The documentary movie "Floored" is about future traders in Chicago. Being a trader in the trading pit is a tough life. Lots of stress. Wealthy one minute, poor the next.
Historically, futures trading has been carried out much like an auction. You probably have seen images of traders before. Men packed side by side in funny looking jackets screaming at one another. Within the last decade or so much of that very personal 'call out' form of bidding on futures or stocks or bonds, etc has become computerized. Men now trade on a computer screen in comfortable offices. The film "Floored" focuses on largely on the difficult challenges the rough and tumble pit floor traders are having making the transition 'upstairs' to the offices with computerized trading.
The film was pretty interesting but I thought it fell a bit short of its mark, whatever that was. It did a decent job of explaining what exactly happens on the floor but I thought the movie could have benefited with just a bit more information.
There are plenty of hard scrabble, interesting personalities in the film, but it would have been nice to learn a little more about their own story. For example, there's a scene of a completely intoxicated former trader talking about the life of trading while sitting barefoot on his pool table. He drunkenly talks about the incredible money that traders make and their sexual exploits. He is a total character and clearly a loose cannon. The scene starts out fascinating enough but when asked why he no longer trades, the director suddenly cuts to another scene. The film is filled with gaps such as this.
The second half of the film is filled with traders complaining they can't learn how to use a computer. Haven't we seen this before? You can't teach an old dog new tricks, blah, blah, blah. The "old dog" thing could be interesting but nothing comes of it but a bunch of whining from the traders who don't want the office life. It is during this time I began to think to myself, "Quit your crying and learn the freaking computer already." After all, it is a job (albeit a financially risky one) so get out there and figure it out.
Overall, as I love documentaries, I didn't hate "Floored" I was glad I watched it. The problem with the film is I really can't come up with a reason to tell someone else to watch it. I didn't really get anything out of this film.
Floored
2009
77 Minutes
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Another Interesting End of the World Film
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Denzel Washington - Can He Catch A Runaway Train?
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Historically, futures trading has been carried out much like an auction. You probably have seen images of traders before. Men packed side by side in funny looking jackets screaming at one another. Within the last decade or so much of that very personal 'call out' form of bidding on futures or stocks or bonds, etc has become computerized. Men now trade on a computer screen in comfortable offices. The film "Floored" focuses on largely on the difficult challenges the rough and tumble pit floor traders are having making the transition 'upstairs' to the offices with computerized trading.
The film was pretty interesting but I thought it fell a bit short of its mark, whatever that was. It did a decent job of explaining what exactly happens on the floor but I thought the movie could have benefited with just a bit more information.
There are plenty of hard scrabble, interesting personalities in the film, but it would have been nice to learn a little more about their own story. For example, there's a scene of a completely intoxicated former trader talking about the life of trading while sitting barefoot on his pool table. He drunkenly talks about the incredible money that traders make and their sexual exploits. He is a total character and clearly a loose cannon. The scene starts out fascinating enough but when asked why he no longer trades, the director suddenly cuts to another scene. The film is filled with gaps such as this.
The second half of the film is filled with traders complaining they can't learn how to use a computer. Haven't we seen this before? You can't teach an old dog new tricks, blah, blah, blah. The "old dog" thing could be interesting but nothing comes of it but a bunch of whining from the traders who don't want the office life. It is during this time I began to think to myself, "Quit your crying and learn the freaking computer already." After all, it is a job (albeit a financially risky one) so get out there and figure it out.
Overall, as I love documentaries, I didn't hate "Floored" I was glad I watched it. The problem with the film is I really can't come up with a reason to tell someone else to watch it. I didn't really get anything out of this film.
Floored
2009
77 Minutes
Please Read Some of These Other Posts By Me
Barneys Version - Paul Giamatti's Anti-Hero Role Reviewed Here
True Grit - Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon Better Than John Wayne? Learn Here
Threads - A Very Harrowing and Exception Nuclear War Film
Another Interesting End of the World Film
Argentina = Intelligent Cop Film? You Bet!
Denzel Washington - Can He Catch A Runaway Train?
Black Swan - I don't Care if You Hate Ballet - Watch It!
Another End of The World Movie That You'll Love - Click Here
