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.