Writer/Director: J.C. Chandor
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto and Paul Bettany
‘Filmmaking at its Finest’
It’s one thing for a financial film to be intelligent, but it’s a groundbreaking achievement when the movie is also entertaining and perfectly paced. The financial crisis is a tragedy that has always been difficult to depict in movies.
In this regard, “Margin Call” is like a breath of fresh air. Directed by first-time filmmaker J.C. Chandor, “Margin Call” follows the important people at an investment bank during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When risk-analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) discovers information that could negatively affect the firm, he and everyone else involved in the disaster make decisions on how they should deal with it.
A director’s first film is usually not his best. This may be an opinionated statement, but many filmmakers evolve as they make more films in their careers. J.C. Chandor is certainly an exception, because he has created a great movie. Margin Call” offers a realistic and profound account of the financial world. It’s engaging, thoughtful, and very well made. Chandor, a completely unknown director in the film industry, has produced the goods.
The whole department involved in the making of this movie deserves praise. One of the main reasons why this film works is the cast. Every actor is stunning to watch and a revelation when present.
Kevin Spacey delivers a subtle performance as Sam Rogers, a longtime member of a bank. This is unlike Spacey’s usual performances, which makes it immensely distinctive. He shines in every scene he’s in, and his character arc is effectively strung together through an emotional subplot.
Zachary Quinto is solid as a young risk analyst. His character isn’t very developed, yet he manages to bring out the best when he appears.
Paul Bettany portrays a sly person seamlessly. His character is exploding with charisma and the actor’s screen presence is energetic.
Every other member of the cast is terrific, but Jeremy Irons truly stands out as an impressive business tycoon. With a slick hairstyle and commanding dialogue, he is phenomenal in almost every aspect.
Another strong asset that enhances this movie is its screenplay. To be honest, the film wouldn’t be as good if it wasn’t for a fantastic script. J.C. Chandor’s writing is full of realistic, comical, and memorable dialogue. The amount of realism projected into this movie is unbelievable. One can actually buy the fact that this is based on true events.
In conclusion, “Margin Call” is an amazing movie that’s worth seeing for many reasons. It can get confusing for viewers who are unfamiliar with finance, but otherwise its a strong recommendation for anyone interested.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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