Adam McKay’s big foray into dramatic filmmaking, THE BIG SHORT, premiered its first trailer today, and it certainly sets itself up to be the kind of underdog, slobs-against-the-snobs drama that would play beautifully with contemporary audiences frustrated with the invincible financial institutions at the story’s center.
But Michael Lewis’ book, which the film is based on, isn’t about dogged, heroic folks trying to stop the housing bubble from bursting. It’s about a few finance guys who became quite wealthy by taking advantage of the collapsing economy and how little anyone was doing to save it. And that’s not really the populist story that they’re selling here.
Granted, what they’re also selling here is the cast, and it’s undeniably formidable, though from what I’ve gathered, many of these A-listers never even appear in the same scene together (one shot has Brad Pitt laughing at a Ryan Gosling joke told in a completely different location). Still, when your trailer touts CHRISTIAN BALE, RYAN GOSLING, STEVE CARELL, and BRAD PITT, it’s not hard to command one’s attention. Gosling, in particular, looks like he’s having fun in his young turk role, and Bale seems mannered and eccentric as a decidedly non-Patrick Bateman finance wiz.
Adam McKay has been attacking the muckity-mucks for years in stuff like THE OTHER GUYS, THE CAMPAIGN, and GET HARD, and now he’s going full-drama for this story of a few guys getting rich (apparently our heroes) while much of the country lost their homes like suckers. This seems like a bigger take on the story we’ve seen in stuff like MARGIN CALL and HBO’s TOO BIG TOO FAIL, with a grander perspective and more punchy laugh lines. I just hope it doesn’t fall into the trap of having to over-explain the minutia and particulars of the housing crisis in its attempt at creating some dramatic momentum as these suits capitalize on the downfall of the American economy.
THE BIG SHORT hopefully doesn't get old fast on December 11th.
