Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Director: Alex Gibney
Year Released: 2005
Rating: 2.0

Suitable documentary marred by somewhat plodding pace, political short-sidedness (not critiquing the Democrats for being wussies, for example), a tendency to include nonsensical extraneous footage (hey, I like strip clubs too, but do we need to see that many breasts in a documentary?) and Michael Moore-like addiction to pop songs. A lot of the points made are intelligent and valid - and intended to raise the ol' liberal ire - but I get the feeling that this is just the audience-friendly Cliff's Notes version of the far more in-depth and detailed book by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. I walked out of the theater disgusted but not motivated to do anything - with 2003's sprawling The Corporation (which could have run on for five hours and not covered everything) and Moore's infamous lashings at the business world already out there and widely seen, it's showing up a little late to the party.