Review: ‘Inside Job’

Oct. 15, 2010, 12:35 a.m.

Review: 'Inside Job'
(Courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Review: 'Inside Job'Two years removed from the big financial collapse of 2008, documentarian Charles Ferguson answers the question “How did it all start?” Ferguson takes the grand task upon himself and interviews seemingly every CEO, economics professor and financial advisor in the Tri-State area. His result is a sleek, sexy and surprisingly fun exposé – “Inside Job” reveals the inner-workings of Wall Street and the financial sector.

Divided into five distinct parts, the audience is walked through the history, crash and aftermath of the recent recession. We are guided by Matt Damon’s trusting voice through a dizzying amount of graphs, interviews and economics lessons. But have no fear. The film makes sure that even if you don’t get the financial side of things perfectly, you will at least be able to take away the big picture: Greedy executives caused everything, and they are not being punished.

At the very least, this documentary should make you feel angry. It will also make you think, laugh and commiserate, but mostly you’ll just get mad. After watching the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and a whole slew of possibly illegal actions in the interim, there is no way to deny that Ferguson wants you to dislike Wall Street executives and their comrades. The feeling that they are being targeted from the beginning doesn’t shake this strong dislike. While the executives are Ferguson’s clear victims, it is impossible to sympathize with them.

The hatred for these men builds, as we first learn about ways they cheat the system to make money. It involves things that may not be easily understood, but there is no question that it is shady. After essentially toying with derivatives and credit default swaps, the elite then spend their money on cocaine and escorts, making them further moral enemies. The last nail is hammered into the coffin when the audience realizes that there has been little recognition of their wrongdoings, and thus, there has been no retribution.

Much of the humor in this documentary does not come from the events, but rather from some ridiculously embarrassing interviews. Oftentimes, the interviewer asks fairly simple and straightforward (and maybe a little pointed) questions that the interviewee stumbles through with a series of “uhs” and “ums,” fearing his cover has finally been blown. The fast-paced editing makes the humor hit harder and the facts sink deeper. The high stylization throughout many of the sequences helps to improve the flow and understanding of the facts.

For a documentary, this proves to be pretty standard. The filmmaker set out with an objective, sought it out and then is showing his well-composed results. It is tough not to get angry, but a feeling of understanding about what is behind the economic façade of our country is the reward. Even if you do not know what a credit default swap is, or who Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are and what they were doing in bed together (I kid), you will still be able to follow this poignant, timely and necessary documentary sweeping the rug out from Wall Street’s very screwed feet.

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