Winner of this year’s Best Documentary Feature Oscar, Inside Job is an attempt to delineate the messy and disturbing economic crisis of 2008. The events are compartmentalised into five parts. In ‘Part I: How We Got Here’, we’re given a bit of background, beginning with post-Depression America. ‘Part II: The Bubble (2001-2007)’ narrates what’s described as the biggest real estate boom in history, before ‘Part III: The Crisis’ deals with how the shit hit the fan. After ‘Part IV: Accountability’, we’re left with a none-too-optimistic ‘Part V: Where We Are Now’, which is deeply critical of the Obama administration’s inaction with regard to prosecuting the irresponsible Wall Street players.
With its widescreen, glossy, compelling visual style, narration by Matt Damon, and a fast-paced but simple and easy-to-follow script, the film is easily digestible to non-specialists (such as myself) – previous knowledge of the intricacies of the global economic system is not required! Though the film is visually attractive and accessible, the wealth of information imparted is deep, wide-ranging and substantial. The filmmakers have interviewed many key figures, including many prominent US politicians, George Soros and the President of Singapore. Goldman Sachs, we’re told, refused to participate (but were forced to take part in a public trial anyway).
The DVD extras, too, are weighty. There’s a brief (12 minutes) but illuminating making-of doc featuring an interview with director Charles Ferguson, as well as a full-length commentary, and interesting deleted scenes that were presumably excised simply because of the film’s length.
Overall Verdict: An urgent and intelligent take on the events leading to the state we’re in, Inside Job is as important as any film you’ll see this year.
Special Features:
The Making of Inside Job featurette
Commentary with director Charles Ferguson and producer Audrey Marrs
Deleted Scenes featuring Eliot Spitzer, Lee Hsien Loong, Satyajit Das and other financial insiders
Reviewer: Tom René