It’s almost Oscar season, which means it's time for movie trailers that feature at least half a dozen A-listers being dramatic and contemplative. That’s certainly the case in this first promo for The Big Short, which tells the story of a risky investment undertaken just before the global economic collapse of the '00s. The film is based on Michael Lewis's eponymous 2010 bestseller.
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Directed by Adam McKay (the seasoned dramatic helmer behind Stepbrothers and Anchorman), The Big Short looks like a cross between Margin Call and The Wolf of Wall Street. The trailer cuts between intense scenes of the men-talking-in-boardrooms variety and lavish parties enjoyed by the rich bankers who are causing the coming crisis. Its biggest draws may be star Steve Carell and McKay, who provide the humor that gives the trailer its best moments.
Besides previews of performances from Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, the trailer also gives a few glimpses of Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei, and Finn Wittrock, a rockin' high-energy soundtrack, and promisingly well-timed jokes.