of the film could use some work, but is intriguing. For such a complicated world, Menon does not offer any explanation to the viewer as to what is occurring. Compared to successful financial-based thrillers in recent years such as The Wolf of Wall Street or The Big Short, Equity is a bit confusing. Yet, it is largely about insider trading surrounding the launch of a new IPO. Being handled by an underwriter (whatever that is) portrayed by Anna Gunn, the launch is filled with controversy and tension. The film has a slow build-up, however, and this is another detriment. While the film's complex build-up has a decent enough pay-off, it takes far too long to actually get to the point. That said, the tension is well earned and the film does really ramp up the intrigue towards the end, even if the reason everything blows up really does not work and conflicts with theme of the film. However, I will get into that soon. As a film, it feels stretched too thin and the plot could have been handled a bit quicker and instead, it adds in filler to make it longer. Fortunately, a solid ending does help me to look past some of its missteps in the beginning.

Thematically, the film is about women in a boys club environment. Aiming for empowerment and showing that women can be just as greedy and cutthroat as the men, the film is most successful. Naomi Bishop (Gunn) is a **** She is unlikable, through and through. If she was a man, she would be just as easy to hate. It is not because of her greed, but rather her self-assured and belief that she knows better than anybody else in the room. Her VP, Erin Manning (Sarah Megan Thomas), wants a promotion. However, Naomi leads her on for years and Erin is done. As such, she leaks bad information about the IPO to have it tank and embarrass Naomi to the point she may be fired. Along the way, Erin tells her boyfriend and Naomi to not "tell me I what I need", even to innocent suggestions by the former to get some more sleep. It is these little feminist dialogue elements that quickly become intolerable. I am a feminist, but this film just smacks of being so in your face with its themes that it is incapable of stopping to actually craft dialogue that is not derived from some third wave feminist blog where all men are evil pigs. This really is shown by all men in the film being characterized as anti-female, philanderers, and using women for their own gain. The women, meanwhile, are treated with kid gloves. Naomi is a **** Yet, Menon asks us to forgive her and see how hard she works, only for Erin to cut her throat. However, Naomi asks for it by being abrasive in meetings while Erin is more personable and capable of actually explaining things. Instead, Naomi sits in her high chair and throws a fit when challenged. Thus, though she is characterized seemingly negatively, we are expected to sympathize with her when she throws fits that she herself is not promoted.

However, the characterizations are hardly the biggest issue here because as mentioned, a lot of the script is jut amateurish soapbox monologues. The very close of the film features this with a speech about how women can want money too without needing other reasons. This is true. No arguments. Yet, this on the nose dialogue is just not subtle. A better filmmaker and screenwriter would find a way to develop this theme without needing the characters to just blurt out what the writers want to communicate via the film. This is really my biggest issue with the film.

Now, as the rating may suggest, this review is quite overly harsh. The acting across the board is great from actors typically tasked with smaller roles. Anna Gunn and company transition terrifically into more leading roles and make the most of the screentime. The film is also capably directed for the most part, especially towards the end which is thrilling, suspenseful, and intense in its portrayal of the IPO launch. Though the build-up is slow as mentioned, it is pretty engrossing and compelling as we get dumped in the middle of this crazy, hectic, and demanding world. Unfortunately, bad dialogue, awkward characterization, and a slow beginning detract from an otherwise solid financial thriller.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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