Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Margin Call

‘Margin Call’ With Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, and Brian Koppelman

September 20, 2022 · Margin Call (2011) · Drama · Thriller · 1:33:59

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 12:39Couldn't come up with an answer for recasting - likes movies that catch people at awesome points of their career

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 39:58Multiple scenes including Eric Dale getting laid off with Bettany's shoulder slap, Bettany explaining the model to Spacey, the balcony scene where Bettany talks about fear of jumping and breaks down his salary, the first Irons scene with 'biggest bag of odorous excrement' and music stopping speech, Irons vs Spacey confrontation, and Spacey tries to quit scene
Brian Koppelman▶ 48:20The stoop scene where they bring Eric Dale back

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 54:322008 is obviously aged the worst because it's unbelievable that it happened

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 54:36The storytelling and impressive body of work that came after - books, movies, magazine articles, documentaries that captured the event correctly; the incredible use of the custodian in the elevator scene; Penn Badgley's career post-You
Brian Koppelman▶ 55:01Movies that take place in one night with massive decisions being made while people sleep as a metaphor for how we're unaware of decisions that will affect us; the three-dimensional portrayal of Demi Moore's character; Zachary Quinto's career transformation and credibility gained from this movie
Ryen Russillo▶ 56:51Goldman Sachs' share price performance (from $50 in 2008 to $426 peak, closed at $340) and the deeper conversation about Goldman as a bank that made the right calls before 2008

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:36The corporate dining room when Irons is eating his steak - the big, empty, awesome dining room with views of the entire city and one guy eating by himself

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:17Kevin Spacey's baggage from real-life controversies affecting the viewing experience, and The Big Short overshadowing this film's impact
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:03:45Agrees with Spacey being problematic due to real-life baggage, though notes it somewhat fits since he's playing a morally bankrupt character
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:02:42The overnight driving through the city scene where Penn says 'these people have no idea' - feels weaker compared to how The Big Short handled similar themes

Ron Burgundy Flute Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:03When Penn Badgley is crying - can leave for about 75 seconds during the crying and shaving scene
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:04:13Agrees with Bill's pick but likes the shaving part of the scene, acknowledges it's a valid 75-second bathroom break

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:33Come back, take the money. You'll be home by five.

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:46I like this movie more than The Big Short - it's a better, more satisfying, more rewatchable movie
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:08:12This is one of the 10 best movies of the last 15 years
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:08:19If this movie comes out in 2022, Demi Moore's character becomes Jeremy Irons (the hero), not the scapegoat - they wouldn't make the one woman the head that rolls

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:32No overacting found - everybody was pretty understated
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:10:45No overacting - performances are perfect, even big moments are earned because of the stakes
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:11:10No overacting found - looked for it but didn't see it

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:49Shot in 17 days, 80% on 42nd floor of One Penn Plaza vacated by trading firm, Jeremy Irons visa issues required U.S. senators' help during July 4th weekend (thanked in credits), and Eric Dale made math error saying 559,020 days instead of 5.59 million days

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:44Zachary Quinto — Kinto (producer/star) and possibly Paul Bettany, but notes Bettany's Avengers work might be his actual peak
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:17:08Paul Bettany — Paul Bettany (became a true leading man) and J.C. Chandor (became A-list director)
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:17:42Zachary Quinto — Discusses difficulty of the category, mentions Kinto played Spock well but doesn't definitively commit to any pick

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:51Discussed multiple options: Margin Call, Picky Nets, and liked Brian's 'John Told' suggestion
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:18:57John Told

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:46Philip Baker Hall — Philip Baker Hall as a new character in the background during the layoff scene at the beginning
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:25:55Philip Baker Hall — Philip Baker Hall as Sam's father in a flashback

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:03J.C. Chandor — JC

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Brian Koppelman▶ 1:27:13How long does Spacey stay at the firm? He thinks Spacey stays for 10 years and never leaves, dies at his desk
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:27:15How long does Spacey stay? At least five years, because his options are worthless now so he'll build them back up

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:49Wall Street
Brian Koppelman▶ 1:27:34The Wolf of Wall Street — Either Wolf of Wall Street or Sweet Smell of Success
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:27:40Bright Lights, Big City

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:24Talk to your kids

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:31J.C. Chandor — J.C. Chandor (director) wins, with Jeremy Irons as runner-up/silver medalist
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:31:15J.C. Chandor — J.C. Chandor - agrees with Bill's pick of the director

Movies Referenced (31)

Wall Street (1987)

17 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo▶ 1:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Big Short (2015)

10 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons▶ 5:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Drive (2011)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 31:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Limitless (2011)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman▶ 31:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Clayton (2007)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman▶ 24:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Boiler Room (2000)

3 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo▶ 25:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Match Point (2005)

2 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons▶ 11:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Company Men (2010)

2 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons▶ 24:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Very Bad Things (1998)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo▶ 1:18:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All Is Lost (2013)

1 mentions · Brian Koppelman▶ 33:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

Ben Affleck

5 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 24:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Younger

2 mentions · Brian Koppelman · Known for Boiler Room▶ 26:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

J.C. Chandor

1 mentions · Brian Koppelman · Known for Margin Call, All Is Lost▶ 5:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Costner

1 mentions · Brian Koppelman · Known for Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 24:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Berry

1 mentions · Brian Koppelman▶ 1:20:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Stone

1 mentions · Brian Koppelman · Known for Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 26:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (41)

Kevin Spacey

28 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo · Known for L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty▶ 9:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stanley Tucci

20 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons · Known for Big Night, Spotlight▶ 6:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Penn Badgley

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo · Known for Easy A▶ 6:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeremy Irons

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo · Known for Dead Ringers, The Lion King, Assassin's Creed▶ 9:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Bettany

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman, Ryen Russillo▶ 7:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Simon Baker

15 mentions · Brian Koppelman, Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo · Known for Margin Call, The Devil Wears Prada▶ 7:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Demi Moore

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo · Known for Striptease, Indecent Proposal▶ 53:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jared Cohen

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman▶ 10:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Philip Baker Hall

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman · Known for Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Hard Eight▶ 1:25:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hanks

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman · Known for Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 1:12:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wells

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Brian Koppelman · Known for For Your Eyes Only▶ 24:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matthew McConaughey

3 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons · Known for Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, Magic Mike▶ 25:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Brian Koppelman

10 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Runaway Jury, Runner Runner, Michael Clayton▶ 1:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mark Bulow

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Molly's Game▶ 1:15:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 37:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Gordon Willis

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Godfather Part II▶ 59:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗