Review: INSIDE JOB

Many documentaries have a problem in that by the the time they are completed their subject matter is not current. Such is not the case with Charles Ferguson’s look at the banking crisis INSIDE JOB. Just coming off a heated election, bail outs have been in the public eye for some time. The film covers the economic scandals from just a few months ago.

Strangely enough, the film opens with a look at the economy of Iceland in 2000. The problems unleashed there by privatizing the banks were a warning call that the rest of the world seemed to ignore. Like his fellow documentarian Michael Moore, Ferguson believes most of the problems began with the economic policies of the Reagan administration. In the 80’s many restrictions were lifted from banks and soon investment firms were doubling and tripling in size.  Several of the investment firm executives went on to work for the government and made sure that no regulations could be put into place. Eventually the rise of derivative trading would lead to the foreclosures that reduced towns to Hooverville-like tent communities. After the collapse of the firms, many execs went right to jobs in academia and as consultants to government.

Ferguson keeps the film moving at a good clip aided by the steady narration of actor Matt Damon and the frequent use of news footage and simple graphic images and charts. After hearing these terms in the news it’s great to have them explained in a clear manner. Unfortunately many of the people most mentioned(Hank Paulson, Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Tim Geitner) did not consent ot be interviewed. The main interviewees are shot as standard talking heads and are identified. They even talk to a  woman who ran an escort service about her many clients at Wall Street. Some verbal fireworks are provided late in the film when a former Bush advisor is asked about a possible conflict of interest[“You have three minutes sir, take your best shot!]This is not to say that the film is slanted to the left. Many of these advisers and consultants seem to go with both the GOP and Democratic administrations. It seems that the vast banking lobby is too much for either party to resist. All in all Ferguson has done a fine job on shining a light on a complicated issue affecting us all. You may feel a bit frustrated, but you’ll be more aware and informed.

Overall Rating: Four out of Five Stars