Review of Margin Call (2011) by Mark V — 17 Jun 2012

Most movies like this will stump you with their big words, but this movie maintains its smartness without being too smart for you.

You could liken it to a science joke that only scientists would get. I have often watched movies about the stock market or about business ethics, and all I can seem to identify with is Billy Madison?s explanation of the puppy who lost his way. This movie follows several characters involved in the possible downfall of giant corporation. The price per market share for the company is dropping drastically (I admit I still don?t know anything about this stuff), and the movie documents how they try to avoid hitting rock bottom. Where the movie excels is in its sleek filming style, its serious tone, and in the outstanding acting. Spacey plays the somewhat deadbeat corporate puppet, Tucci plays a disenchanted former employee of the company who first discovers the threat, Moore plays a hardnosed middleman, Irons the heartless devilish chief executive, and every character including the ones I didn?t mention play their roles extraordinarily. Its also pretty sobering to see to what lows a large corporation will drop to, what cuts they will make, and what lies will be fabricated in order to save themselves. A very disturbing, and well acted look at the beast we call big business.