The effects of the 2008-2009 downturn were still very much in play when this movie came out in 2011. And the overall greed is bad and Wall Street is all about greed themes hang heavy throughout this film. Still, I enjoyed reviewing what a day in 2008 meant to a firm full of traders. It must have been dramatic if not confusing.
There were many angles to the socio-economic inputs which resulted in the claoking of mortgage back securities as viable market instruments. This film steps in at the moment of realization that people – many more people than blue suited Wall Street types – had been swimming in a pool of self-deception. What unravels is directed by the actions of those who stay on message and continue to choose the cash over conscience. They sell off the firm’s entire portfolio by noon.
It is nothing but self-indulgent to pin the motivation-by-money blame on these worker bees. As if they only respond to monetary incentives. Yet each actor from Demi Moore to Zachary Quinto (who plays the calm savant rather well) to Kevin Spacey utter the words “I did it for the money.”
Overall the film is about an interesting event which is played out by excellent actors. One just needs to be prepared for all the messaging.
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