Margin Call

MARGIN CALL (15)

D: J.C. Chandor

Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions/Before The Door (Joe Jenckes, Robert Ogden Barnum, Corey Moosa, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson & Zachary Quinto)

US 2011

109 mins

Drama

W: J.C. Chandor

DP: Frank DeMarco

Ed: Pete Beaudreau

Mus: Nathan Larson

Kevin Spacey (Sam Rogers), Zachary Quinto (Peter Sullivan), Jeremy Irons (John Tuld), Paul Bettany (Will Emerson), Demi Moore (Sarah Robertson), Stanley Tucci (Eric Dale)

Pre-dating The Big Short by four years, Margin Call tells a similar story of the events leading up to the financial crash of 2007-2008.

J.C. Chandor penned the screenplay and makes his directorial debut with this Wall Street drama, focusing on the staff of an investment bank following a massive redundancy of their staff.

Those who remain pick over the bones and make a shocking discovery surrounding the financial situation of their company. What follows is the ugly dog-eat-dog side of business, where those at the top survive at the expense of everyone else.

The ensemble cast are all excellent, but it's Chandor's credibly screenplay with no-nonsense dialogue that is this film's primary asset.

6/10