Michael Cox reviews the new thriller that looks at the current financial crisis.
Plotline
After a budget discrepancy is discovered, an investment firm does what it can to profit as much as possible from a financial meltdown.
Review
Margin Call fits into many genres: thriller, social-drama and conspiracy theory, to name but a few. However, it probably works best viewed as a classic disaster film. There’s no physical carnage, but the impending doom of the company, and the world’s economy, leaves a psychological toll on every character, resulting in a cast that finish the film shattered.
There are undeniable echoes of Glengarry Glen Ross: desperate people infected by greed, a liberal coating of profanities and a rather stagy feel to the whole thing—the film is mostly set inside boardrooms and offices and is completely dialogue driven. It also has Kevin Spacey cast as a manager, though he is no longer the young hotshot but a jaded middle-aged man who wants to do the right thing but knows he probably can’t.
Spacey’s isn’t the only noteworthy performance. Also impressive are Stanley Tucci as the recently sacked risk manager whose discovery is the catalyse which drives the dramatic action, Paul Bettany as Spacey’s right hand who seems to have a better grasp of the situation than most, Jeremy Irons as the company’s CEO and Simon Baker and Demi Moore as upper-management who knew something was wrong but decided to do nothing. Each member of the all-star cast has at least one stand-out moment, and though there isn’t an overly sympathetic character, none of them come across as flat pantomime villains either. However, if there is one notable performance, it’s from Zachary Quinto. Quinto is mostly known in his TV roles and for playing Spock in the recent Star Trek, but here he proves himself to be a future cinematic lead.
Margin Call is writer/director J.C. Chandor’s first feature film, which makes the end result all the more impressive. Rather than succumbing to the obvious preachy message, the film is mostly understated. Chandor allows his cast to take the front seat, and though the end result is inevitable, there are still some clever twists and scenes without the clichés and overindulgences most first-timers are guilty of.
Bottom Line
With its sharp lines and excellent ensemble, Margin Call is not only one of the best acted films of the last few years but just might be remembered as one of the finest cinematic analyses of this current financial mess.
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