The Corporation (2004)

Average rating

(70%)

Starring:	Noam Chomsky \| Naomi Klein \| Michael Moore \| Mikela J. Mikael (Pres / Narr)
Director:	Jennifer Abbott, Mark Achbar
Studio:	METRODOME DISTRIBUTION
Run time:	144 mins
Genres:	Documentary
Languages:	English
Hearing-impaired:	English
Released:	March 07, 2005
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Documentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott's epic documentary looks at American big business and the power it wields. Scripted by Joel Bakan from his book, The Corporation: the Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, it tackles everything from the protection afforded corporations in the US constitution, the bullying tactics of multinationals and the “nag factor” built into children's television advertising. The anti-capitalist agenda is readily evident, but with executives from the likes of Shell and Goodyear so willing to shoot themselves in the foot, the eloquence of the likes of Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein and Michael Moore is almost redundant. The corruption, exploitation and ecological-ignorance of these global players has never been so damningly exposed.

Highest rated reviews

48 out of 68 people found the following review helpful:

Bloated tabloid tosh

RJTaylor from from London, 29th May, 2007

If you're looking for an incisive, intelligent documentary on the disasters that can be caused by big business, watch Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. This film, on the other hand, is confused, contradictory, bloated, (weighing in at a whopping 2h 21m,) and has no real points to make. It runs around, wildly pointing the finger at anyone and everyone in big business who has, in the past, taken part in some dubious practices, which makes for lots of easy targets because that's pretty much everyone. It cops out and chooses this route rather than attempt to make any constructive suggestions as to how industry can realistically move forward without us all losing our jobs, (don't forget that even if you don't work for a big corporation, most of your cash will still probably come from one or more somewhere up the line,) strong economies becoming weakened and everyone going back to living in shacks. (Remember Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge pals? Their working co-operative ideas didn't work out so well, did they?) Scratch the surface of this film, beyond some sickeningly abused visuals used solely for emotional effect, (the woman in audience seen gulping during big meeting almost certainly didn't happen at the point it was shown; excessive use of concentration camp footage,) and The Corporation holds no more credibility than the cheesy corporate identity ads put out by those they are trying to discredit. Amateur journalism at its worst.

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38 out of 44 people found the following review helpful:

Institutions recognised as 'individuals' can trample the globe like giants.

Nigel Stafford from England, 16th May, 2005

For all the dirt it exposes, this documentary is rather impassive. Objective, this is no Michael Moore documentary with laughter and shock, but an academic presentation of the most recent information and viewpoints on corporations -- from right across the spectrum from CEOs to Activists. Based on the book, The Corporation: the Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, this is a great movie for those interested in such material - every fact is here; every face is here; they all have their say - and they say surprisingly about the same thing - that Corporations are amoral entities. Many of us know this - but in the broad amoral spectrum -- this film illustrates in chilling details - how much they favors on the side of the unethical rather than the ethical. Who should be held accountable for these institutions that are recognised as 'individuals' and therefore trample the globe like giants.

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17 out of 20 people found the following review helpful:

Corporations and social responsibility

McClennan from from St Helens, 23rd April, 2005

First rate, award winning, documentary that looks at the corporation, from its first appearance in pre-industrial revolution England, through to the multinationals of today. Featuring appearances from across the political spectrum, the film presents what I would consider to be a balanced, well thought out discussion surrounding the corporation's role in today's society. Milton Friedman, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky, Samuel Epstein, Naomi Klein and Robert Monks make this essential viewing for anyone who takes an interest in the politics of business and society, be you from the left or right side of the spectrum. Despite the inclusion of some hardcore lefties the film never dares to suggest that business/capitalism is evil and for that reason I think any viewer who has gotten involved in economic discussions would enjoy this film.

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9 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Wake up America!

Matt Whiteley from London, 21st April, 2005

Brilliant. Watch it. It could perhaps have delivered the same message without being as long but is well worth seeing nonetheless. It's amazing to see the CEOs of big companies given just enough rope to hang themselves with. You'll be amazed at the arrogance of some of the viewpoints; they even justify paying 3rd world people a few cents, not even enough to survive on, because they would be worse off without the money at all. Where's the logic in that!? Pay them a fair wage you sh*ts! Cruelty and greed shines through these people and they don't even realise it. Sickening but this really is how they think.

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