Equity * * * *

Poor Anna Gunn. Not many people liked her character, Skylar in Breaking Bad and it’s hard to like her in this.

Anna Gunn as "Outta my way" Naomi

   But it’s not her fault.  In fact it’s a testimony to how good an actress she is.  Anna Gunn plays her roles so convincingly you almost forget she’s probably quite a nice person in real life and she’s just acting.  Skylar was the spoilsport of Breaking Bad, and in this film Anna Gunn plays a ruthless self-serving corporate ego maniac called Naomi.

   Mind you, she’s not alone.  No one else in this film is particularly decent or likeable.  Treachery is rife.

   Money films have always made good drama from Wall Street to Margin Call to The Big Short and many more besides.  Like films based on Police or Politics, Money makes a good backdrop.

   Equity is a different Money film though, in that all the key players are women.  (It is also produced and directed by women).  

   Anna Gunn plays Naomi, a senior investment manager with a history of success - until her last deal which went terribly wrong and hangs around her like a bad smell.  Now she has another opportunity.  But things aren’t exactly going to plan on this one either.

   She’s an interesting lead character because rather than rooting for her we cannot help but take some  pleasure in watching her fail.  She’s not outright evil or dishonest, she’s just a rather unpleasant person: arrogant, rude, bombastic, disrespectful, pushy and somewhat condescending.  Ironically she has all the traits of many a man in the same position. Traits which some might find admirable in a man. It's hard to ignore the irony.

   Her loyal, under-acknowledged, PA Erin demonstrates the skill to secure the deal that Naomi needs so badly.  The investment bank is raising funds to set the IPO for shares in a new social media company (a bit like Facebook) run by a hip CEO who relates to Erin more than anyone else.

   But rather than having the decency to thank or praise Erin for virtually saving the day  Naomi merely puts more pressure on her and suggests if it goes wrong Erin will be responsible.

   As the film unfolds Naomi is getting more people than Erin offside. She seems to be rubbing everyone up the wrong way including her boss,  investors, the client and her boyfriend Michael from the same firm - a conniving man who tends to forget his ethics from time to time.

   She has also crossed swords with an old acquaintance Samantha who works for the Federal Prosecutor as a corporate watchdog and is charged with monitoring the transaction Naomi is putting together.

   Although Naomi is the principal character this is the story of three women in the corporate world. We are given insight into Erin and Samantha and their own career challenges and ambitions, including that glass ceiling that exists for women, along with the biological challenge of pregnancy and raising children when pursuing a career.

   Equity has an impressive ambience.  For the most part it comes across as absolutely credible.  It never seems preachy or looks contrived even when the women are mimicking that which we expect to see men doing in in Money films - expensive bars, corporate limousines, long hours, beautiful apartments, tantrums and obscenely large salaries. Along with backstabbing and duplicitous maneuvering.

  Equity is an intelligent well crafted film with a satisfying “Of course!” ending.