YNMS: The Big Short
Monday, September 28, 2015 at 11:11AM
Manuel here. Every year there are a number of late-breaking releases that suck up all the oxygen in the room, commanding every conversation because of their timeliness. Of course, every year also sees a number of well-made films get lost in the shuffle. Adam McKay’s The Big Short, set to close out the AFI Fest, is obviously hoping for the former. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), the film is set against the ticking bomb that was the collapse of the housing market. Does it stack up to other Fall prestige releases? Let's find out by putting it to our patented Yes, No, Maybe So test:
YES
“There’s some shady stuff going down.”
- Ryan Gosling. Isn’t it about time we get another great Gosling performance? Ever since his Drive/Crazy Stupid Love one-two punch, he’s sort of been on a slump, no? That he seems perfectly suited to play a charismatic douchebag only makes it more exciting.
- Brad Pitt. With this and By the Sea, Brad will be everywhere this fall. And while the Jolie project is surely going to offer us Brad in DRAMAtic mode, I have always enjoyed Brad in Burn After Reading/Inglorious Basterds mode. He’s got such a light touch for absurdist comedy. And yet, the trailer gives him very little to do other than hilariously laugh at that bad stupid/illegal joke.
- Melissa Leo. And with those glasses? CONSIDER, I will!
- Finn Wittrock. So happy he’s getting more work post-American Horror Story. Also, I'm pretty sure it's him in that blink-and-you'll-miss-it pool shot (see below).
- TFE fave Billy Magnussen. Did Ryan Murphy cast this film? It’s full of very pretty looking men.
NO
“From the outrageous mind of director Adam MckKay.”
- Adam McKay. I have to admit I’ve always been allergic to McKay’s films though that has mostly to do with my aversion to Will Ferrell’s schtick, so while I’ve enjoyed parts and pieces of them (Christina Applegate in Anchorman, Mark Wahlberg in The Other Guys), I am unsure how good a fit he’ll be to this film. Or rather, how his sensibility will play within this seriocomic film. I worry the film will strain too much for comedy and improv-like scenes that stretch for far too long (his signature moves).
MAYBE SO
“You want to bet against the banks?”
- Steve Carell. Listen, I enjoy Carrell quite a bit but I’m not buying him here. Maybe it's the hair?
- Christian Bale. Did American Hustle convince Bale he needed to lighten up his film roster after all those brooding films? Can he go full goofball while wearing a bad wig… again?
- Karen Gillan & Marissa Tomei. The latter is OBVIOUSLY a YES but: where are they in this trailer? Is this Fall really going to be mostly about large ensembles with token female characters (see: Spotlight, H8teful 8, Black Mass).
Watch the trailer below:
So many cast members to love, but I’m a Maybe So given the spastic tone of the trailer. Is this a comedy about people profiting off the housing market collapse? Is this an updated Wolf of Wall Street? I’ll wait out for reviews, but weigh in on whether The Big Short has you excited.
Reader Comments (14)
Wait, Bale and Gosling are in a film together (YES) and not playing lovers or brothers (NO)? Maybe so.
SPOILER SPACE
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Of course, I'm seeing this, sight unseen (I hate trailers). C'mon!
This is all kinds of no for me. The "big banks rah rah" seems to have the political precision of a group of drunk high schoolers watching the news from 7 years ago. This topic,even if done with humor, could use some finesse. I'm also hating the "quirky outsiders thinking differently" angle especially because the cast is almost entirely straight white middle aged guys who could easily be playing the bankers in a different movie. Carrell seems to be drowning in memories of his own shtick.
No.
I'm a yes, but have no clue if this will be a mess or not.
NO, even with that cast, this looks so generic and bland
Star-power aside, this looks a lot like an HBO movie. Specifically a Jay Roach HBO movie, and I think it will ultimately play that way. I doubt it will be a big hit, which would also be critical for a film like this to be an awards player.
Personally, I'm a Maybe So, but only because of the stars.
I susspect that this will be a mess, but I'm sure I'll be seeing it anyway. I would, however, feel better about it if Bale weren't in it.
Did it bother anyone else that Brad Pitt was listed as an Academy Award Nominee, and not a winner?
No? Anyone? Just me, then. Very well...
@Joe Gouveia
He insisted on the billing of nominee because he won for producing.
I've been missing Melissa Leo of late, so I'm happy she'll at least pop up in *something* this Oscar season. Though Adam McKay doesn't give me much hope.
So a Maybe So, depending very much on reviews and nominations.
I can't wait for this. The book is incredible, and really does underline how atrocious the banks behaviour was and how clueless regulators were. It's difficult to get finesse in a situation where there was large scale fraud and illegality taking place as a matter of course. And even if you think this was so seven years ago, things have barely changed and a big old fashioned rabble rouser is always worth welcome.
McKay is what makes this interesting for me - whatever you feel about his past work, he has shown a passion for skewering toxic masculinity (I should say I think Anchorman and Talladega Nights are amongst the funniest films I've ever watched). I think taking on absurdist tone is one of the most interesting ways to approach the material. The book made me angry, but it also had me gasping with astonishment and laughing out loud. I hope the film does similar
Watched the trailer and how no idea until I read this post that Marisa Tomei is even in this. When you edit your trailer and you have Marisa Tomei in your movie...put her in the trailer for more than a second. She is important.
i dont understand the hair in this trailer. this is only taking place a handful of years ago and looks like some crazy ass period piece with the wigs.
Practically no women. STRIPPERS SAYING IMPORTANT THINGS because THAT'S REPRESENTING THE WIMMINZ! Bunch of white men being self-satisfied and important. And I HATE Christian Bale.
No.