Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005 01:55 am
Slick companies
All of sudden, its great fun bashing big business
The political tide has shifted back to
’60-style disenchantment, which could open the door to a return of
activism in the movies. Some stars have always spoken their minds, but
moving the soapbox to the actual movies may have greater impact. Syriana, a tale of shenanigans
in the oil industry that stars George Clooney and Matt Damon, may be
fueling a new wave of films targeting corruption in big business. A few
films from recent years are also available. Big Oil is a good place to
start — about the only friends it has left live in the White House.
The Deal, a recent DVD
release, wants so badly to be a hard-hitting exposé on corruption in
the oil industry, but it comes up dry. Christian Slater plays an associate
of an investment firm who is hired by the almost-always-sinister Robert
Loggia to put together a shady merger. As a thriller, the plot is strictly
by-the-numbers. Well-placed sex scenes and car chases are thrown in to
relieve the boredom, but The Deal doesn’t offer any new insight into the oil
crisis.
The health hazards caused by the dumping of toxic
waste also offer a target for filmmakers. Erin
Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts in
her Oscar-winning role, has been the most successful of this subgenre,
despite its shallow treatment of a human tragedy. Roberts received the
brunt of the criticism, but her likable performance is the film’s
greatest asset. More substance should be expected from director Steve
Soderbergh. A Civil Action (1998) covered the same ground with far more depth and
honesty. John Travolta stars as a crusading lawyer who represents the
families of leukemia victims against a powerful leather company. Director
Steve Zaillian keeps everything realistic and logical. There are no
simplistic solutions here.
Documentaries often do a better job of exposing
corporate corruption and greed. Michael Moore, the progressive-activist
filmmaker, first gained attention by stalking Roger Smith, the CEO of
General Motors, in Roger & Me (1989). All Moore wanted to know was why GM closed plants
in Michigan. Apparently the question was too painful, but Moore treats
getting rebuffed by Smith and GM with great humor. Moore also makes a guest
appearance in The Corporation (2003), a detailed exposé on the history of
corporations and the harm they bring to the public. The film is a bit long
and sometimes tedious, but many of the facts are enlightening. Ironically,
corporations control the major studios, but greed always wins out over
image. If you will go, they will make it.
New releases on DVD on Tuesday (Dec. 20): Serenity, The Brothers Grimm, Must Love Dogs, Four Brothers, The Great Raid, Rebound, and Cry Wolf.
New releases on DVD on Tuesday (Dec. 20): Serenity, The Brothers Grimm, Must Love Dogs, Four Brothers, The Great Raid, Rebound, and Cry Wolf.
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