The Big Short Review
RYAN: This is a real ensemble piece – up for seven Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture and Acting Ensemble. It’s a biopic, a dramedy and a refreshing look at business. I would typically tune out of a film like this – all about finance. But the editing, the casting, the cameos that brilliantly provide the Cliff’s Notes version of industry terminology, all captivated me.
CAROLINE: I really want to see this – Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling – Brad Pitt! This is a moo-vie!
RYAN: To be sure. And they all pretty much play against type. The only one who I’ve seen in a similar role before is Gosling. But they are all giving their best and entertaining to the max in this film. There’s a load more stars in cameos and supporting roles as well. It really deserves the ensemble nom. I wish the Oscars had that category too.
CAROLINE: That would be good. But it’s really more of a SAG thing and Critics’ Choice.
RYAN: This movie is like Wall Street meets American Hustle. It has a disco vibe and the editing it so fast and cool – with a great score, that it all moves really well, considering how much info is thrown at you very quickly. And I feel like I learned a little bit about things too – but mostly, you learn the story of the few peeps who predicted the 2007 housing crash and the opposition they faced in trying to alert some others to it. But they also kept it to themselves because they’re the ones who benefitted while the banks and everyone else lost.
CAROLINE: It’s a true story!
RYAN: It is – the kind of, “You can’t make this stuff up” sort of true story. The screenplay is good, quick, almost like Aaron Sorkin dialogue.
CAROLINE: Love that.
RYAN: Christian Bale’s character has a false eye that I don’t know how they did but it was believable.
CAROLINE: Maybe they had him wear a false eye for the film?
RYAN: (laughs) Yes. The best thing I can say about this movie is that I saw it at the end of the day, after watching several other movies, and I was at full attention the whole time. It’s just over two hours but moves.
