Money, stocks and a lot of financial jargon.
With sleek shiny suits, well shaped briefcases and wise decision making, portrayals of the stock market on the silver screen displays glamour but also the thin line between success and capitulation.
Here are some movies from Hollywood which have the stock exchange as an intense part of the story. (in no particular order).
Money Monster
Director: Jodie Foster
Stars: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell
The movie comes to a tragic end, but it tells of the worthy virtue of actually finding out what’s going on.
In the film, an irate investor takes a TV show hostage, wielding a gun at a financial TV host. While demanding that the TV host actually tell his viewers the truth of why the stock market is not making money for the commoner, the situations grow tense.
The movie leaves the viewer with a lot of soul searching.
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The Big Short
Director: Adam
Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Brad Pitt
Billed as a comedy-drama, the film follows multiple storylines. All the stories point to the common theme of taking advantage of a looming financial crisis.
A group of investors bet against the US mortgage market and in their research discover a flawed and corrupt market.
In the multiple storylines, a crisis of what to do when there are deadly consequences that could befall the rest of the world while others are enriching themselves.
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The Wolf of Wall Street
Director: Martin Scorcese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
This film was banned in Kenya by self-proclaimed moral police Ezekiel Mutua.
Reasons behind the banning of the movie ranged from “extreme scenes of nudity, sex, alcohol, drug taking and profanity.”
Beyond the explicity of the vices, the film itself is a retelling of the real life story of Jordan Belfort.
Based on a book by Belfort, the movie chronicles the stock broker’s rise and eventual downfall that saw him arrested for fraud.
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It however received criticism for it seemed to glorify greed. Greed, it seems, is not misplaced in the world of stocks.
Margin Call
Director: J.C Chandor
Stars: Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Demi Moore, Simon Baker
Another movie that revolves around the financial crisis of 2008.
This time, the movie focuses on the insights at the top level management, as executives at an investment bank deal with the realisation that the market is in trouble.
Decisions, decisions, decisions circumvent this movie, with the question of whether there really is the right (or wrong) decision.
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Wall Street
Director: Oliver Stone
Stars: Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Tamara Tunie
This 1987 film is titled after the go to financial jargon for American stock trading.
It follows a highly experienced and successful stock broker who takes on a young, impatient man under his wing. The youngster is willing to to whatever it takes — corruption, insider trading — so as to make it to the top.
The two are meant for each other, as the experienced trade raider is ruthless on the market, thus wheels in the young man into the world of illegalities and enrichment.
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amazing article.