by Nicolas Pinzon
Everyone has a favorite. Mine happens to be the Big Short. An incredibly complicated story about a topic that could be otherwise downright boring, The Big Short manages to digest the entire housing crisis in a way that is clear, compelling, and most of all, fun. This Adam McKay film is a master class for all filmmakers on building and managing stakes that address both the world of the movie (the housing system we all believe in is a collapsing farce,) and the individual character in a personal way (will the protagonist win as they bet against the market or will they loose everything.) Out of all the films nominated this year, I feel that The Big Short did this the best. That was perhaps one of the few things I didn’t like about another one of my favorites this year: Spotlight. Though the big world stakes in the movie were enormous (uncovering pedophilia in the Catholic church) the main characters didn’t seem to have as much to loose in a personal sense. Had the story not worked out, they could have kept working at the same place and nothing would have drastically changed for them. On the other side of the spectrum, in The Revenant, Dicaprio’s character’s stakes were completely personal and there was no larger world impact associated with him succeeding or not in his quest for survival and ultimately revenge. Many films function that way, and there is nothing wrong with that. But the way that the Big Short was able to be so universal and at the same time so personal was absolutely impressive to me.
I also think that out of all the films nominated for best picture, The Big Short, perhaps along with Room, was told in the most original way. Room was great because it is a very adult story told entirely through the eyes of a nine year old, and that influences the narrative of the entire film. But all the other nominated films were straightforward linear pictures that, although absolutely great, I don’t believe can stand against the way The Big Short blurred the lines between narrative, documentary, and essay film.
The entire ensemble cast of the film was also incredible and I believe Christian Bale deserves an Oscar for his performance.
That is simply my opinion, and Kevin B. Lee from Fandor agrees with me so here is his amazing video essay backing The Big Short:
https://vimeo.com/154236446
Who do you think should win best picture?
I also think that out of all the films nominated for best picture, The Big Short, perhaps along with Room, was told in the most original way. Room was great because it is a very adult story told entirely through the eyes of a nine year old, and that influences the narrative of the entire film. But all the other nominated films were straightforward linear pictures that, although absolutely great, I don’t believe can stand against the way The Big Short blurred the lines between narrative, documentary, and essay film.
The entire ensemble cast of the film was also incredible and I believe Christian Bale deserves an Oscar for his performance.
That is simply my opinion, and Kevin B. Lee from Fandor agrees with me so here is his amazing video essay backing The Big Short:
https://vimeo.com/154236446
Who do you think should win best picture?
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