Review #154: 'Inside Job' (2010)

We are all familiar with the basic reasons that created the global financial crisis that became publicly evident towards the end of 2008. We are all well versed in the entities that were responsible for this recession that we are, arguably, still embroiled in. What Inside Job does, is to fill in the gaps; the details, and the people involved, and the endemic greed within these multi-national financial institutions. Through news coverage, we are aware of some of the companies involved: Goldman Sacs, Lehman Brothers, et al.

This documentary outlines the rise of financial greed that began forty years after the great depression of the 1930's (as stated in the film, it was illegal for financial institutes to merge companies, and the industry was regulated). After an illegal deal in the 1980's, a merger created Citigroup (still 'in business' today), that paved the way for financial greed and the banning of regulation. As this greed increased through the '90's and 2000's, investment became thoroughly ruthless. In what are called predatory lenders, institutions could 'lend' people the money for mortgages with incredibly high interest with seemingly no risk to their companies or the share holders. Many institutions operated illegally, and benefited from criminal activity: from fraud, tax evasion for the very rich, to the funneling of drug money from South America.

The film compresses some incredibly complex financial information, but does so in a relatively easily consumable manner. The film is (perhaps ironically) very good looking; very expensive in it's visual "gloss". This probably helped by the use of the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and the inclusion of a narration by top Hollywood actor, Matt Damon. Many of the interviewees become visibly uncomfortable, some even aggressive when confronted with questions that they don't really want to hear (i.e. the truth). The film highlights the bed-fellows of the financial industry with Washington politics. Whilst the people that were most effected by the crisis - the proletariat - are left with debt, joblessness and in extreme cases homelessness, the "villains", the people responsible for the situation, are paid off billions in bonuses and pay-offs so that they may leave the companies, are placed into high-paid jobs, many in government positions.

It's an interesting film. however, if you are familiar with the ins and outs of the financial institutions and their roles in the crisis, this will not enlighten you with any revelatory information. But it is at times entertaining. What it does highlight, is the fact the Bret Easton Ellis got those investment banker characters spot-on in his satirical novel American Psycho. The gung-ho attitude of the (w)ankers, and their frivolous spending of corporate money on drugs and prostitutes, shows that the Yuppie image of 1980's greed has really not changed.


Directed by: Charles Ferguson
Narrator: Matt Damon
Country: USA

Rating: ***

Marc Ivamy