Too Big To Fail

 Figure most people aren't stumbling across this film for a Saturday night date movie, and that most people know what they're getting here. So, I made it a point to watch this within a couple weeks of seeing Margin Call, and thought Too Big To Fail was much better in comparison for a number of reasons.
      The acting here is top notch. A paid cable movie that was able to snag a feature film cast. Specifically, Paul Giamatti and William Hurt are worth watching in and of themselves. Any actor who can make you feel bad for Hank Paulson for even five minutes deserves a golf clap in your living room.  
      I also appreciate the depth in this movie. A lot of that credit likely goes to the author whose book it was based on. Please don't misunderstand my praise for the movie. I certainly have complaints with certain portrayals, but there are plenty of documentaries on the topic, so if you're going to bang on the film for the reality it creates, I think you misunderstand the general concept of film. With that caveat, this movie is far more detailed and complete in its depiction than Margin Call, for example.
      It reminds me, not surprisingly, quite a bit of Recount in its storytelling structure. It's a delicate challenge to dramatize a non fiction work with material this dense. There aren't exactly a lot of guns and explosions, and extra weight falls on the actors, editing, production and so forth. Merely holding your interest with a movie like this is a challenge and they pull it off rather effortlessly.
      Finally, this movie makes the prudent decision to play the characters fairly straight in my mind. This telling of the story rings more true because the filmmakers largely eschew transparent attempts to force empathy for the protagonists. It doesn't matter if you like these people because you're fascinated by them and their moment in history. Not a perfect movie, but it's a quality addition to an important conversation.
     The biggest complaint I've heard about both films is the notion that the criminals, swindlers, and greedy bastards who populate them are far too often protrayed sympathetically or even heroically. In theory, I don't even disagree. The problem is you are far less likely to watch a film about folks you have a burning hatred for. This wasn't filmed by a documentary crew, but it is a movie with a message. In the end, it's a not a question of whether this film storms the right castle with enough pitchforks. It's way more simple than that. All that matters in this context is whether it tells a good story, and I think it absolutely does.

  4/5

  Watch or Skip

  P.S. These reviews are a snapshot of how I feel about a movie immediately after watching it. I have a feeling that had I seen this one first, I would have downgraded Margin Call a little more. I'd still give it a mild "Watch", but if you've only got time for one, go with Too Big To Fail, hands down.