🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 175 (from laksa013)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa175.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/big-short-the\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/big-short-the\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/big-short-the","crawl_time":1775851517,"first_indexed_time":1451474586,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"net,reelviews!www,\/reelviews\/big-short-the s443","src_root_hash":"10741956719122892175","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Big Short, The | Reelviews Movie Reviews","meta_descriptions":["Against all odds, The Big Short works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing ..."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Big Short, The (United States, 2015)\nDecember 21, 2015\nA movie review by James Berardinelli\nAgainst all odds,\nThe Big Short\nworks. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in\nVanity Fair\n’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons\nThe Big Short\nsucceeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored.\nThe Big Short\nmerges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack.\nThis is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including\nAnchorman\nand\nits sequel\n). That background is an asset for\nThe Big Short.\nThe comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum.  The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy.\nThe Big Short\ncherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table. \nChristian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong.\nThis is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than\nMoneyball\n. It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic.\nThe Big Short\n, because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result,\nThe Big Short\nworks not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like\nWall Street\nand J.C. Chandor’s\nMargin Call\n(also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in\nThe Wolf of Wall Street\n, illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by\nThe Big Short\nare deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then.\nBig Short, The (United States, 2015)\nRanked #5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015\nRun Time: 2:12\nU.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23\nMPAA Rating:\n\"R\" (Profanity, Nudity)\nGenre:\nComedy\/Drama\nSubtitles: none\nTheatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1","attrs_markdown":"[![Reelviews: Berardinelli Sees Film](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/settings\/reelviews-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/)\n- [Video Views](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews?video-views=1)\n- [ReelThoughts](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelthoughts)\n- [Currently in Cinema](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/now-in-cinema)\n- [ReelViews Library](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews)\n- [BECOME A PATREON](https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/reelviews)\n- [Login](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/login \"Login\")\n\n# Big Short, The (United States, 2015)\nDecember 21, 2015   \n A movie review by James Berardinelli\n\n![Big Short, The Poster](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/posters\/thumbs\/big_short_poster.jpg)\n\nAgainst all odds, *The Big Short* works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in *Vanity Fair*’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons *The Big Short* succeeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored.\n\n*The Big Short* merges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/movies\/big-short-the-1.jpeg)This is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including [*Anchorman*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/anchorman) and [its sequel](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/anchorman-2-the-legend-continues)). That background is an asset for *The Big Short.* The comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum. The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy.\n\n*The Big Short* cherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/movies\/big-short-the-2.jpeg)Christian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong.\n\nThis is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than [*Moneyball*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/moneyball). It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic. *The Big Short*, because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result, *The Big Short* works not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like [*Wall Street*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/wall-street) and J.C. Chandor’s [*Margin Call*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/margin-call) (also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in [*The Wolf of Wall Street*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/wolf-of-wall-street-the), illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by *The Big Short* are deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then.\n***\n## Big Short, The (United States, 2015)\nDirector: [Adam McKay](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/director\/adam-mckay \"View all reviews for movies directed by Adam McKay \")    \n Cast: [Christian Bale](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/christian-bale \"View all reviews for movies starring Christian Bale\"), [Steve Carell](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/steve-carell \"View all reviews for movies starring Steve Carell\"), [Ryan Gosling](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/ryan-gosling \"View all reviews for movies starring Ryan Gosling\"), [John Magaro](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/john-magaro \"View all reviews for movies starring John Magaro\"), [Finn Wittrock](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/finn-wittrock \"View all reviews for movies starring Finn Wittrock\"), [Brad Pitt](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/brad-pitt \"View all reviews for movies starring Brad Pitt\"), [Melissa Leo](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/melissa-leo \"View all reviews for movies starring Melissa Leo\"), [Marisa Tomei](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/marisa-tomei \"View all reviews for movies starring Marisa Tomei\"), [Jeremy Strong](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/actor\/jeremy-strong \"View all reviews for movies starring Jeremy Strong\")   \n Home Release Date: 2016-03-15   \n Screenplay: [Adam McKay and Charles Randolph, based on the book by Michael Lewis](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/screenplay\/adam-mckay-and-charles-randolph__-based-on-the-book-by-michael-lewis \"ReelViews for movies with screenplay written by Adam McKay and Charles Randolph, based on the book by Michael Lewis\")   \n Cinematography: [Barry Ackroyd](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/cinematography\/barry-ackroyd \"ReelViews for movies with cinematographer Barry Ackroyd\")   \n Music: [Nicholas Britell](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/music\/nicholas-britell \"ReelViews for movies with music written by Nicholas Britell\")   \n U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures\n\nRanked \\#5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015\n\nRun Time: 2:12   \n U.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23   \n MPAA Rating: [\"R\" (Profanity, Nudity)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/mpaa\/r \"View all reviews for movies with R classification\")   \n Genre: [Comedy\/Drama](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/genre\/comedy_and_drama \"View all reviews for Comedy\/Drama movies\")   \n Subtitles: none   \n Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1\n***\n[![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/images\/amazon-logo.gif)](http:\/\/amzn.to\/21AZ3eo)\n\n## Comments Add Comment\n\nThree...\n\nbetter movies of this genre\n\n- [Much Ado About Nothing (1993)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/much-ado-about-nothing \"Much Ado About Nothing (1993) 4 stars\")\n- [Manhattan (1979)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/manhattan \"Manhattan (1979) 4 stars\")\n- [American Beauty (1999)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/american-beauty \"American Beauty (1999) 3.5 stars\")\n\nworse movies of this genre\n\n- [Sex and the City 2 (2010)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/sex-and-the-city-2 \"Sex and the City 2 (2010) 1 stars\")\n- [Then She Found Me (2008)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/then-she-found-me \"Then She Found Me (2008) 1.5 stars\")\n- [Mistress America (2015)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/mistress-america \"Mistress America (2015) 1.5 stars\")\n\nThree...\n\nbetter movies of Christian Bale\n\n- [Dark Knight, The (2008)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/dark-knight-the \"Dark Knight, The (2008) 4 stars\")\n- [Hostiles (2017)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/hostiles \"Hostiles (2017) 3.5 stars\")\n- [American Psycho (2000)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/american-psycho \"American Psycho (2000) 3.5 stars\")\n\nworse movies of Christian Bale\n\n- [I'm Not There (2007)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/i-m-not-there \"I'm Not There (2007) 2 stars\")\n- [Swing Kids (1993)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/swing-kids \"Swing Kids (1993) 2 stars\")\n- [The Bride! (2026)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/the-bride \"The Bride! (2026) 2 stars\")\n\nThree...\n\nbetter movies of Steve Carell\n\n- [40-Year-Old Virgin, The (2005)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/40-year-old-virgin-the \"40-Year-Old Virgin, The (2005) 3.5 stars\")\n- [Way Way Back, The (2013)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/way-way-back-the \"Way Way Back, The (2013) 3.5 stars\")\n- [Anchorman (2004)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/anchorman \"Anchorman (2004) 3 stars\")\n\nworse movies of Steve Carell\n\n- [Evan Almighty (2007)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/evan-almighty \"Evan Almighty (2007) 2 stars\")\n- [IF (2024)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/if \"IF (2024) 2 stars\")\n- [Battle of the Sexes (2017)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/battle-of-the-sexes \"Battle of the Sexes (2017) 2 stars\")\n\nThree...\n\nbetter movies of Ryan Gosling\n\n- [La La Land (2016)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/la-la-land \"La La Land (2016) 3.5 stars\")\n- [Blade Runner 2049 (2017)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/blade-runner-2049 \"Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 3.5 stars\")\n- [Blue Valentine (2011)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/blue-valentine \"Blue Valentine (2011) 3.5 stars\")\n\nworse movies of Ryan Gosling\n\n- [Stay (2005)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/stay \"Stay (2005) 2.5 stars\")\n- [Notebook, The (2004)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/notebook-the \"Notebook, The (2004) 2.5 stars\")\n- [All Good Things (2010)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/all-good-things \"All Good Things (2010) 2.5 stars\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/partners\/bfca-logo.gif)](https:\/\/www.criticschoice.com\/members\/jberardinelli\/ \"Featured Critic Movie Review Intelligence\")   [![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/partners\/partner2.jpg)](https:\/\/www.mrqe.com\/ \"Movie Review Query Engine Top Critic\")   [![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/partners\/partner4.jpg)](https:\/\/www.fictionalfrontiers.com\/ \"Most recent Berardinelli appearance:\")\n\n- ReelViews\n- [Library](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews \"ReelViews Library\")\n- [Currently in Cinema](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/now-in-cinema \"Currently in Cinema\")\n\n- Writings\n- [Fictional Writings](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/page\/my-books \"My Books\")\n- [ReelThoughts](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelthoughts \"ReelThoughts\")\n- [Specials](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/specials \"Specials\")\n\n- About\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/page\/privacy-policy \"Privacy Policy\")\n- [Terms and Conditions](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/page\/terms-and-conditions \"Terms and conditions\")\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/contact \"Contact\")\n- [Website credits](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/page\/website-credits)","attrs_readable_markdown":"## Big Short, The (United States, 2015)\nDecember 21, 2015   \n A movie review by James Berardinelli\n\n![Big Short, The Poster](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/posters\/thumbs\/big_short_poster.jpg)\n\nAgainst all odds, *The Big Short* works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in *Vanity Fair*’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons *The Big Short* succeeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored.\n\n*The Big Short* merges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/movies\/big-short-the-1.jpeg)This is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including [*Anchorman*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/anchorman) and [its sequel](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/anchorman-2-the-legend-continues)). That background is an asset for *The Big Short.* The comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum. The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy.\n\n*The Big Short* cherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/resources\/img\/movies\/big-short-the-2.jpeg)Christian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong.\n\nThis is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than [*Moneyball*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/moneyball). It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic. *The Big Short*, because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result, *The Big Short* works not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like [*Wall Street*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/wall-street) and J.C. Chandor’s [*Margin Call*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/margin-call) (also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in [*The Wolf of Wall Street*](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/reelviews\/wolf-of-wall-street-the), illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by *The Big Short* are deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then.\n***\n## Big Short, The (United States, 2015)\nRanked \\#5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015\n\nRun Time: 2:12   \n U.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23   \n MPAA Rating: [\"R\" (Profanity, Nudity)](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/mpaa\/r \"View all reviews for movies with R classification\")   \n Genre: [Comedy\/Drama](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/search\/genre\/comedy_and_drama \"View all reviews for Comedy\/Drama movies\")   \n Subtitles: none   \n Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1\n***\n[![](https:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/images\/amazon-logo.gif)](http:\/\/amzn.to\/21AZ3eo)","meta_canonical":null}

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Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.2 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
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Property	Value
URL	https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/big-short-the
Last Crawled	2026-04-10 20:05:17 (6 days ago)
First Indexed	2015-12-30 11:23:06 (10 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Big Short, The \| Reelviews Movie Reviews
Meta Description	Against all odds, The Big Short works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing ...
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Boilerpipe Text	Big Short, The (United States, 2015) December 21, 2015 A movie review by James Berardinelli Against all odds, The Big Short works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in Vanity Fair ’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons The Big Short succeeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored. The Big Short merges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack. This is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including Anchorman and its sequel ). That background is an asset for The Big Short. The comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum. The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy. The Big Short cherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table. Christian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong. This is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than Moneyball . It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic. The Big Short , because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result, The Big Short works not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like Wall Street and J.C. Chandor’s Margin Call (also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in The Wolf of Wall Street , illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by The Big Short are deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then. Big Short, The (United States, 2015) Ranked #5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015 Run Time: 2:12 U.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23 MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Nudity) Genre: Comedy/Drama Subtitles: none Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Markdown	[![Reelviews: Berardinelli Sees Film](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/settings/reelviews-logo.png)](https://www.reelviews.net/) - [Home](https://www.reelviews.net/) - [Video Views](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews?video-views=1) - [ReelThoughts](https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts) - [Currently in Cinema](https://www.reelviews.net/now-in-cinema) - [ReelViews Library](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews) - [BECOME A PATREON](https://www.patreon.com/reelviews) - [Login](https://www.reelviews.net/login "Login") # Big Short, The (United States, 2015) December 21, 2015 A movie review by James Berardinelli ![Big Short, The Poster](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/posters/thumbs/big_short_poster.jpg) Against all odds, The Big Short works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in Vanity Fair’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons The Big Short succeeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored. The Big Short merges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack. ![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/movies/big-short-the-1.jpeg)This is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including [Anchorman](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/anchorman) and [its sequel](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/anchorman-2-the-legend-continues)). That background is an asset for The Big Short. The comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum. The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy. The Big Short cherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table. ![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/movies/big-short-the-2.jpeg)Christian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong. This is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than [Moneyball](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/moneyball). It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic. The Big Short, because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result, The Big Short works not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like [Wall Street](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/wall-street) and J.C. Chandor’s [Margin Call](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/margin-call) (also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in [The Wolf of Wall Street](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/wolf-of-wall-street-the), illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by The Big Short are deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then. * ## Big Short, The (United States, 2015) Director: [Adam McKay](https://www.reelviews.net/search/director/adam-mckay "View all reviews for movies directed by Adam McKay ") Cast: [Christian Bale](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/christian-bale "View all reviews for movies starring Christian Bale"), [Steve Carell](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/steve-carell "View all reviews for movies starring Steve Carell"), [Ryan Gosling](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/ryan-gosling "View all reviews for movies starring Ryan Gosling"), [John Magaro](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/john-magaro "View all reviews for movies starring John Magaro"), [Finn Wittrock](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/finn-wittrock "View all reviews for movies starring Finn Wittrock"), [Brad Pitt](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/brad-pitt "View all reviews for movies starring Brad Pitt"), [Melissa Leo](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/melissa-leo "View all reviews for movies starring Melissa Leo"), [Marisa Tomei](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/marisa-tomei "View all reviews for movies starring Marisa Tomei"), [Jeremy Strong](https://www.reelviews.net/search/actor/jeremy-strong "View all reviews for movies starring Jeremy Strong") Home Release Date: 2016-03-15 Screenplay: [Adam McKay and Charles Randolph, based on the book by Michael Lewis](https://www.reelviews.net/search/screenplay/adam-mckay-and-charles-randolph__-based-on-the-book-by-michael-lewis "ReelViews for movies with screenplay written by Adam McKay and Charles Randolph, based on the book by Michael Lewis") Cinematography: [Barry Ackroyd](https://www.reelviews.net/search/cinematography/barry-ackroyd "ReelViews for movies with cinematographer Barry Ackroyd") Music: [Nicholas Britell](https://www.reelviews.net/search/music/nicholas-britell "ReelViews for movies with music written by Nicholas Britell") U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures Ranked \#5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015 Run Time: 2:12 U.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23 MPAA Rating: ["R" (Profanity, Nudity)](https://www.reelviews.net/search/mpaa/r "View all reviews for movies with R classification") Genre: [Comedy/Drama](https://www.reelviews.net/search/genre/comedy_and_drama "View all reviews for Comedy/Drama movies") Subtitles: none Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 * [![](https://www.reelviews.net/images/amazon-logo.gif)](http://amzn.to/21AZ3eo) ## Comments Add Comment Three... better movies of this genre - [Much Ado About Nothing (1993)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/much-ado-about-nothing "Much Ado About Nothing (1993) 4 stars") - [Manhattan (1979)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/manhattan "Manhattan (1979) 4 stars") - [American Beauty (1999)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/american-beauty "American Beauty (1999) 3.5 stars") worse movies of this genre - [Sex and the City 2 (2010)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/sex-and-the-city-2 "Sex and the City 2 (2010) 1 stars") - [Then She Found Me (2008)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/then-she-found-me "Then She Found Me (2008) 1.5 stars") - [Mistress America (2015)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/mistress-america "Mistress America (2015) 1.5 stars") Three... better movies of Christian Bale - [Dark Knight, The (2008)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/dark-knight-the "Dark Knight, The (2008) 4 stars") - [Hostiles (2017)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/hostiles "Hostiles (2017) 3.5 stars") - [American Psycho (2000)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/american-psycho "American Psycho (2000) 3.5 stars") worse movies of Christian Bale - [I'm Not There (2007)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/i-m-not-there "I'm Not There (2007) 2 stars") - [Swing Kids (1993)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/swing-kids "Swing Kids (1993) 2 stars") - [The Bride! (2026)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/the-bride "The Bride! (2026) 2 stars") Three... better movies of Steve Carell - [40-Year-Old Virgin, The (2005)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/40-year-old-virgin-the "40-Year-Old Virgin, The (2005) 3.5 stars") - [Way Way Back, The (2013)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/way-way-back-the "Way Way Back, The (2013) 3.5 stars") - [Anchorman (2004)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/anchorman "Anchorman (2004) 3 stars") worse movies of Steve Carell - [Evan Almighty (2007)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/evan-almighty "Evan Almighty (2007) 2 stars") - [IF (2024)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/if "IF (2024) 2 stars") - [Battle of the Sexes (2017)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/battle-of-the-sexes "Battle of the Sexes (2017) 2 stars") Three... better movies of Ryan Gosling - [La La Land (2016)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/la-la-land "La La Land (2016) 3.5 stars") - [Blade Runner 2049 (2017)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/blade-runner-2049 "Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 3.5 stars") - [Blue Valentine (2011)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/blue-valentine "Blue Valentine (2011) 3.5 stars") worse movies of Ryan Gosling - [Stay (2005)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/stay "Stay (2005) 2.5 stars") - [Notebook, The (2004)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/notebook-the "Notebook, The (2004) 2.5 stars") - [All Good Things (2010)](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/all-good-things "All Good Things (2010) 2.5 stars") [![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/partners/bfca-logo.gif)](https://www.criticschoice.com/members/jberardinelli/ "Featured Critic Movie Review Intelligence") [![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/partners/partner2.jpg)](https://www.mrqe.com/ "Movie Review Query Engine Top Critic") [![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/partners/partner4.jpg)](https://www.fictionalfrontiers.com/ "Most recent Berardinelli appearance:") - ReelViews - [Library](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews "ReelViews Library") - [Currently in Cinema](https://www.reelviews.net/now-in-cinema "Currently in Cinema") - Writings - [Fictional Writings](https://www.reelviews.net/page/my-books "My Books") - [ReelThoughts](https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts "ReelThoughts") - [Specials](https://www.reelviews.net/specials "Specials") - About - [Privacy Policy](https://www.reelviews.net/page/privacy-policy "Privacy Policy") - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.reelviews.net/page/terms-and-conditions "Terms and conditions") - [Contact](https://www.reelviews.net/contact "Contact") - [Website credits](https://www.reelviews.net/page/website-credits)
Readable Markdown	## Big Short, The (United States, 2015) December 21, 2015 A movie review by James Berardinelli ![Big Short, The Poster](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/posters/thumbs/big_short_poster.jpg) Against all odds, The Big Short works. In fact, “works” is an understatement for what director Adam McKay has achieved with his improbable adaptation of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book about the 2008 global financial crisis. Writing in Vanity Fair’s December 2015 issue, Lewis says the following: “My job, as I saw it, was to make the reader badly want to know about credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations.” This, in turn, became McKay’s obligation when he made the movie. And one of the major reasons The Big Short succeeds is because McKay does this. Using gallows humor, likable protagonists, and a variety of nonstandard filmmaking techniques (like having characters address the audience directly), McKay maintains a high level of energy for more than two hours and dares us to become bored. The Big Short merges narrative elements with a pseudo-documentary exhumation of what happened during the years leading up to the 2008 collapse. The characters are all either real-life people who told their stories to Lewis or slightly fictionalized versions (with the names changed to protect the guilty). The film is both instructive and highly entertaining. McKay goes out of his way to inform viewers about the underlying causes of the instability but he does so with tongue-in-cheek irreverence. One device he employs is to hijack celebrities to provide explanations. Margot Robbie gives a lesson while enjoying a bubble bath. (Admittedly, it’s tough to concentrate on what she’s saying). Celebrity chef Anthony Bordain uses a fish stew analogy. And Selena Gomez plays blackjack. ![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/movies/big-short-the-1.jpeg)This is more in McKay’s wheelhouse than one might initially assume. The former SNL writer has previously directed a handful of features - all comedies (including [Anchorman](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/anchorman) and [its sequel](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/anchorman-2-the-legend-continues)). That background is an asset for The Big Short. The comedic edge gives the film greater resonance. Not only does it leaven the heavier material but it impels the narrative with a natural momentum. The snarky tone will appeal to those who have always been distrustful of Wall Street’s business practices. McKay in no way uses this for humorous sport, however; there’s a deep current of anger and outrage underlying the comedy. The Big Short cherry picks characters from the book - not every person profiled by Lewis makes it to the screen. The focus is on five individuals: Michael Burry (Christian Bale), a socially awkward financial genius; Mark Baum (Steve Carell), a broker with a conscience; Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), a rapacious investor out to make a killing; and the duo of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock), a couple of amateurs who see the opportunity of a lifetime. Burry is the first one to identify the dangers inherent in the way Wall Street is overvaluing bonds backed by sub-prime mortgages. As early as 2005, he is sounding the alarm bell but no one is listening. So he turns this into an investment opportunity by “shorting” the bonds - essentially betting that the housing market will collapse. Vennett reaches the same conclusion and discusses it with Baum who, after a private investigation, agrees with him. Geller and Shipley are in the right place at the right time and, acting under the advice of ex-broker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), get a seat at the big boys’ table. ![](https://www.reelviews.net/resources/img/movies/big-short-the-2.jpeg)Christian Bale, who is no stranger to radical appearance changes, de-glamorizes himself in order to portray Burry. Bale adopts some of Burry’s mannerisms and idiosyncrasies (such as his preference for always being barefoot) and believably conveys the sometimes off-putting personality of a man afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome. Not to be outdone, Steve Carell submerges his physicality and personality, although by nature Baum isn’t as compelling an individual as Burry. While Bale and Carell have the most screen time, a host of other big-name players make appearances including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Strong. This is the second unorthodox feature adaptation of one of Lewis’ books and is fundamentally more successful than [Moneyball](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/moneyball). It was possible to fashion the 2011 movie into a slightly off-kilter bio-pic. The Big Short, because of the necessity of educating viewers about a variety of terms and processes, necessitated a different approach. McKay (along with his co-screenwriter, Charles Randolph) found the “sweet spot.” As a result, The Big Short works not only on a narrative level but as a teaching device, and it achieves the latter without seeming to talk down to an audience. There have been other movies about stock market corruption. Most, like [Wall Street](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/wall-street) and J.C. Chandor’s [Margin Call](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/margin-call) (also about 2008), view the situation through the lens of a thriller. McKay, like Martin Scorsese in [The Wolf of Wall Street](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/wolf-of-wall-street-the), illustrates that comedy can be an effective tool in telling a story like this, provided it’s used with scalpel-like precision. The cuts made by The Big Short are deep and devastating in what they reveal about how 2008 happened and, tellingly, how little has changed since then. * ## Big Short, The (United States, 2015) Ranked \#5 in Berardinelli's Top 10 of 2015 Run Time: 2:12 U.S. Release Date: 2015-12-23 MPAA Rating: ["R" (Profanity, Nudity)](https://www.reelviews.net/search/mpaa/r "View all reviews for movies with R classification") Genre: [Comedy/Drama](https://www.reelviews.net/search/genre/comedy_and_drama "View all reviews for Comedy/Drama movies") Subtitles: none Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 * [![](https://www.reelviews.net/images/amazon-logo.gif)](http://amzn.to/21AZ3eo)
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