Film Analysis: The Big Short

The big short is a comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Adam McKay. The film was released in December 2015. It is based on the non-fiction book of Michael Lewis; The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine (2010). Lewis writes about the financial crisis of 2008, a crisis triggered by the build-up of the housing market and the credit bubble. His book, like the film adaptation, spans the years leading up to the 2008 crash. Lewis is following those few who believed the bubble would burst, and who figured out how to profit from it. Their roles are played by Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt. Their flamboyant performances are what make The Big Short watchable. All of the male characters are clearly defined by bizarre
traits that serve to show the types of impudent personalities that thrive in such a chaotic environment.