In 2005, investment expert Michael Burry (Bale) noticed something fishy with America's mortgage market, and offered to "short", or bet against, it by buying swaps. The banks gleefully accepted his cash, because mortgages had always been the most secure investment imaginable. Soon other investors took notice, including the anarchic Mark Baum (Carell) and his team (Spall, Linklater and Strong); the ruthless Jared Vennett (Gosling); and a pair of upstarts (Wittrock and Magaro) working with reclusive ex-investor Ben Rickert (Pitt). By betting against the odds, they all became billionaires when the world's economy imploded.

In his most serious movie yet, filmmaker McKay creates a freewheeling style that playfully deploys pop culture images - the things the general population was obsessed with while their lives were being eroded from the inside by fraudulent bankers and corrupt government officials. Meanwhile, the few people who saw what was happening figured out how to profit from it. The film's snarky tone helps make sense of this while keeping the audience entertained, complete with witty explanations from Margot Robbie in a bubble bath, Anthony Bourdain in his kitchen and Selena Gomez at a blackjack table.

All four lead actors struggle with their terrible hairdos. Carell fares best as a plain-talker who refuses to play by the rules, bringing emotional resonance that's lacking elsewhere. Bale is excellent as the impenetrable genius who's sure of his mind even though others find it difficult to trust him. Gosling and Pitt are somewhat sidelined in smaller roles that are flashy and scruffy, respectively. And there's a flood of enjoyable cameos, including several who break the fourth wall and comment directly to the audience.

Yes, this is a staggeringly comprehensive depiction of the way capitalist greed eroded the system, shattering the global financial system. And even then, bankers profited from the government bailouts, pocketing taxpayer money and using it to lobby for fewer regulations. So where we are now is arguably even worse. Which means that this lively, funny film's ultimate message is rather terrifying indeed.

themes, language

27.Nov.15