Kiplinger lists eight (the headline says "10" because two extras are added in the descriptions of the others) great movie rentals that will pay you back (along with what you'll learn) as follows:
- MAXED OUT: HARD TIMES, EASY CREDIT AND THE ERA OF PREDATORY LENDING (2006)
- CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC (2009)
- MR. BLANDING BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948)
- ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (2005)
- WORKING GIRL (1988)
- THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
- MILDRED PIERCE (1945)
- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1947)
I guess the 40's were a time of financial education in film, huh? ;-)
Of all of these, I've only seen "It's a Wonderful Life" (which we seem to watch every year.) But looking at the list, both "Maxed Out" and "Enron" look good. After seeing this list, I went to my library's website and checked them both out. I'll let you know if anything new/interesting results from watching them.
Anyone out there have anything else to add to the list? Sure, there are lots of movies about money ("Wall Street", "Trading Places", and so on), but what movies can REALLY teach something about money?
Maxed out was terrible, it painted defaulting borrowers as victims and pulled heart string by parading Moms who lost their kids to suicide (blamed on debt of course).
Posted by: Traciatim | January 15, 2010 at 07:34 AM
Traciatim --
I wrote this post awhile ago and have seen the movie in the meantime. I have to agree. I may do a full post on it later.
Posted by: FMF | January 15, 2010 at 07:44 AM
I've heard good things about the Enron movie. I'd love to see Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House. Working Girl is enjoyable but fluff.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is excellent. It's one of the best movies ever. Seriously. Your library probably has it (if not, they should); go check it out now.
Posted by: cmadler | January 15, 2010 at 08:46 AM
I read "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and wouldn't recommend it despite the fact that most of my friends loved it. Maybe I read too many PF blogs, but I don't find compulsive overspending to particularly funny or cute, nor do I think it's realistic to get yourself in deep debt and then get out of it by marrying rich and magically getting your big break in your career.
I haven't seen the movie, but I must admit I'm curious...
Posted by: Beth | January 15, 2010 at 08:57 AM
The Enron movie is astounding, especially since it seems to be happening repeatedly in our country. In the same vein but funnier is "Fun with Dick and Jane". It reminds me to keep an eye on expenses and the horizon. Things can change overnight.
Posted by: Gina | January 15, 2010 at 09:35 AM
@cmadler and FMF -- Treasure of Sierra Madre is one of the top 10 best movies ever. Bogey at his best.
Posted by: texashaze | January 15, 2010 at 09:42 AM
"who killed the electric car" is a great one as well.
Posted by: D | January 15, 2010 at 09:53 AM
I never read "Confessions of a Shopaholic" but I saw the movie. I liked it. Yes, she's a shopaholic who ends up with a rich guy at the end. BUT in the movie she gets herself out of credit card debt before hooking up witht he guy by selling off her stock pile of clothing, shoes, and purses. She realized she was an addict and actively changed her habits. I thought it was a movie that needed to be seen by a few people I know...
Posted by: Crystal | January 15, 2010 at 10:16 AM
@Crystal -- LOL I love it! My wife said the same thing!
Posted by: texashaze | January 15, 2010 at 10:38 AM
This video says it all!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-12-2010/clusterf--k-to-the-poor-house---wall-street-bonuses
Posted by: Old Limey | January 15, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I'd recommend "The Sting", "The Grifters" and "House of Games" as reminders of how not to be taken by con-men.
Posted by: Jeff | January 15, 2010 at 11:43 AM
@Old Limey - why did you have to post that? It's too depressing. So much for our politicians promise to clean things up.
Posted by: texashaze | January 15, 2010 at 11:58 AM
I saw the Enron one, it was pretty good.
Posted by: Jim | January 15, 2010 at 12:20 PM
FMF - You often profess the 'value' of other aspects in life that contribute to, or that can pave the way for financial success. To that end, I would recommend "Fireproof" for working on committed relationships.
Any other thoughts on films that might offer us other lessons that would contribute towards financial success?
On a separate, but related note, I think all the news we've seen about the devistation in Haiti offers us an opportunity to learn (maybe from ourselves if we participate) the value of charitable giving.
Posted by: John Z | January 15, 2010 at 12:55 PM
@Beth,
Totally agree abour shopaholic. Couldn't stand the book, probably from reading too many pf blogs. But the movie was actually much better and actually entertaining and Crystal's synopsis is right on point. White knight swept in on his horse to save her after the fact.
Posted by: Becca | January 15, 2010 at 01:42 PM
Mr. Blanding builds his dream house, if it's the one I'm thinking of, is awesome. Man goes into wilderness and builds a log cabin from scratch and then furnishes home from scratch as well. Pays for nails and a few metal odds and ends. Everything else, including spoons, hinges etc. are all built from wood. It's an amazing piece on the ingenuity of people before they could pick out a pre-fab house and watch it be built almost from a kit.
Mr. Blanding lives in the Alaskan wilderness in the home he built until he was very old - I think he was in his 80's. It's a great story, I highly recommend it.
Posted by: Jenny Peterson | January 15, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Treasure of the Sierra Madre is my favorite movie. Very good. Go see it if you haven't.
Posted by: Morp | January 15, 2010 at 06:22 PM
Enjoyed the Enron movie...also like the Ultimate Gift, teaches good lessons on work ethic and more important things in life than money (although money is the central theme)
Posted by: AZnOUT | January 16, 2010 at 01:13 AM
The "Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House" I saw is a Cary Grant movie about a professional man, living in the city with his family who buys a house in the country. He does practically everything wrong and it turns out to be a money pit. In 1948, of course, everything works out, mostly. It was a good cautionary tale on home buying.
Posted by: AZJoe | January 16, 2010 at 01:14 AM
We are supposed to be living in the golden age of documentaries, so there are some great ones. Traciatim and you, FMF, are right about Maxed Out, though. Banks have behaved pretty shockingly, but it's not like they are breaking into homes and forcing credit cards and student loans down people's throats.
If you only see one documentary this year, I highly recommend A Crude Awakening, even though it is a few years old now. But be warned: you may wistfully long for the days you never heard of Peak Oil after watching it. Go to http://www.oilcrashmovie.com for a preview. If you are intrigued, begin checking in with chrismartenson.com each day, for the Daily Digest if nothing else.
Posted by: Dave S | January 16, 2010 at 01:20 AM
See "Other people's money" (1991).
Posted by: jane | January 17, 2010 at 03:58 AM
"I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt."
I saw it in the theater - not fiction at all, but a documentary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.O.U.S.A.
I need to watch it again, actually; I'm curious to see how dated some of the commentary is now (this came out prior to the collapse in 2008).
Posted by: Rod Ferguson | January 18, 2010 at 08:08 AM