The Big Short

Review by David Jenkins @daveyjenkins

Directed by

Adam McKay

Starring

Brad Pitt Christian Bale Steve Carell

Anticipation.

It seems that Adam McKay is Oscar’s new bessie mate.

Enjoyment.

Lots of pleasant bluster, but spreads itself a little too thin.

In Retrospect.

Though it is nice to see a mainstream drama that’s at least ambitious and (mildly) ambiguous in its right-on aims.

The director of Anchorman 2 dials back the screwball in this frisky tale of the sub-prime mortgage meltdown of 2007.

Published 19 Jan 2016

Anticipation.

It seems that Adam McKay is Oscar’s new bessie mate.

Enjoyment.

Lots of pleasant bluster, but spreads itself a little too thin.

In Retrospect.

Though it is nice to see a mainstream drama that’s at least ambitious and (mildly) ambiguous in its right-on aims.

Suggested For You

Why films about finance are really tales of male impotence

By Jonathan Bacon

The Big Short isn’t alone in equating financial disaster with man’s stunted psyche.

Ryan Gosling: ‘When I was a kid we lived with Elvis for a year’

By Adam Woodward

The Lost River director reflects on his childhood and ponders the myth of the American Dream.

Meet the cinematographer who lensed The Hurt Locker

By Little White Lies

British DoP Barry Ackroyd shares his most trusted tools of his trade.

Little White Lies Logo

About Little White Lies

Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.

Editorial

Design