The Big Short (2015)

This was a fascinating film, unlike any other that has been released recently.
It begins with narration by Ryan Gosling who portrays banker Jared Vennett in the film and uses the fourth wall often throughout, not just by him but also by other characters. In addition, banking terms are explained using analogies with famous actors in them, like Margot Robbie in a bubble bath, yeah, crazy stuff like that.
After we are given some background information on the American housing market, the film picks up speed in 2005 with Dr. Michael Burry (Christian Bale) doing something crazy, betting against the weak bonds holding up the fragile housing market. Everyone thinks he is crazy, except for the fact that he isn't. At first, he is, as he loses money and his bosses are beyond furious at him, but by the end, his business that he works for is up four hundred plus percent.
Even depressed wall street banker Mark Baum (Steve Carell) catches wind and takes advantage, with his cynical crew. But he is devastated at how the American economy suffered in the end, with citizens bailing out the banks, who learned nothing from their past mistakes.
There are also the young investors, Charlie and Jamie (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock) who smell trouble but are too young and inexperienced to get anywhere with their discovery and have to enlist a former wall street broker, Ben Rickett (Brad Pitt) to help them bet against the funds known as AA, when the youngsters make this bet, they are thrilled while Ben is upset as they just bet against the American economy. Another interesting fact, for every one percent of unemployment, forty thousand people die.
Needless to say, this film shows how foolish some people can be, like giving loans to those who have nothing to back up the money, not even jobs. And even if people are paying their rent, it doesn't mean the landlord is paying the mortgage so many innocent Americans suffer.
The feel of the film is interesting, with salty language throughout and Vennett treats his assistant poorly while others have no faith in the housing market. Bale and Carell are the most fully formed characters with odd quirks and abrasive personalities. Each deliver a brilliant performance, but only Bale walked away with an Academy Award nomination. Neither character had great people skills and were rude to strangers and family members alike. But at least Carell earned some sympathy as he couldn't save his own brother from committing suicide.
Now, I did have some issues with the film, though the acting wasn't one of them. I wasn't bothered by the fact that it was weird, breaking typical conventions by acknowledging the presence of a camera. Despite the film doing a great job of explaining how the economy worked, with the analogies and subtitles explaining everything, including who the characters were, it was still confusing at times keeping track of what parts of the fragile system each group of main characters was betting against and how they would benefit in the end. Also, how is the whole system connected because it was implied that Baum would ultimately be betting against his own company.
That being said, it was still unbelievably funny but also sad at how our system works because it shouldn't work and is fraudulent, just as Burry believed to be the case in the film, as he can't be wrong.
Also, pay attention for some cameos in the film. Melissa Leo plays a woman who works for bank rating company and knows that she is giving banks false ratings because she is paid to do so. One of Mark's co-workers, Cathy (Adepero Oduye), as she gives him some important information, plus she's one of the few minorities in the film, a tragedy in itself.
With tight editing and a quick moving story line, the film didn't feel over two hours long, which is always welcome. However, it will not inspire you to become a wall street banker. Grade: A-