Click here for the review of Margin Call

SPOILERS must be tagged with the "SPOILER" tag!

That definitive documentary has been made — "Inside Job." That film provides a great macro view of the financial collapse. It's great seeing financial experts squirm in their seats as the director, Charles Ferguson, presses them with questions.

I also want to add that there are some good frontline documentaries on the financial collapse: "Inside the Meltdown" and "Breaking the Bank." Both of these are currently streaming on Netflix. I also liked "The Card Game" and "Ten Trillion and Counting," which examine the fiscal irresponsibility of the US and its citizens.

I don't think enough time has elapsed for there to be a "definitive documentary." INSIDE JOB is very good, but at least 20 years of perspective is needed. You couldn't make a definitive documentary about the 1929 crash until well after the Great Depression and WW2 were over.

I've been waiting to see this movie ever since I saw the trailer. Thank God I work at a movie theater where I can seethis movie for free! Unfortunately, I have to work on opening night

JB, is it possible that this could end up on your ten best list? Any Oscar possibilities?

The only thing that makes me nervous is Penn Badgely. He's a star of Gossip Girl, which is aimed at the Twilight crowd (all glitz and glam with no substance or acting). Does he bog the film down too much?

I doubt it.

Hey Pedro, feel like doing an Oscar update for the forum? It's getting to be that time of year again, no? I'd look up contenders, pretenders, frontrunners, and the like, but I just don't really feel like it. You're always in tune with that sort of thing, and even though I don't particularly care who wins or loses, it's undeniably fun to follow the race.

If it is indeed being shown on ppv/vod, that eliminates any possible Oscar contention. Same thing for MELANCHOLIA. Not eligible because of the Academy's rules about a theatrical release prior to a TV showing.

I've actually been doing more research lately. Contenders are starting to come together. I'll start a topic sooner rather than later, but to tease: you might want to get used to seeing The Help in a few key categories.

"not political and not judgemental"

I was very tempted, then this line sealed the deal. As a person who doesn't claim to know much about politics OR economics, I much prefer objectivity when it comes to these issues (an insight into the facts, free of opinion and angle).

The documentary The Smartest Guys in the Room relates the tale of the Enron mess. Many of the same attitudes and themes present in Margin Call are discussed in the context of a slightly different industry.

The AV Club did their annual "Oscar-O-Meter" a few weeks ago where they assign scores to movies based on their possible Oscar chances. The King's Speech was the only film they gave a perfect 10 to last year.

Part 1: http://www.avclub.com/articles/oscarometertm-the-av-clubs-fifth-annual-guide-to-t,62428/
Part 2: http://www.avclub.com/articles/oscarometertm-the-av-clubs-fifth-annual-guide-to-t,62473/

But, yeah, I'd much rather hear from our resident Oscar expert too.



It's surprising that they'd take that chance. I thought that Kirsten Dunst stood a chance to nab a nomination, at least. She won the Actress prize at Cannes, after all.

Then let me rephrase...are there any things about the movie that are worthy of Oscar attention (in a perfect world)?

I'm not sure of the situation with MARGIN CALL. It may be that if it opens in theaters one day before it starts its ppv run, it could be eligible. In the case of MELANCHOLIA, Dunst is definitely not eligible, since the ppv run for that movie began more than a month in advance of its first commercial theatrical showing. One would have thought after the debacle surrounding Linda Fiorentino and THE LAST SEDUCTION, they would have fixed the problem, but apparently not.

In a perfect world, you'd have to look at Spacey, Bettany, and Irons in the Supporting Actor category.

Not gonna happen, though. Even if the film is eligible, which I don't think it is because of the TV airing issue, it's not being well marketed and will not be seen. In order for a film to get Oscar nominations, it needs to have more money behind it than Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions are providing.

So, we're back to politics and economics again. As building blocks of any society (and I guess film making/viewing would fall under that category in a way,) it is disheartening to see how they are abused even down to the relatively inconsequential Oscar race.