Plot Summary: When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Step Brothers) The Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.
Release Date: Limited – 11 Dec 2015 | Wide – 23 Dec 2015
Director Adam McKay, usually known for his comedic works such as Anchorman or Step Brothers, takes on a more serious movie about the men who made millions off the 2007-2010 financial crisis. The movie originally slated for a 2016 release has been pushed forward to December this year in the United States. Cutting it close as it’s still in post-production. We can all guess the reason why: Oscar season.
All four leading males have received Oscar nominations at some point in their careers and, in Christian Bale’s case, he won for American Hustle. Notably, the males that have from time to time been cast in more dashing roles due to their good looks (Bale, Gosling, and Pitt), have been taken down many notches. After all we don’t want Photoshop-quality Ryan Gosling distracting us the whole while we are supposed to be scowling at these conniving men.
While we can see how the trailer is trying to make the plot more dramatic and exciting, for those of us who have seen Moneyball know that it could be a little flatter and slower. Though The Big Short isn’t trying to emulate The Wolf of Wall Street‘s tone and obscenity, I think the movie will have a hard time drawing audiences in without more of a hook.
For me, the interest lies not necessarily in the plot but the different roles the actors will portray. Brad Pitt and Steve Carell’s roles aren’t a far stretch from roles they’ve had previously. Christian Bale’s character as Michael Burry reminds me of a quirky, less violent Patrick Bateman from American Psycho and a less hairy Irving Rosenfeld from American Hustle (pattern?). However, it is nice to see Ryan Gosling taking a break from his more serious or romantic interest roles. It will be interesting to see how the four actors will pull their weight on screen. Will there be someone who steals the show? Will the new release date pay off? I suppose we’ll have to see in December and February.
English