“The Big Short” review: A hilarious celebration for the spirit of human stupidity and greed

The Big Short review: A hilarious celebration for the spirit of human stupidity and greed

Socrates Kanetakis, Podcast Editor

Ever interested in the stock market? No? Great! This is exactly the movie for you.

You were probably alive in the years spanning 2008 and 2012 so you might remember this little thing called The World crisis. Well, The Big Short is based on true stories revolving on a couple of peculiar individuals who predicted the crisis some years earlier and decided to take action against the banks’ greediness and fought for the good of the world to spread awareness for the housing bub-… yeah, maybe in a different universe. These guys just saw the thing coming and made as much money as they could before the storm hit… What? If you want to watch a movie about heroes go watch Star Wars.

Directed by Ron Burgundy’s father, Adam McKay, The Big Short is an unsuspected thrill ride through the world of financing, banking, stock marketing and overall human stupidity. Starring Christian Bell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Steve Carrell, the film is almost a guaranteed success by the cast alone. Wishing not to reveal too much of the film’s belly-laughing elements, I will try to give credit were needed and reveal as minimum info as possible… I really want to spoil this but just do yourself the favor instead and watch it, alright?

Filmed in a fast-paced tempo with rapid montages which make it impossible to get bored, the film’s directing is truly masterful. Knowing that the same movie made into a stiff drama will be directly sent to DVD release, McKay turned the tables on the theme’s tone and showed the ridicule of human narrow-mindedness and lack of foresight which cost 2.6 million Americans their jobs. And it is funny. Even as an immigrant to this country due to that crisis, the backstory to its formation is truly a laughing matter.

Acting-wise, Gosling steals the movie with a dislikable a-hole of a character (fantastic departure from chick-flicks), Bell is clearly an Oscar contender with an odd-ball figure reminiscent of Jack Sparrow while Pit is limited and Carell is dramatic, loud and heart-capturing… could very well go for a supporting actor’s nomination.  Now careful, some financing vocabulary will be required for a joyful viewing of this film including for the appreciation of its financial humor but if you pay attention in Economics, you will be fine. If you have Government like I do, well… read stuff.

There isn’t much else to say about this glorious film aside that it rocks on all levels of filmmaking and film-watching and that it should not be left out from your movie library (which is in your head; we don’t have libraries anymore.) Second favorite of the year, hands-down a wall-street classic and absolutely fantastic…oh and Adam McKay, bravo. Such a debut is worthy of praise, even from a high-school journalist. We are definitely waiting for more like this from you…and Anchorman 3.

Final Score: 9.5