About Too Big To Fail (HBO)

"Too Big To Fail" is a 2011 American television drama film first broadcast on HBO. It is based on Andrew Ross Sorkin's non-fiction book "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves" (2009). The film deploys a close to real-life intense drama on the 2008 financial meltdown, focusing on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's efforts to prevent a major economic catastrophe.

Making/Production

The film is directed by Curtis Hanson, based on the screenplay by Peter Gould. Its production companies include HBO Films, Spring Creek Productions and Deuce Three Productions. Potential consequences of the housing and credit bubbles of the 2000s are vividly brought to light in the film, which makes it an essential part of understanding the financial crisis.

Actors

• William Hurt as Henry Paulson: Hurt plays the role of the U.S. Treasury Secretary navigating through the stormy waters of the 2008 financial crash. His portrayal of Paulson is one of calm amid chaos, a man doing his best to deal with an unprecedented economic disaster.
• Paul Giamatti as Ben Bernanke: Giamatti flawlessly takes on the role of the Federal Reserve Chairman, bringing forth the trepidation and urgency of the recession period.
• Billy Crudup as Timothy Geithner: Crudup interprets Geithner, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with a fine balance of dedication and apprehension.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The title of the film and book is derived from the idea that certain financial institutions are so large and interconnected that their failure would be disastrous for the greater economic system, and they must, therefore, be supported by government when they face potential failure.
• Topher Grace, who played Jim Wilkinson, Treasury Chief of Staff, said that the most challenging part of preparing for his role was understanding and then explaining the financial elements of the script.

Awards

The film was nominated for 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Television Movie, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Actor (Paul Giamatti). Additionally, it was nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards and it won a 2012 Producers Guild Award.

Quotes

• "Do you feel better now, knowing what's coming? How scared are you?" - William Hurt as Henry Paulson
• "I've got news for you... Wall Street has stopped worrying about the economy. They're saving themselves now." - Ed Asner as Warren Buffett

Music, Soundtrack

• The film score of "Too Big to Fail" was composed by Marcelo Zarvos, whose music subtly accentuated the tension and action in the financial drama.
• The soundtrack features iconic Wall Street ambience tunes that set the stage for the plot's unraveling.