3.5/5
Well played Adam McKay. This could have been a mess, bogged down with the details of the world of banking, but instead, through clever writing, meta moments and spot on casting, this is one hell of a ride. Detailing the collapse of America's economy by focusing in on a group of people who caught on early (albeit to make money) was a smart move. We get to know these people, we are right there with them, making the revelations as they do. Christian Bale is on top form as Michael Burry. He picks up on the smallest of ticks to immerse himself n the role. Does he deserve best supporting actor at the Oscars? I don't think so. I think Tom Hardy will shade him. The rest of the cast is solid, Steve Carell is perfectly cast as a man on the edge. So is Ryan Gosling; handling both the humor and intensity well, with Nice Guys coming out this year too, are we seeing a new funny side to Gosling?
The real star here is Adam Mckay's direction. He injects the whole film with energy, it is constantly building, fast edits, new information, meta moments with the camera, it all complements. His comedic timing comes in handy but he handles the more weighty moments surprisingly well. Also the script is razor sharp, the back and forth dialogue and little quips work well.
Could it be argued that the screenplay doesn't go deep enough? True it doesn't show the devastation caused the collapse. And yes the main characters are essentially profiting off the whole film but as one character say: these aren't the heroes of the story and the never claim to be.
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