My favorite quote from the movie, from Jeremy Irons as the CEO, to the analyst played by Zachary Quinto: "Maybe you could tell me what you think is going on here, and please, speak as you might to a young child, or a golden retriever. It wasn't brains that got me here, I assure you that."
One of the reasons I first saw this movie was in the hopes it would explain what happened in an understandable way, and it delivered. Perhaps it oversimplified things, but I'm one of those types whose brain is easily fried by economics.