The Wizard of Lies (dir. Barry Levinson).

What a devastating and completely engrossing family portrait of the consequences of American wealth. Levinson’s dramatization of the real-life events surrounding the 2008 Madoff investment scandal is impeccably executed. Robert De Niro’s performance as Bernie Madoff is sensationally understated yet effectively brash in its deep complexity.

The seamless way the acting, editing, and movement of the film’s script unfolds its action truly gets across the totality of public and private drama such a criminal endeavour took in all of its messiness without the usual ticks of adaptation in filmmaking. It’s also a superbly made dissection of high society.