Review of The Big Short (2015) by Dylan R — 18 Mar 2016

Many films have dealt with the financial crashes of our recent history, but Adam McKay does a beautiful job in making quite possibly the best film on the subject. Not only has he written a jam-packed script, but he has also taken a very realistic view of the subject, and has made the entire film feel like a giant documentary, which television shows like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" call "mockumentaries.

" The style is incredibly fascinating, but sometimes feels a little small for a big screen, and feels like something for the smaller screen. However, this is all salvaged by the incredible acting talent that McKay has brought to the table.

Ryan Gosling takes the role of narrator, while Steve Carell takes the complete cake as the incredibly complex and entertaining Mark Baum. Carrell brings a real approach to the role, while also keeping up the dry humor and inner-struggle of his character.

Brad Pitt also offers some laughs in his not-too-lengthy role, and the duo of fairly unknown Finn Wittrock and John Magaro in their roles is infectious and adds more the the humorous scenes of the piece.

And you can't go without mentioning Christian Bale's incredible performance, but it is what we expect from Bale, which is that every role he touches is pure gold. He and Carell are the strongest ones on the acting front, but the ensemble of actors is still one of the best ones of the year, and will be a front runner for the SAG trophy when the time comes.

The film is categorized as a comedy, but I think, with further reflection, "dramedy" might be a better term. The dialogue is humorous and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments, but the entire piece as a whole is crippling to some viewers, and deals with things that have not only just occurred, but may still be occurring.

"The Big Short"'s strongest and weakest factor is the script. The script is so full of rich dialogue, that tells the story in a very detailed way, which could be seen as good or bad. If you go to the bathroom, or zone out for a few seconds, you will certainly miss key factors, and even while present in the theatre, you have to really listen carefully to understand what's going on at all times.

The plot as a whole is followable, but confusing for a viewer who has not been introduced to the subject, or someone who pays less attention to dialogue. Despite being wordy (trust me, if there were better lighting, a dictionary would be a key thing to have while viewing it), the script is still full of comedy, drama, and great lines from the main and supporting cast.

The movie is interesting, and compelling, and done in a very cool style. McKay has brought history into an interesting light, and has paired it up with a perfect cast and well written script. This film has its flaws, but is still entertaining and one of the strongest of the year.