Margin Call: Movie Review

Margin Call: Movie Review

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Zachary Quinto, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, Penn Badgeley

Director: J C Chandor

Prepare for a film about Wall Street that is not all flashy and style over substance.

Set in an investment bank, it begins with Eric Dale (the ever brilliant Stanley Tucci) being walked out of his office and made redundant. Right before he goes though, he passes a file to one of his employees, Peter Sullivan (Quinto) and says that he should take a look at it.

As Sullivan looks into the file, he finds that discovers that trading will soon exceed the historical volatility levels used by the firm to calculate risk. And furthermore, because of excessive leverage, if the firm's assets in mortgage backed securities decrease by 25%, the firm will suffer a loss greater than its market capitalization.

Suddenly, bosses from higher up above are called in and there are emergency meetings taking placeas the implications of what may transpire become clearer....

Margin Call was Oscar nominated for its screenplay - and it's easy to see why.

This is no flashy film about the excesses of Wall Street - it's a gritty and compelling (if occasinally difficult to follow) film which requires a modicum of intelligence and understanding to keep up with as the keyplayers see it through.

Thanks to a great ensemble cast, it shines; Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany and Stanley Tucci are the MVPs of the film with each giving their characters a human edge which takes them away from simply being flashy guys in flashy suits. It's suitably talky and tense as it plays out but every once in a while, those in charge of the screenplay remember not everyone is an economics expert and a character will urge them to explain it simply for them, which gives you a level of accessibility to the occasional banking technobabble which is necessary.

While some may feel it covers similar ground to last year's The Company Men, by focussing on the intricacies of the business side and the financial implications, it occasionally makes you feel a little distanced from the chracters but thanks to great acting all round, you're unable to tear your eyes away from what's transpiring. For those with an understanding of the intricacies of the banking system and the parallels with the global financial meltdown, it's a no brainer.

Margin Call is one of the more intelligent entries into this year's cinematic crop; the at times complex story won't be for everyone but for those who want to watch a film which takes you into the boardroom back and forth, Margin Call is definitely one of the most interesting dramas about Wall Street to emerge for years.

Rating: