Inside Job (2010)

Takes a closer look at what brought about the financial meltdown.

Director:

Charles Ferguson

Writers:

Charles Ferguson, Chad Beck,

Stars:

Matt Damon, William Ackman, Daniel Alpert

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Matt Damon	...	Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Ackman	...	Himself
Daniel Alpert	...	Himself
Jonathan Alpert	...	Himself
Sigridur Benediktsdottir	...	Herself
Ben Bernanke	...	Himself (archive footage)
Willem Buiter	...	Himself
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Campbell	...	Himself
Patrick Daniel	...	Himself
Satyajit Das	...	Himself
Kristin Davis	...	Herself
Martin Feldstein	...	Himself
Jerome Fons	...	Himself
Barney Frank	...	Himself

Storyline

'Inside Job' provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.

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Plot Keywords:

iceland | recession | interview | reagan era | morgan stanley | 

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Taglines:

The film that cost $20,000,000,000,000 to make

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Genres:

Documentary | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some drug and sex-related material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 2010 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Bennfentesek

Filming Locations:

China

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£70,375 (UK) (18 February 2011)

Gross:

$4,311,834 (USA) (29 April 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Representational Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an unusual pairing of supporter and subject matter, Jeffrey Lurie - owner of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles franchise - was one of this Oscar-winning documentary's executive producers.

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Goofs

The first time Paul Volcker's last name is shown it is written "Vocker".

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Quotes

Willem Buiter: Why do you have big banks? Well, because banks like monopoly power; because banks like lobbying power; because, banks know that when they're too big, they will be bailed.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.18 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Big Time"
Written by Peter Gabriel
Performed by Peter Gabriel
Courtesy of petergabriel.com

User Reviews

Love and Hate

I work. I have worked since I was 16. I worked when going to college. I worked between college. I worked after college. I worked while raising a family. I worked, sometimes 3 or 4 jobs at a time. I'm still working. And after retirement, I don't think I would be able to quit doing something, even if it meant being a greeter at Wells Fargo. I put in my overtime. I put in my dues. I will not really have enough money to live on when I retire, but that is all relative to my lifestyle at that time. I certainly will not be able to afford the house, but I will have some foreseeable comforts. I may not have worked as hard as others, but I have worked dependably and consistently. My conscience is fairly clean.

I have never been in a position to make vast amounts of money. Most of my life I have lived from paycheck to paycheck. I am not a financial planner. I can be an impulsive buyer at times but when I get that craving I make sure that whatever I get will last me. I'm probably the perfect Joe Schmoe.

I watched this film. I don't know why. Maybe I was curious about it winning an Oscar. Maybe I'm just into masochistic tendencies, but I did watch it all the way through. I sat their like the wedding guests in the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner as he spun his story wondering how all this stuff could have happened over such a long period of time and realizing how gullible and uninformed I am. When it comes to Government, I am like an ostrich with its head in the ground: Just let me do my job, I don't want to worry about you doing yours.

I don't think I am the only one with this sentiment. However, when one of us Joe Schmoes handed over billions of dollars to the people that engineered the collapse of so many financial institutions; to realize this has already happened; to realize there is nothing to be done just increases resentment.

The documentary was skillfully done. The preface to this movie followed the decline of Iceland during their deregulation period. Within 5 short years they went from picture perfect to poverty, the only success stories probably laughed about over drinks and cigars. The movie then proceeds to tactfully follow the events from the Regan era deregulation to the panic of the collapse of insurance, banks and brokerage houses. It then moves on to the signing of the bailout then to the wake of their carnage in the world financial structure. The appalling fact of this is no one went to jail. To the contrary, they all walked off with billions.

Matt Daemon does an excellent job of narrating the facts in a flat unsympathetic tone. The directors are quick to point out those individuals that did not let an interview happen, casting a higher level of doubt to their credibility. All in all, much was exposed and even if 30% of it is true, it is disappointing it ever got to this point.

Unlike Moore, seeing this was a serious piece I appreciated the fact the production wasn't degraded by any comic relief. There was much to love and hate about this film. The production of it was crisp, clean and too the point following a well thought out introduction and ending, but you sure do end up hating capitalism by the time the ending credits start to roll.