journal features

movie review - Inside Job

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2012.09.12

This is a documentary about the great financial crisis, narrated by Matt Damon. In a series of interesting interviews, the movie-maker extracts some interesting revelations about the people who let this happen. One of the members of the board of the Federal Reserve of New York (a board that is chronically under-staffed), for instance, decided to leave to "write a book" as the crisis unfolded. The interviewer is shut down by some of his interviewees along the way, but a clear picture of greed and corruption and mismanagement emerges. It's a coolly dispassionate take on events that should drive anyone to screaming fits. It moves from a background segment telling "How We Got Here" through the entire mess and lands at "Where We Are Now". I was very impressed by the research and preparation that went into each of the segments, and the narration by Damon adds a new dimension in highlighting the findings of the research. I can see why this documentary was awarded an Oscar.

[spoiler alert]

"Where We Are Now" is in deep shit, with an unresolved crisis still simmering. No one's been held accountable, so absolutely nothing will change. I mean, look out the window.

Strongly recommended.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering