As Wall Street’s Universe Collapses

[marmar]

from Consortium News:




As Wall Street’s Universe Collapses
October 24, 2011

Wall Street has created a “moral” universe that elevates short-term profits into the ultimate “good,” rewarding those who can achieve them with massive bonuses. The movie Margin Call follows these players when their universe collapses, writes Lisa Pease.

By Lisa Pease


What would you do if you had knowledge of an imminent catastrophe that you had no power to stop? That was the question that inspired the new film “Margin Call” from writer/director J.C. Chandor.

Based on the financial crisis of 2008, the film is a tightly paced, highly suspenseful look at the first 36 hours of a meltdown from the viewpoint of a few key people in a Lehman Brothers-like investment firm. The damage has already been done, and there’s no way to reverse it. The characters are faced with Hobson’s choices that leave little room for moral concerns.

Indeed, that’s the fascination with the film. While some have decried the film, claiming that it tries to make the Wall Street crooks who stole our money sympathetic characters, that’s not what I saw at all. I had no sympathy for any of them, but I found them fascinating, nonetheless.

Here are a group of people who have uncritically bought into a way-of-life destined for failure, and suddenly that failure is upon them. How will they deal? What will they do? What can they do? ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2011/10/24/as-wall-streets-universe-collapses/

[AllyCat]

1. Money changers indeed.

This one is on my list for a day that my psyche can handle it. Most days, I'm so ticked off at these folks I don't want to use entertainment time to see more of it...but there is always education

[pmorlan1]

2. Thanks for posting

This sounds like an interesting film. They certainly have a great cast.