Sans Dialogue

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This reminds me of the opening scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles with the client (William Windom) staring at ad concepts while Steve Martin and Lyman Ward wait wordlessly for some hint. Margin Call director-writer J.C. Chandor is accepting the Best First Film award from the NYFCC on Monday, and on Tuesday will pick up the NBR's award for Best Debut Director. Margin Call has also been named of the NBR's top 10 Independent Films.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 3, 2012 at 7:50 PM

comment #1

moviesquad says ...

"Margin Call" felt a bit clunky to me and the pacing was off. Also, there was at least one too many "Explain this to me as if I know nothing..." scenes that brought me out of the movie since it made no sense in the context of the business.

If Christopher Nolan is willing to go to the mat to defend the inability of anyone in the audience being able to understand a word Bane is saying, the Margin Call director should've trusted the audience to catch up on what leverage is and how it works.

Posted by moviesquad at January 3, 2012 10:33 PM

comment #2

Hollis Mulwray says ...

caught up with MARGIN CALL over the holidays. Best Spacey performance in years. Simon Baker and Jeremy Irons were equally good. Worked in Investment Banking during the 80's. Most of the guys at the top tier (Spacey/Bettany characters) don't know how to "read" the numbers. The film drilled it home that they are salesmen. They wine and dine bright and aggressive young men and bring them in to the business. The boardroom scene hinges on the idea that all these financial geniuses look to a rocket scientist (Quinto) for confirmation that their business plan is screwed. 2008 is summed up with the correct conclusion - Nobody knows nothing. One of the year's best.

Posted by Hollis Mulwray at January 4, 2012 2:32 AM

comment #3

Sams says ...

I was also underwhelmed by Margin Call. It was billed as having been based on the collapse of Lehman Bros. but offered a very superficial look at the prevailing practices at the time. Other than throwing around some jargon, didn't enlighten at all. Nor did parts of it make sense. Their business was collapsing and they were burning their bridges but they wanted Spacey to stay on to trade for them. Like anyone on the street would still trust them.

Posted by Sams at January 4, 2012 4:59 AM

comment #4

Paul says ...

Wow, there is a lot of acting talent in that room. I'm sorry to hear that the film itself is disappointing.

Posted by Paul at January 4, 2012 6:55 AM

comment #5

DeafEars says ...

MARGIN CALL wasn't bad but it eats MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE's dust as a debut film.

Posted by DeafEars at January 4, 2012 10:55 AM

comment #6

vetverbranding says ...

This movie... Disappointing :(

Posted by vetverbranding at January 4, 2012 11:25 AM

comment #7

Vidian1 says ...

What did that look like on the page? How would you write that scene? or read it?

Posted by Vidian1 at January 4, 2012 12:57 PM

comment #8

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comment #9