The Big Short

7

Compi24Jan 8, 2016

Yeah, half of the dialogue might sound like **** to me, but I can't deny good filmmaking at play. Bitingly apt satire mixes with earnest performances in what is clearly Adam McKay's passion project. "The Big Short" may not be accessible toYeah, half of the dialogue might sound like **** to me, but I can't deny good filmmaking at play. Bitingly apt satire mixes with earnest performances in what is clearly Adam McKay's passion project. "The Big Short" may not be accessible to everyone, but it's certainly funny and fun to watch.… Expand

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10

CMCJan 6, 2016

Yes! Entertaining. The depiction of the Florida airhead loan guys, and the Florida scenes in general, are priceless. And then you remember that it is all real, it all went down this way. Great use of humor.

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7

beingryanjudeJan 5, 2016

Through the use of humor, entertaining explanations and over-the-top performances, THE BIG SHORT avoids becoming another dull look at the world’s largest financial crisis. Adam McKay and his bandits actually make it quite fun - while stillThrough the use of humor, entertaining explanations and over-the-top performances, THE BIG SHORT avoids becoming another dull look at the world’s largest financial crisis. Adam McKay and his bandits actually make it quite fun - while still recognizing the extreme fraudulences that occurred.… Expand

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7

keemtJan 5, 2016

I might have been too excited to see this film. The acting was great, especially Carell. The jokes weren't funny, the music wasn't good or well-blended, and the events weren't exciting, but were a little shocking. Overall I think it's theI might have been too excited to see this film. The acting was great, especially Carell. The jokes weren't funny, the music wasn't good or well-blended, and the events weren't exciting, but were a little shocking. Overall I think it's the best documentary (without graphs) but nowhere near the movie it could have been. A more effusive focus on the dramatic, stressful, tense moments or the joys and excruciating wierdness of everything would have been great. The directing and editing certainly weren't bad, I just imagine that the scenes evoked more emotion in the makers of this film than in me.

Pointless complaints would be that 1) we didn't even get to see the outline of Margot Robbie's breasts (why am I paying theater prices??) and 2) the government's role in the crisis wasn't mentioned at all---and although I'm sure this is pretty consistent with the book, it's still irritating to me.

Definitely hope Leo finally gets his oscar for this one.… Expand

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8

jbrown8989Jan 5, 2016

Movie was well made and in a unique, almost documentary style. They did a very good job of informing the viewers about a lot of the technical jargon. I was very entertained and the acting was really good (especially Christian Bale). Not sureMovie was well made and in a unique, almost documentary style. They did a very good job of informing the viewers about a lot of the technical jargon. I was very entertained and the acting was really good (especially Christian Bale). Not sure if it is a "must see in a movie theatre" movie but it is worth seeing… Expand

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9

PeterAlexanderJan 5, 2016

The Big Short is an incredibly insightful and dramatic film. My knowledge of the crash of the US housing market was very limited, which made for a viewing filled with intrigue. A stellar cast aids in progressing what is a quirky, yet at timesThe Big Short is an incredibly insightful and dramatic film. My knowledge of the crash of the US housing market was very limited, which made for a viewing filled with intrigue. A stellar cast aids in progressing what is a quirky, yet at times sad film. Such is the magic of the movie, as it leaves the viewer feeling a vast range of emotions, from anger towards the large banks, to gut-wrenching sadness for those who suffered most during the crisis. It is this ability that ensures that The Big Short is one of the best dramas in years.… Expand

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8

YorkManJan 4, 2016

Incredibly engaging and funny, The Big Short does a great job in educating the layman as to the absurdity of what lead up to the 2007 Financial Crisis.
Told from the perspectives of three different groups of investors who were able (one whoIncredibly engaging and funny, The Big Short does a great job in educating the layman as to the absurdity of what lead up to the 2007 Financial Crisis.
Told from the perspectives of three different groups of investors who were able (one who actually read the portents, and two others who got the heads up a little more vicariously) to short sell the loans that the huge investment banks were buying up then re-bundling under false 'ratings'.
What is refreshing is that as a viewer you know what is ultimately going to happen, but you are so caught up in the three different stories, the different perspectives and most importantly, the different characters.

Wonderfully acted, with a great musical score, it fills its run-time remarkably well.
My only real gripe with the movie is that the directorial style isn't great....

It's filmed in an almost 'fly on the wall' style, with a lot of reaction shots during conversations from others present, lot of 'shaky-cam' that is supposed to imply some kind of undercover recording going on and, worst of all, far too many quick cuts without giving the viewer a chance to take in the power of certain scenes. And there are many scenes that have immense resonance, as this is a very powerful story.

Highly recommended though, and well worth taking the time to check out.… Expand

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9

WiscoJoeJan 4, 2016

I laughed until I cried, then I cried until I was laughing again. And then I got angry.

A roller-coaster ride of a movie, as entertaining as it is enlightening, as emotional as it is enraging. A perfect mix of brilliant character studyI laughed until I cried, then I cried until I was laughing again. And then I got angry.

A roller-coaster ride of a movie, as entertaining as it is enlightening, as emotional as it is enraging. A perfect mix of brilliant character study and social commentary. The film is a bit much to take in at first, (especially combined with the sometimes too casual direction) and comes across as an extended 'Funny or Die' viral video. Once it hits its stride, you'll be so enraptured that you won't see the sucker punch coming. And it comes. Hard. Rarely has a film engaged me to this level. This is a movie you'll be thinking about and discussing for years to come. It will stick with you as you leave the theater, whether you want it to or not. Required viewing for anyone that loves good movies and anyone that cares about the fate of our society.… Expand

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10

FranklyputJan 3, 2016

Riveting and entertaining. Adam McKay did an amazing transforming Michael Lewis' technical story into an informing and entertaining movie. Great acting by Christian Bale. The book is incredible and the movie is even more incredible.

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8

Will_TellJan 2, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie was entertaining throughout, with very few dull moments. Even a few humorous points were well done. The financial content of the movie was fairly complex, which is the way it's meant to be. That is, the financial instruments used by "Wall Street" leading up to the crisis were sufficiently complex that hardly anyone could understand how they worked. And thus hardly anyone could foresee their eventual collapse. If you believe the story as told by this movie, you place almost all the blame on the Wall Street banks and financial ancillaries, for creating and trading these complex financial instruments in order to make a fortune, while the government regulators were essentially asleep at the switch. Of course, that's far from an accurate picture. It was the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that told Fannie and Freddie to make loans to "underserved" borrowers, and in fact specified minimum quotas for the numbers of such borrowers. In order to comply, Fannie and Freddie substantially reduced their underwriting standards. Whereas before 1992, Fannie and Freddie required that mortgages require a 10 percent down payment, by 2000 they required no down payment. So it was federal policy to encourage banks to make mortgage loans to borrowers who were poor credit risks. In fact, I would use the word "force" instead of encourage. This aspect of the "crisis" was not on the agenda of the filmmakers.… Expand

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8

GinaKJan 2, 2016

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, but I admit you have to pay attention. I lived through the crisis, so I guess I know more than people who didn’t have a lot of skin in the investment game at the time, but I still think the scriptwriter did anI thoroughly enjoyed this film, but I admit you have to pay attention. I lived through the crisis, so I guess I know more than people who didn’t have a lot of skin in the investment game at the time, but I still think the scriptwriter did an excellent job of explaining without teaching. The acting was uniformly excellent, and the script was terrific. It was both very funny and very scary because you realize that you can’t do anything about it and something similar could easily happen again tomorrow, but I still think it is an excellent way to explain and teach without being a bore. Lots of fun, even while it shows how we lost all those homes and all that money.… Expand

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3

half58Jan 2, 2016

The subject was interesting, the acting was (what I could watch of it) good. excellent way to introduce financial terms for the layman. The problem was the visual, this is the only reason why I gave it a 3. quick cuts (flash frames), zoomsThe subject was interesting, the acting was (what I could watch of it) good. excellent way to introduce financial terms for the layman. The problem was the visual, this is the only reason why I gave it a 3. quick cuts (flash frames), zooms without the camera being in focus of the actor, swish pans, all the rage now but made me feel nauseous. I had to close my eyes throughout most of it. I don't know why directors and producers think this is a good idea. Years ago if a cameraman showed me a tape he or she shot that was shaky, out of focus with fast pans I would fire them on the spot. This is no way to present any visuals. It is a shame no one cares about quality anymore.… Expand

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10

zouz123Jan 2, 2016

Amazing movie. The cast is simply mesmerizing, especially Steve Carell, the story is portrayed smoothly and flawlessly, and all financial jargon is constantly and creatively explained. 10/10 all the way.

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6

GreatMartinJan 1, 2016

For many years I have said that my brother got the money gene and I got the good looking gene and, once again, “The Big Short” may prove that true. The film is about the financial collapse in 2008 and those who made billions of dollarsFor many years I have said that my brother got the money gene and I got the good looking gene and, once again, “The Big Short” may prove that true. The film is about the financial collapse in 2008 and those who made billions of dollars while an unaccountable number of people lost their homes and/or jobs. Much is made of the fact that many behind the scene, knowing what was going on, didn’t do a thing to stop it and got away scot free.

The film, with humor at odds with the theme, tries to explain exactly how the collapse came about in terms that even people like me might understand including the actors talking to the audience. This latter gimmick is at first interesting, including Margot Robbie in a bubble bath drinking champagne and later Selena Gomez gambling in a Las Vegas casino explaining aspects of subprime mortgages, loans and other finances but it eventually becomes distracting when an actor breaks the fourth wall, making you tune out on what is being said.

Though it is very much an ensemble film certain actors stand out such as Brad Pitt, almost unrecognizable until you realize who it is, playing a retired banker, Christian Bale as, to say the least, a very eccentric hedge fund manager, Ryan Gosling as an investor and Steve Carell as a rude trader. Marisa Tomei and Melissa Leo, though good are more or less wasted.

What interested me were the actors I didn’t know or did know but couldn’t name them. In the former group was Finn Wittrock as a young investor and Rafe Spall, both very impressive, and in the latter Jeremy Strong, Hamish Linklater and Adepero Oduye.

Though the writers Charles Randolph and Adam McKay wrote the screen play, based on the book by Michael Lewis, using humor just doesn’t sit right with a subject we know does not have happy ending and brought the USA on the verge of collapse, affected the rest of the world and still does. The direction by McKay is hectic; the editing by Hank Corwin is confusing and the music, at times, jars the audience out of the movie.

Money gene or not, understanding finance or not, I found the actors more interesting than I did the movie. “The Big Short”, by its subject alone, should have been more effective even though you will shake your head as the screen shows what didn’t happen to the ones who caused the collapse.… Expand

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10

annebaughmanJan 1, 2016

Entertaining and informative for a subjuct that is notoriously elusive. Makes you want to learn more. Great ensemble cast. It's an incredible amount of money that we are talking about and a huge loss for so many Americans at the hands of the banks.

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9

anichelsJan 1, 2016

Loved it!
I have very limited business or stock market knowledge, but The Big Short presented the 2007 recession and housing market crash in a way that made me feel smart.
It doesn't pretend to be an educational movie and at times wasLoved it!
I have very limited business or stock market knowledge, but The Big Short presented the 2007 recession and housing market crash in a way that made me feel smart.
It doesn't pretend to be an educational movie and at times was difficult to follow.
The acting was absolutely great, even though some times you would like to strangle Steve Carrell.

The Big Short doesn't cater to your mental faculties - you have to get those cogs working to understand it.… Expand

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8

shoulderoforionDec 31, 2015

PUNK filming at it's near perfection, not a glossy look at masters of the financial universe & a great explanation of the financial collapse, such a treat

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9

zahirDec 31, 2015

Great movie. Great acting. Perfect Story telling. Loved the story and how they didn't sugar coat any of the facts. It shines a light at the dark reality of the situation, but at the same time is an entertaining movie. It leaves you withGreat movie. Great acting. Perfect Story telling. Loved the story and how they didn't sugar coat any of the facts. It shines a light at the dark reality of the situation, but at the same time is an entertaining movie. It leaves you with questions, and keeps you wondering, which in my opinion is the highest honor a movie can receive. I am not sure if its my personal disgust of the new star wars that makes this movie as great as i put it or it is that great. I loved the movie, but it could've been a disaster if it hadn't been told right. I pay my respects to the director for telling a fascinating story.… Expand

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9

samichsupernovaDec 31, 2015

"The Big Short" ruled. McKay's foray into more serious films (though this one is really funny, it knows when to make us laugh and when to get down to business) is a rousing success. This might be my movie of the year if "Mad Max" and "Ex"The Big Short" ruled. McKay's foray into more serious films (though this one is really funny, it knows when to make us laugh and when to get down to business) is a rousing success. This might be my movie of the year if "Mad Max" and "Ex Machina" hadn't already come out. It's smart, hilarious, entertaining, and informative. Like "The Wolf of Wall Street", it breaks the fourth wall in all the right places and the energy and tension never let up. The performances don't really stand out as much as the film's script and actual true-to-life content but Carrell turns in some surprising work and the cast is solid all across the board. The only thing I felt was missing was any nod at all to the big brokers/investors like Peter Schiff, Marc Faber, and Jim Rogers, who went on TV (some as early as 2006) accurately predicting the crisis, and also made serious bank off of it. I understand this is not their movie but would have appreciated even just a small acknowledgment that, yes, SOME very smart financial people saw this coming and were able to get on TV to warn us... only nobody listened because each network had talking heads to counter-point them (seriously, just look those dudes up on YouTube). Super-highly recommended.… Expand

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7

csw12Dec 31, 2015

Made like a documentary, The Big Short tells a very complicated story through some unorthodox methods. The best part about the film is the way it explained key terms for the average audience. In the end, the film does a good job explainingMade like a documentary, The Big Short tells a very complicated story through some unorthodox methods. The best part about the film is the way it explained key terms for the average audience. In the end, the film does a good job explaining only one side of the story while excusing the other.… Expand

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10

CallidorDec 30, 2015

This movie is one of the realest, most informative movies I have seen in easy 10 years. It is a masterpiece imo and truly worth watching. Amazing story, felt so honest and real, the information given was given so well and articulated.This movie is one of the realest, most informative movies I have seen in easy 10 years. It is a masterpiece imo and truly worth watching. Amazing story, felt so honest and real, the information given was given so well and articulated.

Truly this is the movie of the decade for its genre imo, everyone should watch it, seriously, everyone.… Expand

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9

geo333Dec 30, 2015

The Big Short not only has an A star cast but has a strong intriguing story as well. With humor blended with a touchy subject, this film educates the viewer in a funny way that proves to be cleaver and perfect. Moral of the story don't trustThe Big Short not only has an A star cast but has a strong intriguing story as well. With humor blended with a touchy subject, this film educates the viewer in a funny way that proves to be cleaver and perfect. Moral of the story don't trust no one with your money.… Expand

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10

ProsmoothDec 30, 2015

There is one political party that wants to regulate Wall Street and one party that doesn't. Remember this movie and what happened in 2007 the next time you go to vote.

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10

Zuliemon1Dec 29, 2015

Great movie. The financial collapse caused by the sub-prime mortgage market and those greedy bastards on Wall Street is a tough subject to cover with both humor and clarity. This movie does both very well and in an entertaining manner. It'sGreat movie. The financial collapse caused by the sub-prime mortgage market and those greedy bastards on Wall Street is a tough subject to cover with both humor and clarity. This movie does both very well and in an entertaining manner. It's highly recommended if you can follow something other than the usual mindless tripe that has become MOST movie fare these days.… Expand

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10

jhepDec 29, 2015

“The Big Short or "A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to the Global Economic Meltdown”

THE HEDGE FUND MANAGER AS FOLK HERO…..Okay, okay, the idea may call for a little tweaking at first glance but in today’s topsy-turvy world where- as“The Big Short or "A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to the Global Economic Meltdown”

THE HEDGE FUND MANAGER AS FOLK HERO…..Okay, okay, the idea may call for a little tweaking at first glance but in today’s topsy-turvy world where- as Chris Hedges points out- almost every public institution has morphed into its opposite and become its own nemesis, this hedge-fund-manager-as-folk-hero idea might not be all that strange......In any event film maker Adam McKay makes a compelling, indeed fascinating case for this in his new film “The Big Short”.

The film is based on the Michael Lewis’ book “The Big Short; Inside the Doomsday Machine” and Adam McKay‘s film adaptation has wisely chosen to turn the story into a David and Goliath fable about “the little Hedge Fund that could”. The result is a parable of daring existential savvy and “cojones” triumphing over institutionalized corruption and tunnel vision; the sort of thing Kierkegaard or Albert Camus would applaud in a nanosecond, and although not quite your by-the-numbers Robin Hood caper, then at least something sufficiently “Robin Hood-ish” to have something for everyone to take heart about (i.e., the previously mentioned Little-Hedge-Fund-That-Could angle).

Incongruous as all of this may sound, the end result is an extraordinary cinematic and political delight from start to finish and is even (somehow?) perfect Christmas/Holiday Season fare. McKay’s innovative direction and his extraordinarily inspired cast keep things percolating at just the right, slightly off-kilter and wacky tempo. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt (one of the film’s producers) and Ryan Gosling are all clearly on board with McKay’s Smartest-Guys-in-the-Room interpretation of events that what ultimately comes across is a sort of Lord-of-the-Rings-Comes-to-Wall-St. epic that is the movie equivalent of a real page-turner ! It would be a serious mistake to dismiss “The Big Short” as some kind of “feel good” exercise about small time hedge fund types taking big risks and hitting the jack pot because this very unusual film is far more than a quirky comedy or satire. When the dust finally settles what we have here is actually passionate, scathing and somehow monumental indictment not only of Wall St. but (even more courageous to state and more worrisome to consider) the outrageous complicity of elected officials who chose to do the bidding of their “Too-Big-To-Fail” banking overseers…..“Wall St. got bailed out, Main Street got sold out !” as the popular chant goes. The SEC/Security Exchange Commission, as well as the credit rating agencies Standard and Poors and Moody’s (see photo below) come in for more than a few well-deserved, well-aimed body blows.

“ Big Short” is an important film about what is arguably THE major struggle of our times: (a dismantled, downsized nominal democracy versus an insatiable and rapacious oligarchy). It also happens to be a work so strangely compelling that you will probably end up committing large chunks of it to memory after 2 or 3 viewings due to the fact that it regales us with such an audacious handling of its material - real gusto, passion and a sense of outrage rarely seen these days. What the viewer experiences is not unlike watching someone making their way over Niagara Falls on a tightrope: you hold your breath, wrestle with the impulse to cover your eyes and yet- through the whole ordeal- welcome every moment with real gratitude (psychologist Abraham Maslow’s idea that our perception of Truth helps to keep us sane and healthy probably kicks in here somewhere.)

This is also one of the most cinematically and politically FEARLESS films you’ll ever see; every gamble the script makes (and there are many) and every wildly intuitive hunch the direction takes (and there many) pays off totally…. nothing is overstated, no shot is held for even a nanosecond too long…our interest never flags….You would have to go back to Robert Altman on a very good day I.e., “Nashville”..….or Godard or Truffaut or Woody Allen on a good day to find a film this innovative.
What we end up watching in “The Big Short” is a story that is stranger than fiction and yet one that unfolds, is tried-and-true fairy tale tradition, with a cast of spellbound couriers, mysterious ancestral curses and wise old and not-so-old sages….in short the world that History itself appears to have been keeping in store for us now uber-challenged 21st century residents of planet Earth. All of this Adam McKay has chosen to direct with a gusto and panache that borders on audacity. Fortunately a kind of grace seems to hover over his every directorial decision and the result is dazzling and at times mesmerizing. We end up cheering for these underdog hedge fund managers who have thrown caution to the winds and risked everything on the use of their wits....as well as for a gifted American film maker and artist named Adam McKay who can so clearly empathize with them.… Expand

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7

jflaDec 28, 2015

The cast is great, particularly Carrell and Bale, McKay's direction is great and I loved the use of the celebrity cameos. But this film really didn't blow me away like I thought it would. Good movie, that I think people should see justThe cast is great, particularly Carrell and Bale, McKay's direction is great and I loved the use of the celebrity cameos. But this film really didn't blow me away like I thought it would. Good movie, that I think people should see just because of the story and that it needs to be told. But I would consider it more as a rental than actually going to the theaters and seeing… Expand

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9

hubickDec 28, 2015

I can't imagine a story based on true events surrounding this subject matter ever being made into a more entertaining movie. I went in expecting something more along the lines of a documentary, and was very pleasantly surprised. TheI can't imagine a story based on true events surrounding this subject matter ever being made into a more entertaining movie. I went in expecting something more along the lines of a documentary, and was very pleasantly surprised. The characters were intriguing, and despite knowing the overall outcome (the financial crash of 2008), the film kept you in suspense, wondering how it would turn out for them. Unless you're averse to financial/economic subject matter in general, this flick comes highly recommended.… Expand

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7

JacobDec 28, 2015

The Big Short is a good self aware economic film. While it is talky and full of economic terms it knows this and smartly breaks down key terms for the average audience. The characters in it are well performed. If you can get past the shakyThe Big Short is a good self aware economic film. While it is talky and full of economic terms it knows this and smartly breaks down key terms for the average audience. The characters in it are well performed. If you can get past the shaky cam you can see this film for the well made piece that it is.… Expand

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8

shahinsDec 27, 2015

The movie tells the story of several people/groups who predicted the economy crash of 2007 beforehand. It does a great job at showing how things started to crumble. It was very informative, and it felt like a documentary to me at times. It isThe movie tells the story of several people/groups who predicted the economy crash of 2007 beforehand. It does a great job at showing how things started to crumble. It was very informative, and it felt like a documentary to me at times. It is not an artsy movie though.… Expand

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8

SpangleDec 27, 2015

The Big Short starts off a little odd, but by the time it ends, the beginning makes more sense stylistically and you are left feeling almost empty. Watching the financial collapse happen almost all over again is a gut wrenching experienceThe Big Short starts off a little odd, but by the time it ends, the beginning makes more sense stylistically and you are left feeling almost empty. Watching the financial collapse happen almost all over again is a gut wrenching experience that The Big Short turned into the best time I had in the theater all year. Honestly, The Big Short may be the most entertaining and informative films I have watched in a film. Unique in its storytelling, entirely subversive, and odd/quirky, The Big Short is a great time and does a great job explaining its, at times, complex story. At no point do you feel lost or confused by its complex terminology, because it always bring it to the point where you can understand exactly what is happening. Even more, it is hysterically funny at times. Truly, it skewers its villains and twirls the knife with glee, though it does certainly leave its protagonists seeming more than a little morally and ethically ambiguous. Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell are absolutely phenomenal here. Christian Bale and Brad Pitt are also very, very good in their roles. Director Adam McKay manages to exceed all expectations with his directorial ability here and, honestly, I am not sure who else could have pulled it off with such a complex and unique way of telling this tale. The Big Short is not the best film of the year, but is certainly a contender for funnest film of the year.… Expand

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10

ledaumasDec 27, 2015

Excellent and entertaining way to educate us on things that are hard to understand. Now we know why we don't understand market conditions as they relate to our economy. Even the experts and people in the know have trouble figuring how thingsExcellent and entertaining way to educate us on things that are hard to understand. Now we know why we don't understand market conditions as they relate to our economy. Even the experts and people in the know have trouble figuring how things work and this movie tells us why. We loved the mini explanations by people not involved in the rest of the movie. It made us realize these were the scenes to Explain the hard to understand scenes. A warning tale that the market cares little about ethics or moral codes and that the market is really one big gambling game that directly affects our economy.… Expand

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1

TheKavehJDec 26, 2015

To most people, The Big Short is one of the best movies of the year. To me, The Big Short is a long, confusing, and boring film. Delivering only a few laughs, The Big Short is not worth spending a penny to see.

3 of 22 users found this helpful319

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9

FranzHcriticDec 26, 2015

It really hits you in the throat how corrupt Wall Street is, and how many people were screwed because of fraudulent systems and greed. Yet there is the comic effect of the ludicrousness of it all, how this is happening everyday, yet mostIt really hits you in the throat how corrupt Wall Street is, and how many people were screwed because of fraudulent systems and greed. Yet there is the comic effect of the ludicrousness of it all, how this is happening everyday, yet most people don't know what it's about. The whole cast is a comedic force. All in all, this was a very entertaining film. I loved it.… Expand

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8

TVJerryDec 26, 2015

This feels like a Michael Moore documentary with reenactments by a great cast (Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale). Director Adam McKay has utilized several cinematic tools to tell a complex and confusing story: entertaining montages,This feels like a Michael Moore documentary with reenactments by a great cast (Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale). Director Adam McKay has utilized several cinematic tools to tell a complex and confusing story: entertaining montages, snappy editing, short scenes and clever comedy. He examines how the sub-prime mortgage crisis brought our country (and the world) to the brink of financial disaster and how a small group of smart investors managed to make big money on it. The short-attention-span pacing and McKay's wildly creative approach (with those absorbing performances) make the film entertaining and ultimately infuriating.… Expand

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8

BrianMcCriticDec 25, 2015

While I still have a problem comprehending everything regarding the mortgage crisis this film goes a long way to fixing that. You got to give Adam McKay a lot of credit in telling a story in which the subject matter is extremely hard to tell. A-

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9

kevtheobaldDec 25, 2015

They have taken a complex boring topic and made it enjoyable. With that said, this is Oliver Stone. If you hate movies that do lots of voice overs and breaking of the fourth wall, this will be a tough movie for you to watch.

The acting andThey have taken a complex boring topic and made it enjoyable. With that said, this is Oliver Stone. If you hate movies that do lots of voice overs and breaking of the fourth wall, this will be a tough movie for you to watch.

The acting and script is good overall. If foul language offends you easily, you should avoid this movie. With that said, I do not think the foul language is just being used to stupid. It comes across as something the people this movie is based on would do.

If you want a better understanding of what happen to the economy in 2007, this is a must see. If you want a popcorn flick where you can put your mind on cruse control, not the best choice.

I think everyone should see this movie just to get a better idea of one of the scams played by Wall Street on Americans and the world.… Expand

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7

jrodfilmsDec 24, 2015

i thought the movie was better than spotlight, since that film seems to be receiving all the praise. when most movies lose their momentum the third act this one became more intriguing. not debaucherous like wolf of wall street.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

joehavermannDec 23, 2015

“The Big Short” tells an engaging story with an excellent cast.

Nevertheless, there are times that the film feels like a docudrama directed by Michael Moore; as a person who sometimes enjoys Moore’s work, I say that more as an observation“The Big Short” tells an engaging story with an excellent cast.

Nevertheless, there are times that the film feels like a docudrama directed by Michael Moore; as a person who sometimes enjoys Moore’s work, I say that more as an observation than a strict criticism. But like Moore’s work, the film is sometimes preachy in an overbearing way, and like Moore himself, writer/director Adam McKay doesn’t trust the audience with serious material: the film assumes that the audience must always be entertained. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything of substance when I mention that the film literally takes breaks from the story in order to have celebrity guests like Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez, and Anthony Bourdain explain complex financial instruments directly to the camera. The scenes are presented in a way that’s meant to come across as fun and irreverent. As somebody who followed the financial crisis as it unfolded, and read about it afterwards, I found the whole tack to be vaguely insulting. Still, McKay probably recognized that he had a fascinating and important story, and realized that he needed a way to convey this information to members of the audience without boring or confusing them; he can’t be faulted for operating from accurate assumptions.

The film follows the interesting characters who took the daring position of ‘betting’ against the housing market in the mid-2000s (through short selling). It should be noted that these weren’t the first people to notice the housing bubble -- just the ones who profited from it. (Dean Baker, who also accurately predicted the tech bubble burst, wrote about this as early as 2002; see ‘The Run-Up in Home Prices: Is it Real or Is it Another Bubble?,’ Aug 2002.) Pointing this out doesn’t make their stories any less engrossing. I found Christian Bale’s performance in the role of Michael Burry particularly noteworthy; Carrel and Gosling are also terrific.

“The Big Short” is not the best of the year, and I don’t think it deserves the Oscar nomination it will surely receive. But it’s good. And it is fundamentally accurate in its depiction of the financial industry as driven by fraud and fueled by greedy incompetence.… Expand

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8

moviemitch96Dec 22, 2015

This film boasted an interesting cast and premise and certainly managed to provoke some big thoughts and ideas throughout. It also managed to remain consistently funny and fresh (for the most part.) It's worth noting that I loved the firstThis film boasted an interesting cast and premise and certainly managed to provoke some big thoughts and ideas throughout. It also managed to remain consistently funny and fresh (for the most part.) It's worth noting that I loved the first half of this film, as it was quick-witted and gave great insight through various forms, such as interesting facts, famous celebs explaining certain things, etc. However, I was somewhat dismayed to find that the second half, much like the film's subject matter, began to go slightly downhill to the point where it almost felt like a separate film (and not exactly in a good way.) By this time, the film had already made its point, yet it began to drag on for slightly longer than I would've liked. Aside from that, the performances were all rather enjoyable from a great cast. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling all gave great, scene-stealing performances. Brad Pitt, however, certainly deserved more screentime in my opinion. Overall, despite what I considered to be a shaky second half, I'm willing to mostly forgive that due to the blast I had with the first half as well as the great performances from the ensemble cast. And besides, I will admit that Adam McKay did make a pretty good departure from his usual raunchy comedy films like Anchorman, Step Brothers, etc.… Expand

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9

BHBarryDec 14, 2015

"The Big Short" is a film based on the book by Michael Lewis which details the fall of Wall Street in 2008 and the circumstances that led up to it. With an adaption of Mr. Lewis' book by Director Adam McKay and co-writer Charles Randolph, the"The Big Short" is a film based on the book by Michael Lewis which details the fall of Wall Street in 2008 and the circumstances that led up to it. With an adaption of Mr. Lewis' book by Director Adam McKay and co-writer Charles Randolph, the film has an outstanding ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Christian Bale and Brad Pitt (who was also one of the producers of the film). Mr. Bale’s character and 3 others find that the bundles of mortgages being sold by Wall Street firms to their investors are loaded with subprime (a/k/a) "bad") mortgages, most of which have adjustable sweetheart rates that end in or about 2007. Recognizing this and the debacle that will ultimately occur when mortgage rates and payments will suddenly soar and foreclosures will become the inevitable consequence,, these savvy mavericks swap or 'sell short' these bundles in order to reap the high profit that they anticipate will come about. The film is filled with trade acronyms and concepts that even well seasoned brokers would not understand so, in order to educate the viewing audience, stars like Selena Gomez, Anthony Bourdain and a lady in a bubble bath interject themselves into various frames in the film in order to explain to the viewer the complexities of these arrangements.
The vehicle works and what might otherwise have been a disaster of technical jargon becomes a more or less easily understood combination of events, both serious and comedic, that led to the crash of 2008. There is no single performance that stands out although the sum of all them makes this a film that should be seen by anyone who directly or indirectly was impacted by what occurred in the fatal year when Wall Street houses and stocks crumbled. I give the film a 93 and recommend that it be seen if, for no other reason, to understand how vulnerable an unregulated and rogue bunch of brokers, dealers and institutions can and, in fact, did manipulate the system.… Expand

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10

jakegenevaDec 13, 2015

The Big Short was a highly entertaining movie - excellently directed, well acted and terrific storyline. It's great to see a movie that highlights that makings of our huge financial crisis. I saw it with my 16 year old son, and the movieThe Big Short was a highly entertaining movie - excellently directed, well acted and terrific storyline. It's great to see a movie that highlights that makings of our huge financial crisis. I saw it with my 16 year old son, and the movie was very interesting to him because he hadn't really been aware of all the factors that caused our financial meltdown (he was only 9 at the time). He also thought that the movie was very well made and enjoyable to watch, even though the subject matter of the film was distressing.

Go see it!!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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8

LamontRaymondDec 12, 2015

It's a good solid market meltdown flick, but not nearly as good as Margin Call. I can imagine it was tough to jam that huge book into a movie, but they're not as successful in doing it as they were with Moneyball. The acting is top notchIt's a good solid market meltdown flick, but not nearly as good as Margin Call. I can imagine it was tough to jam that huge book into a movie, but they're not as successful in doing it as they were with Moneyball. The acting is top notch (especially Carrell's performance), but I felt that the little celerity asides explaining the financial products took us a bit too far out of the frame, though they are quite funny. Any of the primary actors could have achieved the same thing without making it feel like a stunt. I enjoyed the film, and that wallop at the end makes it a cautionary tale worth heeding by our government.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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10

doodlermanDec 12, 2015

A real eye-opener for me. Easily Adam McKay's best movie and one of the best of this year. It has a very documentary feel to it mixed with a Ferris Bueller's Day Off attitude. It works remarkably.

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10

DavidnbDec 11, 2015

Basicaly, my rule of thumb is thatif the NT Post hated it, it's got to be good. This continues to be true.............................................

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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10

TotallyEpicHDDec 11, 2015

Entertaining, funny, and smart! This movie combines all the right elements to make an intense situation into a fun movie! :-)

BTW, as of this review, it has a user score of 10/10. Seems about right ;-)

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

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The Big Short

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