The Big Short
Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt lead this true story about the four outsiders who predicted the global economic meltdown. No one believed them, so they came up with their own get-rich-quick scheme – betting against the American banks. Directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman) and based on the non-fiction bestseller from Michael Lewis (who also wrote the book that was later adapted to the Oscar-nominated film Moneyball).
- Director:
- Adam McKay ('Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues', 'The Other Guys', 'Step Brothers')
- Writer:
- Adam McKayCharles Randolph
- Cast:
- Christian BaleSteve CarellRyan GoslingBrad PittMelissa LeoTracy LettsFinn WittrockHamish Linklater
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksI guess you’ve just gotta laugh at the wholesale reckless looting of a nation, right? As evidenced by The Wolf of Wall Street, corporate excesses can make for hilarious cinema, so director Adam McKay (Anchorman, The Other Guys) seems a solid fit for this true tale of financial outsiders twigging to the imminent collapse of the US housing market. There’s a lot more going on with The Big Short, though. The laughs may be plentiful, but this is as much chilling drama as financial farce, and the film’s single biggest triumph lies in making arcane financial mumbo jumbo understandable and watchable.
Great Cast - Great Film!
The Big Short manages to turn a difficult subject matter into a great film which anyone can follow. Margot Robbie in a bath explaining sub prime loans is brilliant. This film uses the fourth wall well as a storytelling technique, rare these days. A great reminder and explanation of what caused the GFC and will open your eyes.
A must see this year
A fresh and well-rounded movie with so much to like, let down only by a couple of over the top characters with drippingly ironic character flaws (the rating agency clerk with vision problems and the regulator eager to hop into bed with the banks). Fortunately they fit with the comic, light hearted take on the movie's subject matter. Well worth watching
Refreshing and quick-witted!
Very clever and full of comedic surprises. Does a good job of sharing with the audience the inner workings of the banking world whilst keeping things light enough for it to not be all a complete mood kill. I definitely want to re watch it again as there is a lot to take in but that's part of it's intellectual prowess. Fascinating look at human nature and...
If you enjoy feeling angry...
...then have these guys got a deal for you. The Big Short does a great job of explaining the apparently inexplicable, tackling the world of sub-prime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations head-on without bothering to apologise if it makes you feel stupid in the process. Explaining this stuff without talking down to your audience is a tricky needle...
Bank Culture for Dummies
Interesting characters populate this film which is set up as an instructional docudrama but never quite manages to simplify the subject enough for complete novices. It is definitely entertaining but would bore the pants off anyone who doesn't care about how big banking works. In simple terms they make squillions while Joe Public pays the price. We all know...
Variety
pressIt’s impossible not to admire McKay’s reckless willingness to do everything short of jumping through flaming hoops on a motorcycle while reading aloud from Keynes if that’s what it takes to get people to finally pay attention.
Time Out
pressWhen a Hollywood comedy turns the crime of the century into a lark, you know a huge gamble has been chanced and won.
The New York Times
pressWill affirm your deepest cynicism about Wall Street while simultaneously restoring your faith in Hollywood.
The Guardian
pressMcKay’s attempt to cover so much ground is admirable; and the outrage that courses throughout is deeply felt.
Stuff
pressManages to be funny, fluid, watchable, dispiritingly blokish, well-acted and quite engrossing.
Rolling Stone
pressA hell of a hilarious time at the movies if you're up for laughs that stick in your throat.
FilmInk
pressA refreshing and piercingly clever morality tale - whether you prefer the emotive, simplistic or in-depth depictions of what happened - the film hits its target.
Entertainment Weekly
pressBehind every easy drive-by laugh is a sincere holler of outrage.
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksI guess you’ve just gotta laugh at the wholesale reckless looting of a nation, right? As evidenced by The Wolf of Wall Street, corporate excesses can make for hilarious cinema, so director Adam McKay (Anchorman, The Other Guys) seems a solid fit for this true tale of financial outsiders twigging to the imminent collapse of the US housing market. There’s a lot more going on with The Big Short, though. The laughs may be plentiful, but this is as much chilling drama as financial farce, and the film’s single biggest triumph lies in making arcane financial mumbo jumbo understandable and watchable.
Variety
pressIt’s impossible not to admire McKay’s reckless willingness to do everything short of jumping through flaming hoops on a motorcycle while reading aloud from Keynes if that’s what it takes to get people to finally pay attention.
Time Out
pressWhen a Hollywood comedy turns the crime of the century into a lark, you know a huge gamble has been chanced and won.
The New York Times
pressWill affirm your deepest cynicism about Wall Street while simultaneously restoring your faith in Hollywood.
The Guardian
pressMcKay’s attempt to cover so much ground is admirable; and the outrage that courses throughout is deeply felt.
Stuff
pressManages to be funny, fluid, watchable, dispiritingly blokish, well-acted and quite engrossing.
Rolling Stone
pressA hell of a hilarious time at the movies if you're up for laughs that stick in your throat.
FilmInk
pressA refreshing and piercingly clever morality tale - whether you prefer the emotive, simplistic or in-depth depictions of what happened - the film hits its target.
Entertainment Weekly
pressBehind every easy drive-by laugh is a sincere holler of outrage.
Great Cast - Great Film!
The Big Short manages to turn a difficult subject matter into a great film which anyone can follow. Margot Robbie in a bath explaining sub prime loans is brilliant. This film uses the fourth wall well as a storytelling technique, rare these days. A great reminder and explanation of what caused the GFC and will open your eyes.
A must see this year
A fresh and well-rounded movie with so much to like, let down only by a couple of over the top characters with drippingly ironic character flaws (the rating agency clerk with vision problems and the regulator eager to hop into bed with the banks). Fortunately they fit with the comic, light hearted take on the movie's subject matter. Well worth watching
Refreshing and quick-witted!
Very clever and full of comedic surprises. Does a good job of sharing with the audience the inner workings of the banking world whilst keeping things light enough for it to not be all a complete mood kill. I definitely want to re watch it again as there is a lot to take in but that's part of it's intellectual prowess. Fascinating look at human nature and...
If you enjoy feeling angry...
...then have these guys got a deal for you. The Big Short does a great job of explaining the apparently inexplicable, tackling the world of sub-prime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations head-on without bothering to apologise if it makes you feel stupid in the process. Explaining this stuff without talking down to your audience is a tricky...
Bank Culture for Dummies
Interesting characters populate this film which is set up as an instructional docudrama but never quite manages to simplify the subject enough for complete novices. It is definitely entertaining but would bore the pants off anyone who doesn't care about how big banking works. In simple terms they make squillions while Joe Public pays the price. We all...
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