METTEL RAY

Thursday Movie Picks: Financial World

This is such an ironic theme since I feel like I’m not good at financial stuff and adulting in general. I actually went into the bookstore on Tuesday, and walked out with a tiny mug that said “I can’t adult today”. I say tiny because my coffee mug is 0,8 litres (not joking guys, I like my mugs HUGE), and this one is like 0,33 max. Still going to use it though, mostly as a prop but like I said, I’m not good at this adult/financial thing.

1. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013)

Well, the perfect moment to mention the outrageously talked about and brilliantly delivered The Wolf of Wall Street, which, as its name refers, is a movie about Wall Street. And that is where all the money is! I myself had lots of fun watching it but have come to a realisation that it doesn’t have lasting appeal – at the moment, I’m meh about the movie. Sure, I still think that epic crawl to the car is indeed epic, and the movie does have a certain flare, but I’m not yearning to see it again.

2. LORD OF WAR (2005)

Alright, this one’s a bit of a gamble because it doesn’t really scream financial world when you first think about it, does it? But what it does is talk a lot about guns and selling those guns – which in itself is related to money and well, financial world it is. Lord of War was very relevant when it came out and it still is and I doubt the business of selling guns has become less connected to the financial world. Sure, it might not be the legal financial world but I bet there is a lot of money going around illegally. Plus, this is one of Nicolas Cage’s finer performances before things started to go south.

3. MONEYBALL (2011)

Money makes the world go around, and apparently, it also makes sports happen but we mostly hear the big numbers, not the small ones. In Moneyball, a movie based on real life, a manager to a baseball team finances his team with a help of a computer analysis. With a great performance by Brad Pitt and an effortlessly brilliant one by Jonah Hill, Moneyball is a sophisticated take on the world of sports-money.

 THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES

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11 responses to “Thursday Movie Picks: Financial World”

  1. joelnox Avatar
    joelnox

    Like that you went slightly outside the lines with two of your picks. I’ve only seen Moneyball and though its about baseball it is also VERY much about money. Loved it and I agree that it’s one of Pitt’s best performances.

    I’ve avoided Wolf of Wall Street because of it’s infamous bad language. I have no problem with swearing nor swearing in film but when it’s excessive, which every person who has mentioned the movie to me commented on, I glaze over and check out of the film. To me it’s a sign of lazy writing.

    Cage has disappointed me so many times I never seriously gave Lord of War any consideration once I saw his name as the headliner.

    I’m not very knowledgeable about finance either but I do enjoy a good movie about that world which I thought these three were:

    Margin Call (2011)-When the head of risk management (Stanley Tucci) of a large Wall Street firm is unexpectedly laid off he tries to alert someone in the company of the project he was in the midst of that showed troubling evidence of an incipient mass failing of many money markets. He is met with total indifference so on his way out the door he hands the info to one of his assistants who is staying (Zachary Quinto). Intrigued at first and then dumbfounded by what he discovers he finally manages to attract the attention of the higher ups. As a series of late night conferences take place the dawning revelation becomes apparent that a global financial meltdown is set to occur and there is not a damn thing that can stop it. A well-directed look at the immediate lead up to the 2008 financial crisis.

    Working Girl (1988)-Mike Nichols directed comedy about ambitious Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith-never more appealing) who despite her college degree and keen intelligence has trouble getting ahead. She goes to work as secretary to Ivy League Katharine Parker (a priceless Sigourney Weaver) in mergers and acquisitions at a large Wall Street investment bank. Lulled into a false sense of security when Katharine seems to extend a helping hand she tells her a provocative idea for a merger that she’s come up with. Katharine without a shred of shame steals the idea behind her back. When circumstances allow Tess to become aware of the duplicity she uses subterfuge teaming with the unaware Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford-sprightly and relaxed) to bring the plan to fruition for herself. All does not go as planned. One of the rare comedies about the financial world that works.

    The Crash (1932)-Racy pre-code about Geoffrey and Linda Gault (George Brent & Ruth Chatterton-married in real life at the time), a rapacious couple who go to great lengths to accumulate wealth on the stock market up to and including Geoffrey encouraging Linda to pimp herself out for tips that can add to their fortune. She goes along because she can’t bear the thought of returning to the poverty of her youth. However when Geoffrey angers her with a request, she picks the precisely wrong time to hand him bad information and they are wiped out in the stock market crash of ’29. Staying together in name only while he tries to pick up the pieces she, haunted by her fears, continues to have gentleman friends who give her expensive things until a turning point is reached. Brief (only 58 minutes) and candid with a frankness that would vanish for decades with the implementation of the Production Code the next year.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      That’s a shame you’ve avoided The Wolf of Wall Street but I totally get your point.. sometimes less is more.

      Reply
  2. Dell on Movies (@w_ott3) Avatar
    Dell on Movies (@w_ott3)

    3 excellent picks. I love all those movies. I’m especially fond of The Wolf of Wall Street.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Brittani Avatar
    Brittani

    These are great choices! I remember when I saw Lord of War in theaters there was a glitch in the projecter, and the film skipped like 10 minutes. IIRC, two guys were fighting and then it randomly cut to a scene of nothing. So bizarre.

    I like my coffee mugs huge too. I’m currently drinking out of one that says “I drink the tears of my enemies.”

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Hah, that’s an interesting experience. I can’t remember where I saw the film but I probably saw it at home.

      OH I would like that mug please! 😀

      Reply
  4. sati Avatar
    sati

    Moneyball is an interesting pick here. I really love this film, it’s so underrated and it’s actually in my top 5 of the decade

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Nice, it felt like the right fit with this theme though. Glad you like it!

      Reply
  5. Sonia (A Film A Day) Avatar
    Sonia (A Film A Day)

    I hated The Wolf of Wall Street.

    Reply
    1. mettelray Avatar
      mettelray

      Oh no.. well, I didn’t flat out love it either.

      Reply
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