The Big Short is one to definitely go Long for...

Rating: 8/10 (29 January 2017)

It's been a number of years since the big crash that began in 2007/08, and despite appearances to the contrary, we are all still paying for the costs from that time. Government mishandling, regulatory body incompetence, banking misadventures and mortgage sellers fraudulence combined to create one of mankind's greatest synthetic disasters.
The underlying themes are complex to why it all happened, but as an introduction and understanding there has been little better as a package than this film. Having read the book, I'm happy that the film makers took the material as reference, and filmed this in their own way. It does a fine job in taking us thru the multitude of characters who are responsible for the disaster, explaining in some wonderful scenes the products behind the problems.
Whilst all this is happening, we are following a handful of people who take advantage having seen the truth behind the sham. Our mixed cast is given mostly equal billing with Brad Pitt (mostly unrecognisable), Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling playing their roles perfectly. The story takes time, but you will be gripped, despite already knowing the inevitable outcome.
This is an excellent introduction to the whole period, even if it is an uncomfortable viewing for many. Maybe this film will be better appreciated in a generation by those who didn't sit through the times. If you want Wolf of Wall Street, best move along, this is thankfully not that movie. Recommended viewing.