Review of Margin Call (2011) by Keith S — 25 Mar 2012

There is a reason why I am not in the habit of reading the financial times for leisure purposes. I am utterly bored and not interested in the financial mumbo jumbo that seems to make the world go round these days. Yet, I have experienced films that are capable of providing an entertaining insight and accesible portrayl of very marginal (no pun intended) business and/or industry branches, such as Network or Michael Clayton.

The good news is, this film is better than I though but not as good as it could be. The financial bollocks is still here and whenever people talk about assets and liquidisation you will most surely just daze out and maybe go get a coffee in the meantime. However, when the films takes a step back and lets the disaster unfold and with it the dangling of human lives across the edge of existence, the human interest factor kicks in big time. Morals, future plans, fears, hopes and philosophies are all shaken to make a cocktail of human emotions and rises many questions about the nature of our capitalist society.

I am glad the film never takes a stand and make us equally likely to pity the poor souls who happen to be the cleaners in the underbelly of our ugly captialist society or despise the ferocious gangs of predators who feast on the flesh of the commoners.

The film is essentially an ensemble play, with amazing actors and only some blunders in casting. Demi Moore is stale and her botox-ridden face cannot convey emotions any more. Simon Baker is a surprise and Bettany, Spacey and Irons (where did he return from?) are in great form as usual.

The director tried as hard as he can to capture the surreal, yet claustrophic and unsettling atmosphere of the office that is about to go down to hell, but he lacks the vision and finesse to make it really work and apart from long takes and a good soundtrack, the film is pretty much a very straight forward and conventional take on the genre. A shame, but the film never reaches the level of a Shakespearen tragedy, which it could have been.

All in all, a nice niche film with great performances.