Some have seen this as a comedy. I don’t. Yes, there are a few amusing moments, but sarcasm shouldn’t be confused with comedy. The sarcastic ending, in which it is announced that many were punished with jail sentences and the banking practices drastically changed, is contradicted with “just kidding.” It is really still business as usual.

It takes a while for the film to kick in at full strength. Much time is spent showing those riding the tide of profits from exploitative investments and getting used to high living. Time is also spent on outlining the investment tactics, which may be hard to understand for the layman. Shop talk abounds.

Eventually, as the situation becomes dire and to prevent a collapse of institutions considered too big to fail, there is a bailout at tax payer expense. Moral isues are raised starkly, especially in a speech by Steve Carell as Mark Baum, laying it on the line as to the corrupt, detrimental financial practices, but later undercut by a decision Baum reluctantly makes.

The panorama of greed, excess and getting rich on the backs of victims has a large, impressive cast. Marisa Tomei play’s Baum’s wife, with assorted key parts played by Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Jeremy Strong, Rafe Spall, Hamish Linklater, Jeffry Griffin, Finn Whittrock, John Magaro and Brad Pitt.