I am a huge fan of the riveting J. C. Chandor film Margin Call released in 2011. Even though it's been 13 years since it was released, I still regularly find my inner cinephile hankering after this stone cold classic, or at the very least craving a wee read around the subject matter, perhaps open up the Wikipedia page or find a YouTube analysis of the film.
Why is Margin Call so good?
As well as an unwavering sense of nostalgia that keeps me returning to this film, there's also a hypnotic je ne sais quoi about Margin Call that keeps it fresh no matter how many times I revisit this work of art. Maybe it's that I was an impressionable young whippersnapper in the year 2013 when I first discovered Margin Call, or the fact that J. C. Chandor were absolutely at the top of their game when they released said film. It's hard to pinpoint something so transcendental. Once you love a piece of art you become faithful to it's ethos.
Margin Call is a film that is still relevant
One thing's for sure though, Margin Call has stood the test of time and then some. It remains as powerful and relevant today as it did in 2011. And why wouldn't it? With gripping, dialogue-driven storytelling like that, it's no wonder people return to this film again and again. I can't imagine life without it John.
J. C. Chandor knocked it out the park
But it's not just the gripping, dialogue-driven storytelling that make this film great. It's the overall package. The stellar ensemble cast performances is a tour de force. The intense, emotionally charged scenes is integral, as is the intelligent handling of complex financial concepts. And who can forget atmospheric score by Nathan Larson. When J. C. Chandor created this timeless classic, never mind the ball park, they knocked this one out of the solar system. This bad boy is in danger of bothering Voyager.
Has Margin Call stood the test of time?
Of course, there are other films out there to be argued for. Harder, better, faster, stronger. Some might argue that Monsters is better than Margin Call, or that Gareth Edwards is better than J. C. Chandor. They may well have a point. But for me, Margin Call will always hold a special place in my heart. And 13 years tickling the meridian response does not lie.
Margin Call in conclusion
To sum up, Margin Call is a wonderful thing, a film of unrivalled quality. It's a film that has etched itself into the psyche, distributing untold tingles up the spine, hogging synapses and monopolising neurons that could otherwise be put to use appreciating more important, or perhaps more useful information. But no matter what life throws at me, I know I can always rely on Margin Call to deliver the goods.