Hot Take: The Big Short

Hot Take: Smart, funny, intelligent, witty, unique… the buzz words to describe The Big Short can go on and on. The film capitalizes on great casting, a compelling topic and the perfect angle by director Adam McKay (best known for Anchorman, Talladega Nights and Step Brothers???). It’s one of those so sad you have to laugh in retrospect moments in U.S. history and The Big Short delivers just the right mix of information and humor. One of the best of the year!

The Big Short takes on the 2008 economic meltdown in such a unique way, it all makes sense after you see it. With a crisp, sharp script and some great performances (most notably Christian Bale and Steve Carell but unfairly leaving out a number of others) and just the right amount of humor and simplicity, The Big Short delivers a wildly entertaining, fast paced and deceptively angry look at the events that led to the collapse of the housing market and buried the U.S. economy.

“Spoiler Free” Pros

• Breaking the Fourth Wall
  It’s used a lot in the film and for some, it may grow tiresome. However, the way it is used to separate the humor from the drama, it works.
• “Dumbing Down” the Jargon
  There are home run scenes in the film featuring stylistic explanations of supposedly highly complicated concepts that contributed to the meltdown. These scenes are so entertaining, you’ll wish for more at the end.
• The “A” List and “B” List Stars Mesh
  The pacing of the film allows for a lot of characters to get screen time. No one actor in particular carries the movie and while it is filled with big names — Bale, Carell, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling — there are plenty of lesser known actors — Finn Wittrock, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Hamish Linklater — who also give very solid performances.
• It Would Be a Shock to Not See This as an Oscar Nominee
  Expect The Big Short on the short list for Best Picture.

“Spoiler Free” Cons

• Stopping Short
  It’s a problem a lot of films with this type of pacing have but it’s still a problem. The frenetic pacing of the first 90% of the film hits a wall. The film leaves with nowhere near the force it comes in and there are even a few things left unexplained (which is amazing considering how much the film does shed light on).