Margin Call (2011)

Several years ago I was terminated after 23 years of continuous employment. Although my life turned around during the following year, at the time I was fuming. The opening part of "Margin Call" is very close to what I experienced, patricianly Steven Tucci's character.


The film follows an unnamed investment (we all know it's Lehman Brothers) firm over a 24 hour period on the eve of the 2008 Wall Street crash. After record profits, mortgage backed securities , which are heavily leveraged, begin to decline. During the next 24 hours the losses are greater than the market-capitalization. Eighty-percent of the film is fired. Now it time to save their butts and start making that margin calls. Sell off worthless securities, before the market becomes aware.


The film takes place almost entirely in an office. We see how the chain-of-command works it's way from two young analyst, who somehow retained their job, to the next in-line, all the way to the CEO. As you move up the ladder you realize how much less they actual know about the system.


An excellent cast (see below) and first-rate script. One of the best films of 2011 and the best ever made about Wall Street. Money does made some weird bedfellows.


Zachary Quinto---Junior Analyst
Stanley Tucci---Senior Risk Analyst
Paul Bettany---Supervisor
Kevin Spacey---Bettany's Boss
Simon Baker---Reports to CEO
Demi Moore---Senior Executive
Jeremy Irons---CEO


A


Jack