TV/Movies Megathread

[Sheilbh]

She also added "perhaps not as forcefully as I should have."

Whatever narrative you or I choose to attach to Demi and Jeremy's discussion of risk, the fact remains that in the movie, Jeremy takes drastic action after listening to Spock but not after listening to Demi.

Yes. But they also take drastic action because the volatility has exceeded the model 5-6 days in the last two weeks and Irons cannot hear a thing - while she flagged the risk a year prior.

I think everyone in the film is clearly very good at the job and also basically do the only things they could. They matter but also don't. It's part of what I think makes it such a good film.

[Admiral Yi]

Yes. But they also take drastic action because the volatility has exceeded the model 5-6 days in the last two weeks and Irons cannot hear a thing - while she flagged the risk a year prior.

I think everyone in the film is clearly very good at the job and also basically do the only things they could. They matter but also don't. It's part of what I think makes it such a good film.

What has she been doing for the last year?

BTW, I think the 2nd risk assessment associate does not show he is clearly very good at his job.

You never answered my question: what additional scenes would you have liked to see written for Demi?

[Sheilbh]

What has she been doing for the last year?

Her job. She escalated the risk, a decision was taken and there's probably plenty of other risks to manage in the next year - plus decisions to take with firing people etc.

You never answered my question: what additional scenes would you have liked to see written for Demi?

No idea. I'm not a writer and I'm not saying there's a gap in the plot (although I don't think I've ever spotted a plot hole ). Just think she's good in it and a bit underused compared to some of the others.

[Admiral Yi]

there's undoubtedly other risks to manage, as she's head of risk management. that means one of the risks she's supposed to manage is this one.

[Sheilbh]

Sure - and she has a boss. She flagged the risk, they accepted it.

I think my view is similar to cc's but a little different in that I don't read it as a character flaw. I think why I like the film is that none of the characters' flaws actually matter - similarly there are no heroes. It's not about greed or anything like that but simply being in an office/working for a company.

I think there's several points in the film (including with her) where different characters note "didn't seem like much a choice" and that's the point in my view. You could be the most principled person in the world screaming about the risk a year before it hits and you'd have been fired a lot earlier, and you'd have lost your options and your healthcare etc. Similarly you could be the opposite (maybe the Penn Badgley character) and you'll still get fired. Everyone is doing their job, everyone's smart and doing it well - none of them exemplify anything, they are just in the system, working.

[Admiral Yi]

And then Spock flags it and they don't.  Which makes me  think there was something different in the two flaggings. One done well, and one not as well.

I don't think it was a failure of character on Demi's part, rather a failure of analysis.

Disagree about nobody mattering.  Irons is the confident ruthless guy. Spock is the brainiac who shows they, and everyone else in the industry, has had it wrong. Spacey is the depressed cheerleader.  Etc., etc.  Take them all away and you have a 12 minute documentary on a failure or risk assessment followed by a fire sale.

[Sheilbh]

Yeah I just don't have that read. So on the flagging point the issue is that one year ago it was a risk but things looked fine and they'd make lots of mney so despite reservations (Spacey, Tucci, Moore) they go ahead. Irons - who is brilliant and I think quite a good leader - spots the music stopping in this film, I suspect twelve months prior he spotted it getting louder.

Similarly look at why Quinto flags it - chance. Tucci's working on something that doesn't quite add up and, because he's fired and because Quinto says something nice, he hands it over. Quinto is then very smart and works it out. But it's not a Moneyball thing of one guy cracking the code. As several characters point out - if he's worked this out it's only a matter of time before someone else for another firm does. Which again cuts to Irons: be smart, be first, or cheat (and they're first).

I get your point because I think the characters are really well portrayed and there is a drama to it. But my read is, as I say, that no-one really matters individually. It's sort of a thriller and the workplace, the office, the company is the antagonist.

[Admiral Yi]

Is Tucci also working by chance?  Or is he doing the same job as Demi, but better?

Irons doesn't spot anything.  Sisko tells him something has been spotted and Irons believes him.

The General Counsel doesn't matter.  The dweeby risk guy doesn't matter.  Ironally, Demi doesn't matter.  Without those three you have the exact same movie. Every other character is indespensible. The bank doesn't do what it has to do without each of them.  They each have a superpower.

[mongers]

Sure - and she has a boss. She flagged the risk, they accepted it.

I think my view is similar to cc's but a little different in that I don't read it as a character flaw. I think why I like the film is that none of the characters' flaws actually matter - similarly there are no heroes. It's not about greed or anything like that but simply being in an office/working for a company.

I think there's several points in the film (including with her) where different characters note "didn't seem like much a choice" and that's the point in my view. You could be the most principled person in the world screaming about the risk a year before it hits and you'd have been fired a lot earlier, and you'd have lost your options and your healthcare etc. Similarly you could be the opposite (maybe the Penn Badgley character) and you'll still get fired. Everyone is doing their job, everyone's smart and doing it well - none of them exemplify anything, they are just in the system, working.

Why can't it be both?

[mongers]

'An American Werewolf in London' - an near perfectly crafted horror film. Jenny Agutter, besides being a beautiful woman, she give a live-wire of a performance, possibly the best I've ever seen from a heroine in the genre.

Also Brian Glover gives a 1st rate Brian Glover performance. 

Odd to see Rick Mayall in pre-young ones bit-part role.

[Duque de Bragança]

Yes, pretty good movie.

Makes a fine werewolf double bill with Howling. The sequel, however, Howlings is for so good it's bad aficionados. A reference in the latter genre.  Not to mention Christopher Lee and Sybil Danning.