As the 2008 financial crisis loomed, frantic efforts to save the US from economic collapse happened in secret. VICE News explores the untold stories of powerful people leading the way.As the 2008 financial crisis loomed, frantic efforts to save the US from economic collapse happened in secret. VICE News explores the untold stories of powerful people leading the way.As the 2008 financial crisis loomed, frantic efforts to save the US from economic collapse happened in secret. VICE News explores the untold stories of powerful people leading the way.
- Awards
- 1 win total
Gary Ackerman
- Self - US Representative from New York (D)
- (archive footage)
Jill Biden
- Self - Wife of Joe Biden
- (archive footage)
Joe Biden
- Self - US Vice President
- (archive footage)
Lloyd Blankfein
- Self - CEO, Goldman Sachs
- (archive footage)
John Boehner
- Self - Speaker, US House of Representatives (R)
- (archive footage)
Joshua Bolten
- Self - White House Chief of Staff
- (as Josh Bolten)
Jim Bunning
- Self - US Senator from Kentucky (R)
- (archive footage)
Tom Carper
- Self - US Senator from Delaware (D)
- (archive footage)
Elijah Cummings
- Self - US Representative from Maryland (D)
- (archive footage)
Alistair Darling
- Self - British Chancellor of the Exchequer
- (archive footage)
Featured reviews
Sorry but this isn't a documentary, it's BS propaganda that wants to say: we saved you, with your money!
Really professional documentary with all the key players involved, certainly giving me an insight into the motivations and hard work behind keeping the US and probably the world economy afloat.
However...what was disappointing was the lack of challenge to the actions that took place, the lack of a counter view. All we got was the acknowledgement that they realised their actions were unpopular, but they maintained they were necessary.
The government, financial watchdogs and banks caused the recession due to a combination of actions. Successive governments starting with Reagan and leading to the present day have removed the "checks and balances" that were in place to prevent another depression. Where are the consequences for these people?
Unfortunately, in the end we only got the perspective of the people that caused this crisis and how they went about trying to fix it.
There were other options; how about nationalising the banks to ensure credit was lent to businesses (I know the US is irrationally against any form of socialism, but this was a viable option). A recession is not caused by the banks going bankrupt, it was caused by the lack of "credit" being available to businesses and people, so resolve that issue, rather than just keeping the guilty people in a job and maintaining a morally corrupt system.
Anyway, it was a well-made documentary, just too one sided and no real challenging questions were put to the people who caused the problem.
The government, financial watchdogs and banks caused the recession due to a combination of actions. Successive governments starting with Reagan and leading to the present day have removed the "checks and balances" that were in place to prevent another depression. Where are the consequences for these people?
- How can any system & country be in a situation where a private company can destroy the economy and create misery for millions?
- Why weren't measures and controls in place to ensure this didn't happen?
- Why weren't all the management removed for all the companies involved?
- What measures are now in place?
- What retrospective actions has or is happening to hold the banking system accountable for the misery they created?
Unfortunately, in the end we only got the perspective of the people that caused this crisis and how they went about trying to fix it.
There were other options; how about nationalising the banks to ensure credit was lent to businesses (I know the US is irrationally against any form of socialism, but this was a viable option). A recession is not caused by the banks going bankrupt, it was caused by the lack of "credit" being available to businesses and people, so resolve that issue, rather than just keeping the guilty people in a job and maintaining a morally corrupt system.
Anyway, it was a well-made documentary, just too one sided and no real challenging questions were put to the people who caused the problem.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?! Give the money directly to Wall Street! Simply hilarious, I laughed continuously at the hidden humor throughout this documentary, it was a blast! I had to score this at 9 simply due to the level of persons interviewed in the making of this documentary. A calling card such as HBO is a really powerful hand, which clearly has the juice to attract the leaders of the free world and those involved. A true inside look into the perspectives of those involved and the inner workings of the government personnel surrounding this situation. Of all the documentaries on this subject (which you should watch), this is the definitive one.
This Documentary is made as good as you can make it about a very big problem that was felt all around the world. What is more important then the artistic perspection is the story, and for those of us who care (US or non- US), to know how the crysis started, and how efforts were put in to downsize it's effects!
It's presented from the inside, from the Government's perspective, and if you put politics and masses psychology aside, you will get a real feel about the effects of the actions that some people make for the greater good.
I thought this documentary was a great re-telling and explanation of all the moving parts of the '08 financial crisis. Having the key players interviewed and explain their thought processes was a good way to tell the story.
The obligatory Holly-weird anti-Trump nonsense at the end of the film was wholly unnecessary and seemed beyond oddly out of place. But, what else can we expect from Holly-weird these days than to blame anything on Trump.
Aside from the absurd connection of Trump to the '08 financial crisis, the film was very good.
The obligatory Holly-weird anti-Trump nonsense at the end of the film was wholly unnecessary and seemed beyond oddly out of place. But, what else can we expect from Holly-weird these days than to blame anything on Trump.
Aside from the absurd connection of Trump to the '08 financial crisis, the film was very good.
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Too Big to Fail (2011)
Details
- Runtime
- 1h 36m(96 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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