From NetFlix:

An all-star cast shines in this engrossing drama about a critical 24-hour period at a high-profile investment bank in the early days of the 2008 financial crisis, when young analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) uncovers information that could destroy the firm. When he alerts upper management to the precarious position of their risky investments, an emergency meeting is held to decide if they should alert clients or abscond with the profits.

Infuriatingly excellent, this financial “thriller” is a sad expose of America’s greatest enemy, her own financial industry. You need not understand the financial details to appreciate the plot.

Sometimes a large cast of well-known actors can be a disaster. But this time cast choices probably could not have been better. Old-timers include:

• Kevin Spacey (age 52) is officially middle-aged. His role is thoughtful and sad.
• Jeremy Irons (age 63) is his usual wonderfully creepy self playing the head honcho who makes 83 million dollars a year even if his clients lose all their investments.
• Stanley Tucci (age 51) is another sad pawn in Jeremy Iron’s claws.
• Demi Moore (age 49) is a pawn in a different way.

And then there are some relative new-comers:

• Paul Bettany (age 40) was the albino Silas in “The Da Vinci Code”.
• This is the first time I have seen Simon Baker (age 42) in something other than “The Mentalist”.
• Zachary Quinto (age 34) was Spock in the 2009 “Star Trek”.
• Zachary Quinto’s sidekick in the film is Penn Badgley (age 25) who plays the son in “The Stepfather”.

At times the script can be a bit preachy, especially when the characters rationalize their basically dishonest dealings.

Is our financial industry really completely corrupt? DO NOT MISS!