Margin Call

Directed by J.C. Chandor, Margin Call follows several investment bankers, including Kevin Spacey’s Sam Rogers, Zachary Quinto’s Peter Sullivan, and Demi Moore’s Sarah Robertson, as they’re forced to make a series of difficult decisions on the eve of 2008’s financial crisis. It’s compelling subject matter that’s employed to slightly erratic yet often riveting effect by Chandor, as the filmmaker, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a solid drama that’s elevated by its first-class performances on an impressively ongoing basis – with the movie benefiting substantially from the efforts of a superb roster of familiar faces. (The cast features top-notch work from, among others, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, and Stanley Tucci, although it’s Jeremy Irons’ frequently spellbinding turn as a powerful executive that remains a continuing highlight within the proceedings.) And while the inherently complex and complicated nature of the narrative is, at times, frustrating (ie it’s never entirely clear just what’s going on here, ultimately), Margin Call‘s proliferation of standout sequences, coupled with the actors’ engaging efforts, goes a long way towards cultivating (and sustaining) an atmosphere of often impressive tension and suspense – with the final result a stirring endeavor that stands as a fairly effective primer into the cause behind the infamous 2008 crisis.

*** out of ****