I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

It's early 2008 and Lehman Brothers is falling. CEO Dick Fuld (James Woods) is stand-fast as he rejects an offer from Warren Buffett. He's not willing to sell low as he expects to weather the storm. A few months later, Lehman Brothers is collapsing. Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson (William Hurt), Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, and President of the New York Fed Tim Geithner among others are struggling to gather private interests to bail out the failing investment bank as the contagion spreads.The actors are first rate. I assume the writing is well-researched. It's a relatively clear telling of the events. As a narrative, it does lack the tension of an unknown story and the clarity of one lead character. This is a good companion piece to other docs about the subject.

Frankly this is a movie i.e dramatized, facts manipulated to suit the audience (dumb Americans) If you are looking for some real information behind what happened in 2008 financial meltdown, who is to blame for it? go and watch Inside Job. If you want to continue to be delusional about the happenings in US, continue to watch such manipulated versions or even news broadcasts by US media.Well i need to write some fillers as the above review is too short. So what the heck. Watch the movie to celebrate the glorification on the culprits who almost brought down the world financial system to a stand still, making huge profits in the process, including Hank, of course. Movie seems to an attempt by Bush government to save, whatever is left of Bush's image as an administrator.

This was a fantastic view on the internal workings of the 2008 crisis. Not since the west wing have we seen such excellent political drama. It may not of been perfectly accurate in terms of how things took place but the humanization of tight dialogue of those involved displayed an intelligent and brilliant representation. This would have been a top class thriller if it wasn't so real. The calculated building of tension and the memory of how things took place left the viewer both shocked and tense at the knife edge that we were balancing upon, the relief short lived with the knowledge that we continue in a world where similar issues and the fallout are still so relevant.

"Wall street has a gambling problem and the government keeps covering their losses. They never learn anything." In 2008 the United States economy began to crumble. Bank after bank began to fail and Lehman Brothers (the 4th largest) was on the ropes. Secretary of Treasury Hank Paulson (Hurt), Federal reserve chairman Ben Bernanke (Giamatti) and New York Fed President Tim Geithner (Crudup) all are working to try and save it. They more they find out the worse it gets and they are left with a decision to save the country or the bank. But the answer isn't as easy as it sounds. I know what your thinking. Another movie about this, hasn't there been enough? Normally I would agree but this one had Paul Giamatti so I had to watch it. This one stands far above the other ones made about the crisis and also is pretty impressive in the way it is presented. This movie made the crisis and the reasons for what was done simple enough for me to understand. Unlike the others this one is about how the government handled it and not the Wall Street CEO's which is why I didn't want to throw stuff at the TV as much. This movie was all the more impressive in the way that it really made the government the good guy in this whole mess and made you side with them. Which is almost impossible to do these days. This to me has been the best movie made about the crisis. Overall, if you watch one movie about the meltdown and the economic crisis make it this one. I recommend this. I say A.