Thursday, March 28, 2024

“The Big Short” Now Playing at Village Theatre

maxresdefaultIt’s 2006, and all appears to be fine — better than fine — on Wall Street. However, the foundation of the American economy is built on the fragile, shimmering bubble of the U.S. housing market, and no one realized the truth until it was almost too late.

No one, that is, except Dr. Michael Burry. He is a quirky investment manager with no social skills and a penchant for heavy metal music, but in his unique market research he spots something before anyone else. Millions of subprime mortgages are due to default in early 2008. Burry decides to take his investors’ money and bet over $1 billion against these subprime mortgages.

His actions attract the attention of New York banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum (Steve Carell), and two investment amateurs from Boulder, Colorado. Aided by luck, greed, and the right information at the right time, these men quietly aim to make a fortune on the collapse of the American economy.

“A spinach smoothie skillfully disguised as junk food,” says Andrew Barker in his Variety review. Just like author Michael Lewis attempted to do in his original book of the same name, “The Big Short” is a witty, hyper-self-aware film that attempts to explain the esoteric with the familiar. Director Adam McKay (who also directed “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights”) pauses the film to use celebrities like Anthony Bourdain in his kitchen and Margot Robbie in a bubble bath to explain especially mind-numbing financial information. Moviegoer Elliott especially liked the artsy scene breaks filled with images and video clips that defined the era. “It was fun to see such recent history depicted in this appealing documentary style.” The emotionally-charged background of Steve Carell’s character reveals a tortured conscience even as he prepares to make millions off the suffering of others.

The pervasive language and occasional nudity won’t please every viewer, but for those who can overlook these things, “The Big Short” is a clever, fascinating education in the collapse of the American economy. Part history lesson, part moral instruction, and ultimately very satisfying entertainment (already garnering Academy Award nominations), the film captures a recent downfall in American history and provides a salient warning for the future. Definitely recommend.

Director: Adam McKay

Actors: Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell

Rating: R for pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity

Running Time: 2 h 10 min

See movie times here.



Becca Garber
Becca Garberhttp://beccagarber.com
Becca is a Coronado local, military spouse, mother of three, and an ICU nurse on hiatus. In Coronado, you will find her at the playground with her kids, jogging to the beach, or searching the Coronado library for another good read.Have news to share? Send tips, story ideas or letters to the editor to: [email protected].

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