50 DTSBYD: #37 Inside Job

Part of my 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die Challenge. 

Ever wonder why the current economic climate sucks?  Watch "Inside Job".  It is a thorough, exhaustive, and meticulous look at run-up to the financial meltdown of 2008.  Or, watch the Frontline episode "Inside the Meltdown," which covers the same material in less time, but without Matt Damon.  

This doesn't make it a bad documentary.  If anything, this is a compliment to PBS, who turned their episode around faster.  With the longer deadline, the long-form documentary can excel in the ability to spend additional time researching and providing additional context.  The filmmakers were able to line up and amazing assortment of interviews from the first responders to the crisis, and to step back and analyze the situation from a global perspective.  

Anyone who wants to discuss financial deregulation as a campaign talking point needs to watch this film if they want to be taken seriously.  I'd like every Republican candidate to watch and understand this film, but I'm sure they'll keep pushing the deregulation agenda that got us into this mess.  Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain - I'm talking to you.