The Big Short: America’s Slapstick Tragedy

​While nailing its attention to detail and also being fiercely funny, The Big Short is the comedy king over the subject matter of the 2008 financial crisis. 

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It’s one of the most daring scripts in recent years all thanks to the angry direction of director Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights and The Other Guys) and a great ensemble cast consisting of Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt. The film takes a serious and complex approach to the 2008 financial crisis that shadowed over America. But that doesn’t stop the film from being funny, trust me, you’ll laugh your ass off.

​It may also empower you to yell at the screen due to frustration over the big banks as it did to a gentleman during my showing. Something must have snapped in him as he repeatedly began to yell “those sons of bitches!’’ at the screen. It made my night! This black comedy entertains its audience through a difficult and depressing time. The film is adapted from Michael Lewis' bestseller The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, which focuses on the housing a credit bubble of the mid-2000s.

Baffling and tragic The Big Short fires through the zing and the pop culture of this generation. This is probably McKay’s most mature film to-date as the it received 5 Oscar noms, including Best Director and Best Picture. So we are introduced to four denizens (Bale, Carell, Gosling and Pitt) of the world of high finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse. During this discovery they decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight. It's a showdown between the people and the banks. 

​The Big Short brings out the fireworks, while sparing no mercy to anyone. McKay gives each actor room to play and evolve into their character’s own identity. Bale is intense and awkward in the role of Michael Burry. Carell plays Mark Baum, a fierce and bombastic little man. Gosling is a complete ass and loves every minute of it. He plays pretty-boy Jared Vennett; while Pitt stays contained and refrained from the outside world as Ben Rickert. Each character grapples with life, liberty and the corruption of the US banking system. Big, clever and insightful are just a few reasons that made The Big Short a true comedic hit.  

The Big Short is rated R (Restricted). For pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity.