MARGIN CALL

I've been writing about a lot of horror movies lately and scarier than all of them combined is Margin Call. Set in a prominent financial institute, the film details the 36 hours before the shit hits the fan and the global financial crisis begins. While laying off staff, a junior risk analysts discovers that the company is headed for an imminent margin call, that being when their mortgaged-backed securities greatly exceed their market cap. A surge of panic sets in amongst senior executives as they spend the entire film in lock down, contemplating their way out of the situation. Their only option is to sell off all of their assets before the word hits the market. This is a smart, tense and brilliantly acted film. The ensemble is amazing with every player perfectly cast. Jeremy Irons delivers a stoney performance as they CEO desperate for a way out, no matter what the cost. Stanley Tucci is also fantastic as a senior risk assessment manager who initially discovers the impending crisis... his first scenes are flawless... anchoring the film with some humanity (albeit a small amount) is Kevin Spacey who plays the head of the floor. His character grapples with the magnitude of the situation and struggles with his own conscience. And of course there's others such as Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Zachary Quinto and Paul Bettany who all bring the film together in a tense and fascinating showdown. There's a lot of stuff that went over my head and the majority of audiences will be in the same boat, but don't be turned off by that. You don't need to know much... the scenario is simple enough without the mathematics being a burden.

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