“The Big Short” (2015) is a superb, stylish docudrama about the housing market bubble that led to the 2008 financial crisis.  It’s smart, funny, informative, and boasts stellar performances from an ensemble cast — including the movie’s supporting actors.

For me, the two standout performances were Christian Bale as an oddball hedge fund manager and Steve Carrell, his counterpart at a different firm.  (I’ve known Carell only from his clownish comedic roles; seeing him shine here as the smartest man in the room was a treat.)  Hamish Linklater, by the way, is one of Carell’ staff — if he looks familiar to you as a horror fan, he was also the troubled priest in Mike Flanagan’s outstanding “Midnight Mass” (2021).  (And he is absolutely an excellent actor.)

This movie goes to great lengths to translate finance jargon into terms that the average viewer can understand.  (Think of what might happen if your favorite high school teacher teamed up with a group of excellent screenwriters to create a “Cliff’s Notes”-style Youtube video about the housing bubble.)

It’s great stuff.  I recommend it.