Movie Rec/Education Post: Volatility Indexes VIX, MOVE and SPIKE
Volatility Indexes VIX, MOVE and SPIKE
Index
I. Movie Rec
II. VIX Education
Movie Review
Today, since it’s Friday, and I take breaks from trading on Fridays, I am going to be using my Friday posts for things I don’t typically write on, but enjoy writing about. So you get to experience the ole wiz in a creative outlet. What’s better than that? lol. Additionally, I spent a lot of time putting together an educational post on the volatility index lower, I strongly recommend reading it even if you are familiar because I bet you there are a lot of things in there you didn’t know. Finally, before I go farther, we tried filming the pod and got distracted, we are going to record one tonight, and release 2 podcasts tomorrow as a special weekend treat.
Well enough asides, today, I am going to cover Up in the Air with George Clooney and Anna Kendrick (before she was big time in pitch perfect)
To give a sort of basic summary and plot for those who haven’t seen it, Up in the Air is from 2009 and stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing consultant who travels the country firing people. Ryan is a loner who enjoys the freedom of his job and the lifestyle that it affords him. He has no permanent home and no close relationships.
The movie really starts with Ryan being assigned to train a new employee, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), who is enthusiastic about her new job. Natalie is a tech-savvy millennial who believes that firings can be done more efficiently through video conferencing. Ryan is initially resistant to Natalie's ideas, but he eventually comes to see the value in them.
As Ryan and Natalie travel together, they begin to develop a friendship. Ryan is drawn to Natalie's youthful exuberance and her willingness to challenge his way of thinking. Natalie is drawn to Ryan's experience and his worldliness.
The film culminates in a conference where Ryan is to give a presentation on his work. Ryan is initially reluctant to give the presentation, but he eventually agrees. In his presentation, Ryan talks about the importance of human connection and the dangers of technology. He also talks about the importance of finding a balance between work and life.
The film ends with Ryan and Natalie parting ways. Ryan is now a changed man. He has realized that he needs to make some changes in his life. He has decided to give up his nomadic lifestyle and settle down. He has also decided to start a relationship with Natalie (which in retrospect, doesn’t hold up that well nowadays, but c’est la vie).
Up in the Air is a film about the changing nature of work and the importance of human connection. For me, it is a film that is both funny and thought-provoking in a challenging and sobering way. I think because of that, and because of the amazing cinematography in it, it is a film that stays with you long after you’ve seen it.
Some of the themes of the film included:
The changing nature of work
The importance of human connection
The dangers of technology
The importance of finding a balance between work and life
My biggest tip of the hat is to the filming of the movie. The director and cinematographer purposefully use the beautiful shots of scenery and peace to directly contrast with the actions of the characters, who are destroying people’s individual lives. So from one perspective, high up in the air, everything is peaceful and serene, but upon closer inspection, there is pure chaos in both the main characters lives but also the lives they come to fire.
Overall, the movie is good and worth watching at least once. I’d give it at least 3.7 wands out of 5 wands.