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Best movies on monstrous business meltdowns
News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:18 PM EDT
Article Source: msnbc.comadvertisement
Greed. Scandal. Revenge.
These are some themes that can bring down big companies, as captured by Hollywood. The greedy '80s prompted a slew of films about corporations that went kaput, and the rise and fall of real-life firms like Enron Corp. have also inspired filmmakers. Will Lehman Bros.'s bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch's sale to Bank of America and American Insurance Group's bailout by the U.S. government make the silver screen?
Newsviners: What goes on your list of best movies on business meltdowns? Surprised by any films that made our list? Notice any parallels between these movies and the recent turmoil on Wall Street?
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{"commentId":3148699,"authorDomain":"traceman2000"}
Glenn Gary Glenn Ross was on e of the best movies about the real estate industry. Given the effect of the real estate and mortgage business on today's econimic meltdown, this should definitely be on the list.
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#1 - Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:20 PM EDT{"commentId":3149190,"authorDomain":"christy-sanford"}
Everyone should see Rollover, with Jane Fonda and Kris Kristofferson.
This is a B-movie with a chilling prescient theme--very important to see and understand. It's about what happens when the US can't pay its debts.
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#2 - Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:43 PM EDT{"commentId":3207632,"authorDomain":"faranya2"}
I remember waking up the morning after I saw Rollover on television and I don't think I've ever been so depressed in my life. Even now, when I think of financial meltdowns, I vividly remember the final scenes of violence and despair as the world's financial backbone crumbled. It may or may not have been a B movie, but it was very intense and accurate in its portrayal.
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{"commentId":3164977,"authorDomain":"pcwright77"}
I was going to add Rollover, also. I disagree that it was a B movie. It was a main stream movie with big stars.
It's as relevant today as it was in the eighties when interest rates were skyrocketing, fuel was setting records and real estate wasn't selling.
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#3 - Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:54 AM EDT{"commentId":3173620,"authorDomain":"pat-young1"}
The Hudsucker Proxy.
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#4 - Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:33 PM EDT{"commentId":3185926,"authorDomain":"ventsvrai"}
Other People's Money - Also giving us a clue as to how the Wall Street gamblers with nothing to lose personally are manipulating the fortunes of those who work hard and invest themselves into building something real.
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#5 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 1:18 PM EDT{"commentId":3193098,"authorDomain":"esehomes1"}
so
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#6 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:59 PM EDT{"commentId":3193347,"authorDomain":"esehomes1"}
Put me down for "The Grapes of Wrath". I loved this movie of the poor shmucks who lost everything that they ever had dreamed of and the real heroes of AMERICAN society laughing, just like this picture of Pelosi and Franks, as a matter of fact, as they cry out to the huddled masses" The party is over"!
Well of course they mean our dream party, NOT their party. HO, HO, HO, OH NO!! Not their party (Democrats and Republicans) Since the beginning of time, it's been "let the suckers play with the money for a while, then we will call it back in". Sure, just ask the "certain group" who owns the Federal Reserve. Their "people" have controlled the money bags since before Judas. When asked if we should pay taxes, Jesus said, It is not yours, give unto Caesar what belongs to the man. I quit paying taxes,and I don't collect a pay check.( but I get paid) I don't own a TV, a car(scooter-man), a telephone and I am a full time student at age 59. I used to, but I don't anymore. I can now see from a distance, what real fools we all are! Quit 'cher biatchin and get out of that house, Ma'am. Take your kids and that goofy useless husband of yours, also!
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#7 - Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:17 PM EDT{"commentId":3216664,"authorDomain":"despard1"}
I recently saw the uncut version of "American Psycho" and even with all the gore and insanity it had me laughing out loud. It is the perfect nutso send-off of the excess that was so evident in the 80s (the people in this movie reminded me of several guys and gals I worked for at a lawfirm in Seattle in 1985/86).
On a somber note, it would appear that the excesses never went away, just went underground. And now it's time to pay the piper, folks.
{"commentId":3216664,"threadId":"369653","contentId":"1913019","authorDomain":"despard1"}
- 1 vote
#8 - Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:00 PM EDT{"commentId":3231804,"authorDomain":"batcavz"}
What about The Godfather? When one senior executive (Don Vito Corleone) of a privately held major corporation (The Mafia) decides to veto a business proposal (selling heroin) that the rest of his partners are anxious to do, all hell breaks loose. Eventually the partnership enters into the business deal but not before an up and coming young executive (Michael Corleone) decides to clean house by initiating a hostile takeover from within and diversifying business operations into a new territory (Las Vegas). How many times does someone say "It's not personal, it's just business."
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- 1 vote
#9 - Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:24 PM EDT{"commentId":3240227,"authorDomain":"wallyworld"}
Does anyone remember Soylent Green? Where the masses (poor) NO MIDDLE CLASS were barely surviving? The rich were living in high rises with guards protecting them. I know it is far fetched (I'm a Sci Fi fan and much has come true. Is it possible???? Me thinks "Nothing is impossible". Just food for thought
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- 1 vote
#10 - Wed Oct 1, 2008 11:50 AM EDT{"commentId":3241082,"authorDomain":"pmaneri"}
How about "Tucker: The Man and His Dream". True story about Preston Tucker who re-invented the car after WWII only to be crushed by the 'big three'. It had all the safety features we have now like Disc Brakes and Seat Belts, etc. Even Howard Hughes offers help to Tucker.
Speaking of Hughes, what about "The Aviator"? Hughes didn't quite go down completely but the gov't. sure pounded him as well.
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#11 - Wed Oct 1, 2008 12:25 PM EDT{"commentId":3260422,"authorDomain":"ssanc2002"}
What about Network?
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#12 - Thu Oct 2, 2008 12:17 PM EDT{"commentId":3494657,"authorDomain":"mark-69"}
I think Startup.com was one of the best. It tracked the whole history of a startup, from creation to bust.
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#13 - Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:05 PM EDT{"commentId":3765613,"authorDomain":"stephw"}
I cannot believe Glengarry Glen Ross was left off the list. Outshines every movie on the list, which is saying a lot! Too many Oscar winners to list!
Best Quote:
: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.
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#14 - Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:30 PM EDT{"commentId":9406628,"authorDomain":"brianmanson"}
I'm surprised "Owning Mahowny" with Phillip Seymour Hoffmann was left off the list. depressing as can be, sure, but based on a true story. A young up-and-coming bank manager in Toronto has a rep as a workaholic who is also great with customers. Very successful. However, he is siphoning money from clients' accounts and flying to Atlantic City each weekend, where his losses are growing and growing. It's a great story of addiction, gambling, and even has a little business in it! Best of all, it's based on a true story.
Oh, and I LOVED the "Godfather" write-up above. Fantastic job.
And I'll have to rent "Rollover" soon!
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#15 - Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:54 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"369653","isPrivate":false}
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