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No good movie was released this Thursday in Australia (Kath and Kimderella? Really?) so
I thought I would tell you about a good movie I watched recently. Margin Call is about the
financial crisis of 2008. I don't think the events happened quite as they claimed, they
said the film was 'based on real events' which doesn't really tell you very much. The movie
tells the story from the perspective of a large investment company which found out what
was about to happen to the system. I liked Margin Call, so lets get the bad out
of the way so I can focus on the good. The actors weren't the best. You often realized
that they were in fact acting and not the people in the movie. Some of the scenes were
a bit obvious in their meaning, such as when one of the leaders in the company stood on
the edge of a huge fall. Surely you can come up with a more subtle way of saying the same
thing. The driving scenes were also too obviously fake, I never like being able to tell that
the car is stationary and it makes me feel silly watching.
But Margin Call told a brilliant story and gave insight into something not many people
see. What I found most interesting was that, as more and more senior people of the investment
firm got involved, each of them asked for a less technical explanation from the lower
tier worker. It is another example of a blunt way of saying that the people in charge are
more ignorant towards what they are selling, but a successful none the less.
On top of that, the movie made me think. After I watch most movies I walk away wondering
why they decided to film the movie, especially with action movies. I feel that you should
at least address some real issues or concerns in a 90 minute movie. Margin Call addressed
real issues that are normally swept under the carpet and not talked about. It was also
interesting to see the tension between the different people that portrayed the ethical,
greedy and follower type of professional and to see who won in the end.