ENRON, THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM

Director: Alex Gibney (notable minor TV, documentary work)
Starring: Documentary

This is not a particularly insightful documentary, nor is it an in-depth treatise of the Enron Scandal. It is, nonetheless a good primer, and a maddening discussion of the subject. Similar in vein to the Michael Moore films or Super Size Me (although not nearly as entertaining or as well done), this film is entirely an editorial on the topic. It focuses on the character of the individuals involved rather than the particulars of how they got away with it. The film is annoyed that this huge disaster took place, but it doesn’t seem to be nearly as interested in the fact that we let it take place. The film really should have been disturbed that the American people seem to have simply accepted this corruption as a cost of doing business. Why the people don’t really care about this problem is, I think, the subject of an even better film than this one. Personally, I find this affair to be an evil only a couple of notches below the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but apparently most people don't agree with me. This film treats it as a bad deal, and by simply documenting it, asserts that it is something we need to worry about. It doesn’t even touch on the great indifference of the people to the subject, however. In terms of the craft of making a movie, this film is very average across the board. As a topic, however, this story is enraging and astounding. I'll give a grade somewhere in the middle.

Standouts: The real story of the fraud at Enron.
Blowouts: The very, very average production and direction.

Grade: B

6/12/2005