The Big Short

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Lewis, The Big Short is a 2015 biographical comedy-drama co-written and directed by Adam McKay and starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.

An exploration of the the 2008 financial crisis through the eyes of various eccentric insiders who saw what was coming before anyone else did. Michael Burry (Bale) is a hedge fund manager who is the first to realise that the housing market is extremely unstable as its based on subprime loans. Jared Vennett (Gosling) is a trader who gets wind of Burry's insights and realises he's onto something. Joined by hedge fund manager Mark Baum (Carell) and his team in betting against the housing market. Meanwhile newcomers Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock) also start getting into credit default swap after they find a paper by Vennett and convince Geller's former neighbour and retired banker Ben Rickert (Pitt) to help them out to get the necessary credentials to be able to do so.

An amazing change of pace for director Adam Mckay, who also co-wrote the screenplay and for his Will Ferrell comedies, The Big Short is a highly successful mixture of comedy and docu-drama. Brandishing a distinct style featuring some great editing and 4th wall breaking narration by Gosling as well as fantastic performances from all involved (with especially Bale, Carrell and Gosling standing out), The Big Short is an insightful as well as highly entertaining expose of the 2008 collapse of the housing market and economic crisis in its wake. Additionally the film also benefits from its screenplay which not only manages to clearly explain all the financial lingo but also gives the actors some great written characters to work with. The Big Short was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay, one Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and two BAFTA Awards, once again winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay. It also won 12 more awards in this category from various critics associations. A remarkable different type of comedy from director McKay, The Big Short is a must-see film for anyone interested into the origins of the 2008 financial crisis or fans of fresh docu-dramas.