Inside Job

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: This documentary breaks down the whos, whats, hows, and whys of the economic crash of 2008, which caused the financial crisis we're all in today.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Matt Damon does the voice over. I feel the need to tell you this, because you won't notice it if I don't.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you, like I, didn't get around to reading the newspapers over the last 30 or 40 years, this will catch you up on everything you need to know about the financial section. Just don't ask me to tell you what's going on in sports.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: You know what's really funny? It wasn't the idiot layman's fault at all for taking loans they couldn't afford to pay back. We were lied to. You know what's funnier? These guys knew exactly what they were doing as they were screwing everybody, and I think they even kind of knew that they were gonna blame it all on us, the people they screwed, when it fell apart. What better way to convince us to pay them back in taxes for the debts they created?

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: You know what's sad? These guys made enough money with their ponzi scheme to buy off anyone who tries to make them pay back the money they stole, as well as anyone who tries to make them pay in any moral or penitentiaral way for their criminal actions. Yes, they own us, and our little government, too.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Biggest Comeback is going to Eliot Spitzer, who we find out here, was one of the few people who was standing up to Wall Street and trying to fight back to prevent this crash. I'm now convinced that they used the morality card to discredit him so they could get rid of him, because he was trying to stop them from ripping us all off. I'm sure I'm right about this one. Plus, according to the prostitute in this movie, they were all going to the same whores, so it wouldn't've been hard for them to figure out how to ruin him, as they passed each other in the bordello halls.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The guys who were involved in these crimes are so bad at seeming innocent when asked a direct question, it's a wonder any of them ever got up the corporate ladder at all.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Even though he uses the same scenic shots over and over, Charles Ferguson's shots are exceedingly scenic.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The structure explaining how we got to this point is clear, organized, and perfectly set up by the opening story of how Iceland had been living in some sort of financial utopia until the Americans convinced them to deregulate. Then, within 10 years, Icelanders went from affluent, civilized, and stable to poverty stricken and unemployed. Thank you, America.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Greed is only one of seven deadly sins, but of all the sins a person could commit, this is the one that has the power to cause the most widespread damage and suffering to others. Think about it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/inside-job/10037867/trailers

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In the Loop

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Lower-level government officials in England and the U.S. decide war would be a good idea and then go about trying to make it happen. (Not against each other, of course.)

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, James Gandolfini, Chris Addison, Anna Chlumsky, Enzo Cilenti, Paul Higgins, Mimi Kennedy, David Rasche, Steve Coogan

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This British comedy (with a few American actors thrown in for good measure) worms its way into the back-channels of government to display the idiocy, ego and hidden agenda of government bureaucracy. Smart, funny, satirical and scathing, it’s sort of a West Wing for cynics who like their comedy dark and British. To sum it up, if you loved Catch 22 and Dr. Strangelove, you’ll probably enjoy this film as well.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The lines come smart, witty and even raunchy from every single character – so this would be a big ‘ol yes. But pay attention to keep up.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Only if you’re already predisposed to the insanity and horrors of government bureaucracy. In that case this movie might send you over the edge into a puddle of tears.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Probably not in America, but only because it’s too British. Which of course means it’ll be showered with BAFTAs.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The film is perfectly cast, from Hollander’s dippy British Secretary of State, Peter Capaldi’s expletive-spewing Communications Director, Mimi Kennedy’s U.S. Deputy Sec. of State to Gandolfini’s egotistical U.S. General. Combined with the way this film is shot and the ad-lib style of dialogue, you will pretty much forget these are actors and think you are watching a documentary that has spun hopelessly out of control.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The genius of In the Loop is that director Amando Ianucci has shot it as if it were a documentary, and it completely feels like that on one level. But the comedy and situations are so absurd, that you can’t help but realize it’s a piece of fiction. Or is it? Every single performance, set, action and snippet of dialogue feels authentic which lends the entire enterprise a feeling of real-world doom that might have been a lot funnier if it were not for the reality of the war in Iraq. Where a show like The West Wing reveled in showing us the people at the very top levels of government, In the Loop takes us one level down where all the real decisions are made. And it’s about a trillion times scarier for that reason alone.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: According to the director at a Q&A after the film, the committee of writers (there were five total credited) did a ton of research hanging out in both the British and U.S. governments to get every detail as authentic as could be. They did a great job because even in its heightened state of dark comedy, In the Loop feels scarily authentic in pulling back the curtain on the people who make decisions that affect millions of lives. Be prepared for a dose of harsh reality – even if you’re laughing all the way through.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Directly below is a link to view the trailer for In the Loop. Regardless if you ever see the movie, do yourself a favor and watch the trailer, because it’s a marvel of editing and probably the best trailer of the year so far.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/in%20the%20loop/trailers

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