Too Big to Fail (2011)

Simply A Masterpiece

Best movie ever!

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

"Let's see," says PR person Michele Davis, played by Cynthia Nixon, "we can't put any more restrictions on the way the banks are going to spend the $125 billion we're giving them, because they might not TAKE it?" Yeah, Michele, if you tell them they can't pay big fat bonuses with it and fund golden parachutes, they won't take it.We all know that the banks were bailed out, and "Too Big To Fail" purports to tell us the real story. It doesn't because in order for it to be a movie, there have to be good guys and bad guys. Since it was all bad guys, it's a little skewered.The good guy of the piece is that hard-working Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, beautifully portrayed by William Hurt. In the story, Paulson nearly has a nervous breakdown trying to save the world economy after investment companies start going bankrupt.It's pointed out that Paulson has no conflict of interest even though he used to run Goldman Sachs because he dumped his stock in the company. That's true. Not mentioned was that for some reason he didn't have to pay any taxes on the sale, something like $50 million.Then we get to the let's bail out AIG because they're in bed with everybody. Yeah. Their big creditor was Goldman Sachs. Paulson cheated the taxpayers out of $75 billion because, in order for Goldman to get all their money, he didn't negotiate the bailout.He's the big hero, the one whose wife (Kathy Baker) tells him he's taking on too much. So you can imagine what the rest of this movie was like when we got down to the real bad guys, the banks.Many people in the film ask, why didn't anyone see this coming? I have some other questions. Why didn't anyone know Bernie Madoff was a crook? Why didn't anyone know banks were lending money to dummy corporations at Enron? Paulson gives us the answer, "They were all making too much money, so nobody asked." The thieves, liars, guys with their heads in the sand, helpers, and pacifiers were played by a wonderful cast: John Hurd, James Wood, Billy Crudupp, Tony Shalhoub, Paul Giamatti, Cynthia Nixon, and Ed Asner. Asner played Warren Buffett, the only one with any money. As Ben Bernanke, Paul Giametti gives another standout performance.Curtis Hanson did a brilliant job of directing -- one felt the tension and suspense every step of the way.On a final note, the banks were given money so they could loan it out. Instead, they loaned out less. Their bonuses reached a peak in 2010, the highest amounts ever. Mattresses are looking better and better.

This was a fantastic view on the internal workings of the 2008 crisis. Not since the west wing have we seen such excellent political drama. It may not of been perfectly accurate in terms of how things took place but the humanization of tight dialogue of those involved displayed an intelligent and brilliant representation. This would have been a top class thriller if it wasn't so real. The calculated building of tension and the memory of how things took place left the viewer both shocked and tense at the knife edge that we were balancing upon, the relief short lived with the knowledge that we continue in a world where similar issues and the fallout are still so relevant.

HBO and Peter Gould did a disservice to the American people by stuffing their nose up the ass of Wall Street and the Federal Reserve bank by not even coming close to laying blame where it belongs. The film is almost comical in its representation of Paulsen, Bernanke and Geithner. All three of these clowns are characterized as heroic as they struggle to save the American economy from collapsing. The film is mostly fiction and is clearly an attempt to hide the truth from the American people. I would recommend watching a more truthful depiction of what actually happened, as for example "Inside Job" which is actually a documentary and not a fictional representation. This is all in all, nothing but propaganda.

This film dutifully lays blame everywhere. From Reagan to Clinton to Bush Jr. with former Fed Chairman Greenspan also getting a kick in the shins, as well as Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, who yes saved the day but burned a lot of former enemies along the way. The house of cards that led to the 2008 crash is explained in perfect detail without losing the intelligent viewer (more on that later).In addition to outstanding writing, the characters are well-played. I even felt for the first time, some sympathy for Mr. Fuld (James Woods), at Leaman Brothers, who really did get screwed, while Mr. Paulson's former employer, Goldman Sachs walked away richer and mightier and more arrogant than ever. Also, the PR person working for Mr. Paulson, showed what a good PR person does in a crisis management situation. Ask good questions. Tell the truth. Frame the issue. And without giving away the end, one realizes the whole stinking mess has not been cleaned-up. The can has just been kicked down the road. To real insiders, the movie may seem lacking in detail for their liking. But frankly for the average ignorant American, this film is too intellectual. Almost half the country still believes the Republican lies and manipulation that got us into this mess. Americans are too stupid to appreciate this pulling away of the rot that is unfettered American capitalism in Too Big To Fail. Part 2 is coming. Sooner rather than later. Just watch.