Why Are Few Good Movies Portray Finance Professionally Accurately and Comically?

Finance tends to be a subject that often gets polarized in popular culture – with characters typically portrayed as either wholly positive or exclusively negative. However, when it comes to finance movies, the balance of good and bad is not always clearly defined. This piece explores why there are so few good movies that strike the right balance between professional accuracy and comic relief, focusing on notable exceptions like 'Trading Places.'

Common Finance Movie Stereotypes

Let's take a look at why finance movies often fall into certain stereotypes. In many cases, these films tend to focus on issues of greed, corruption, and personal tragedy. A common theme is financial institutions or individuals engaging in dubious or illegal activities that result in the downfall or redemption for the protagonists. While these stories can be engaging, they often simplify a complex and nuanced field.

Popular Finance Movies and Their Characters

1. Wall Street (1987):

‘Wall Street’ featured a mix of characters, but overall, it was presented with a particular lens. The movie highlighted the seedy side of finance, with bad actors playing both the manipulative Gordon Gekko and the morally ambiguous character of Charles Heston. While a few like Martin Sheen tried to bring in some capricious positivity, the general tone was negative.

Similarities in Boiler Room (2000) and Wolf

2. Boiler Room (2000) - Wolf (2004):

‘Boiler Room’ is often compared to similar movies like ‘Wolf’ or ‘Door, in that they all present a gritty, morally questionable world of finance. These movies depict the world of stock brokers and traders as a domain of unscrupulous practices, with protagonists often leading their teams toward fraudulent activities.

Documentaries and Their Impact: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

3. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005):

This documentary delves into the collapse of Enron and the roles played by corporate executives. While it’s one of the best documentaries, the overall portrayal remains predominantly negative, highlighting the corrupt practices and downfall of the company and its leaders.

More Balanced Approaches

4. American Psycho (2000):

In ‘American Psycho,’ the main character is a consummate Wall Street professional who, in the course of the narrative, loses his mind. While he’s portrayed as morally and mentally flawed, the film also highlights societal pressures and the high-stakes world of finance.

Historical and Tragic Portrayals: Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and Too Big to Fail (2011)

5. Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and Too Big to Fail (2011): These films and documentaries are more focused on the societal and tragic aspects of major financial crises. They portray characters who make tragic decisions, often due to the complexity of the financial system.

A Side of Finance in Comedy

6. Trading Places (1983):

The 1983 comedy, 'Trading Places,' offers a refreshing take on finance. It provides not only a lighthearted view but also captures the essence of the industry's craziness and unpredictability in a way that is both humorous and accurate. In this movie, the players from the finance industry are depicted in a way that is both good and bad, with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd’s characters walking away with significant profits while the other side faces a margin call.

Fun Fact: Trading on inside information from the government wasn’t actually illegal when the movie was made. However, the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, often referred to as the ‘Volcker Rule,’ banned this practice under a provision known as the ‘Eddie Murphy Rule.

Conclusion

While finance movies often skew towards negative portrayals, there are notable exceptions that balance comedy with professional accuracy. 'Trading Places' stands out as an example of how finance can be depicted in a manner that is both entertaining and insightful. These films offer a more nuanced view of the industry, highlighting both the dark and bright sides of the world of finance.

Related Topics

For further reading, listen to the Great NPR interview on 'Trading Places.' This interview provides a deeper insight into the nuances of the movie and the financial world it represents.