"Margin Call" - A SArmy Fan's Review

For an indie film, "Margin Call", the Before The Door-produced and J.C. Chandor-directed Wall Street thriller with an impressive ensemble cast, has been getting a lot of attention since it opened at theatres on just 56 screens in some key USA cities this week!

The movie was also available On Demand, thereby, increasing its reach to even more interested viewers across the country.

Several publications and websites have given the movie a big thumbs-up, with as many movie-goers and fans acknowledging that it is a rather involving and relevant film of the times.

My favourite movie ratings website, Rotten Tomatoes, has awarded it a commendable 87% rating.

Hardly Marginal At All

What are the chances that a new production company's first movie would be greenlighted, go into production soon after with an impressive cast, and then get invited to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival??

This was exactly what happened with Before The Door Picture's movie, "Margin Call", directed by JC Chandor.

The movie - a thriller - covers the 24-hour period during a financial crisis in Wall Street, and stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker and Penn Badgley. Of course, our very own bb Zachary Quinto, will also be flexing his biceps in a business suit in this movie. (I know I know, we *all* want to be the pen in the above pic. sigh.)

All Wrapped Up!

This week has been full of chatty news from some of the "Margin Call" stars and the Before The Door production team! We were so spoilt on Twitter!

After the news that Jeremy Irons had joined the cast, we received word that there was a scene where his character and that of Kevin Spacey's went "head to head". The entire cast was in the same room. OOOoooh. Intense!

Sean Akers also tweeted: "Jeremy Irons. Very nice guy. So impressive. It is like riding in the elevator with royalty. Watching him rehearse the next scene."

Indie The Way To Go?

Have you noticed that in recent years, some choice indie films have gained a lot of ground in terms of popularity compared to the big-studios so-called "blockbuster hits"??  

I am quite an ardent fan of the indie film, as the big-studio screen-splashes seem to use a set formula that one can expect before even stepping into the cinema. I still do enjoy some big-studio offerings - like Iron Man or the Harry Potter  films. However, good indie films tend to reach my inner-soul deeper, with topics which are more personal and realistic. Or the storylines are just plain quirky; or are an utterly disturbing but pleasurable mindwarp. Added to this mix are often charming performances by well-known as well as lesser-known or unknown actors, where they seem free-er to be more "out-of-the-box".  And I'm Sold. :)