Serious Movie Lover

MARGIN CALL (2010/DVD/STREAMING)  Early this morning first-time director/screenwriter J. C. Chandor was nominated for an Oscar for Original Screenplay for this film —talk about a big day!  Chandor and his impressive ensemble cast for the film have also already won the Robert Altman Award from the Independent Spirits and the film is up for “Best First Feature” and “Best Screenplay” from the Spirits as well. As you may know, this movie was first shown at last year’s Sundance (2011) and is presently serving as an excellent example of how releasing to VOD (Video on Demand) can not only work, but end up creating extra buzz and box-office returns for small films.  This is all good.  But does the film work as a film??    I guess I was expecting more when I finally watched it last night.  True, the movie really does feature a remarkable cast: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, and more.  The storyline is loosely based on Lehman Brothers and takes place over two days and one very long night.  As the film opens, an unnamed trading company has just laid off 80% of its workers.  One of those laid off is Eric Dale (Tucci) in the Risk Dept. who has been working on “something big” which he hands to his young turk Peter Sullivan (Quinto) as he exits the building.  Sullivan—a true rocket scientist who has moved to trading because the money is better—plugs a few numbers and discovers armageddon arriving in the form of over-leveraged deals coming back to roost.  Sullivan calls his boss Will Emerson (Bettany) who calls old-line ace trading manager Sam Rogers (Spacey) and together they call in next level up pretty boy Jared Cohen (Baker) along with BIG Risk Manager Sarah Robertson (Moore) and CEO John Tuld (Irons).  Around a somber meeting table at 5:00 a.m., the word comes down—unload these deals in the morning, before noon and before all the poor suckers who purchase them have time to back away.  In other words, cheat all your customers as fast as possible, and then get ready to run away.  Not a pretty picture.  How about the film?  It’s been advertised as a “financial thriller”—whatever that is!  I would say it’s slow but interesting, an interior piece that will remind you of Glengarry Glen Ross.  Watch it for the performances. But don’t get your hopes up.  And as to that Oscar?  Let’s hope it goes to someone more deserving.

Grade:             B-