Margin Call (film)

Margin Call is a 2011 American independent drama film written and directed by J. C. Chandor. The story takes place over a 36hour period at a large Wall Street investment bank and highlights the initial stages of the financial crisis of 200708. In focus are the actions taken by a group of employees during the subsequent financial collapse. The ensemble cast features Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.

Junior risk analyst Seth Bregman Penn Badgley, his more senior colleague Peter Sullivan Zachary Quinto, and trading desk head Will Emerson Paul Bettany watch as human resources staff of their nevernamed firm, along with building security, conduct an unannounced mass layoff right on their trading floor, at the start of an otherwise normal business day. One of the fired employees is Peter and Seths boss, Eric Dale Stanley Tucci, head of risk management on the floor. Dale attempts to tell his now former employer that the firm should look into what he has been working on, but the contracted human resources staff have no interest other than him quickly leaving the building. While Dale is being escorted out, he gives Peter a USB memory stick with a project he had been working on, telling him to be careful just as he boards the elevator.That night, Sullivan finishes Dales project and discovers that current volatility in the firms portfolio of mortgage backed securities will soon exceed the historical volatility levels of the positions. Because of excessive leverage, if the firms assets decrease byin value, the firm will suffer a loss greater than its market capitalization. He also discovers that, given the normal length of time that the firm holds such securities, this loss must occur. Sullivan alerts Emerson, who calls floor head Sam Rogers Kevin Spacey. ........

Source: Wikipedia