Great movie for anyone interested in the housing bubble and subsequent financial crisis of '07-'08 -- and the sheer greed of the banking industry. Bale and Carell are notably excellent in their roles. Be aware, if you're looking for a movie with plenty of strong female characters, this isn't the one for you. Point being: this is a) based on a true story, and b) women aren't in an abundance in the world of trading and investment banking. Marisa Tomei portrays Carell's character's wife, although it's a relatively small role.