Film review: Margin Call & This Must Be The Place

I saw two movies last week which I just really loved.

So much so that I give them both 5 delicious fluffy marshmallows out of 5!

Margin Call:

(release in Australia: 15 March 2012)

Margin Call is 24 hours in the life of a large US investment firm in crisis. I loved that it was like real life. There wasn’t any need to create way out espionage or shoot ‘em action into the plot, because this film simply recognises that the corporate merry go round that is our world economy is twisted and scary enough, oh boy. This film is a bit reminiscent of the West Wing tv series, with that same tense slow vibe, and is almost play-like in its long dialogue structure.

The acting was superb. Even Jeremy Irons as head honcho may have seemed overacted to some, but characters like this really exist, people!  Kevin Spacey was also good as a mini honcho grappling with some pesky feelings of right and wrong, and Demi Moore is just plain cold in the most perfect way. But wait, there's more: Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, Stanley Tucci, and Zachary Quinto...the ensemble cast just seems to go on and on.

If you want to hear some home truths about how billion dollar companies and their million dollar men and women treat money, employees and the world economy like a monopoly game they just have to win, this is a movie for you. Otherwise, you may be bored. I loved it.

Read my partner’s review at The Reel Bits: http://www.thereelbits.com/2012/03/14/review-margin-call/

This Must be the Place

(release in Australia: 5 April 2012)

This is a film that is striving unambiguously for that whimsical bizarre effect. It’s essentially a character piece that turns into a bit of a thriller half way through, with a surprisingly serious subject matter.

Your enjoyment of this movie will depend on how you take the main character, Sean Penn in drag as jaded retired rockstar Cheyenne. I would say to think Robert Smith crossed with Ozzy Osborne, but I think the pic here says it all. Luckily I adored his character and the delivery, yes even that laugh. What starts out as a potential to annoy turns into positively endearing, as we watch him struggle with emotion hidden in a deadpan soft voice.

Combine this with perfect quirky acting turns by Frances McDormand, Harry Dean Stanton and Judd Hirsch, as well as a great song performance and bad acting (so bad, it’s good) by David Byrne of Talking Heads. Recommended!