Entertaining film about a usually dry subject

Rating: 7/10 (1 August 2016)

I didn't think it would be possible to make an entertaining movie about a financial crisis, but Adam McKay and Charles Randolph have pulled it off. There are some really good performances by the stars, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell. Especially Carell who plays against his usual type of the complete buffoon who is unaware that he is a buffoon. There were no major or meaty roles for women. Some of the gimmicks worked very well, such as breaking the fourth wall, or having non-financial celebrities explain financial matters. The film was more than a bit one-sided, blaming private bankers almost exclusively for the collapse, and letting government off the hook entirely. See Derek Tetlow's comment 8 or 9 down for that. But it kept me engaged throughout.