MARGIN CALL Finally Gets Its Due At Spirit Awards

MARGIN CALL, a first feature by J.C. Chandor which offers a dramatic exploration of the personalities who forced America’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, has not gotten the love during awards season that I think it deserved. While the film is nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar this evening, it did not score in any of the other categories, including nods to its enterprising director or some of its stand out cast (e.g. Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto). However, the film did some much needed attention at the Independent Spirit Awards, winning both the Best First Film prize and the Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble Cast. This is a film that was largely discovered by audiences after its much too brief theatrical release on VOD platforms but one that was a highlight of my film year. Nice to see it finally get some of its due as a true American indie milestone.

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