In 2008, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci) was working on a report about serious financial issues at a New York investment bank when he was laid off. On his way out the door, he offered a thumb drive to Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto), a junior member of the risk management team and offered the warning to 'Be careful.' Sullivan was a rocket scientist who found that the pay was much better in banking. He spent the evening working on Dale's research and filling in gaps that required his technical skills. The results were grim. Though it was late at night, he called his supervisor, Will Emerson (Paul Bettany). Emerson reviewed the data and called his supervisor back to the office. Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey) called in Sarah Robertson (Demi Moore) and Jared Cohen (Simon Baker), who in turn summoned the CEO, John Tuld (Jeremy Irons), at 4 in the morning. The mortgage-backed securities were a threat to the bank's solvency. Could the bank divest itself of these worthless securities before the market discovered what Sullivan's research had determined?
The story takes place over a 24-hour period, giving a glimpse of how the 2008 Crash unfolded. Where The Big Short gave a view of the overall crash, this looks at only one bank and its efforts to avert bankruptcy. The characters don't get a lot of development as there are so many. Quinto is playing Spock here, an analytical character who provides advanced knowledge with which his superiors will make decisions. Yes, a role he had already perfected. Bettany is a charming rogue and the top trader at the bank, something of a cynical nihilist. Strangely, he is a rock upon whom both juniors and seniors rely. Impressive. Kevin Spacey plays the manager of the trade floor and the man who must sell worthless securities before the market realizes they are worthless. Can he do that? Is that ethical? Jeremy Irons dominates when he arrives, offering insight on how an investment bank survives and what justifies dumping worthless product on customers.
Highly recommened.
