I wasn't planning to write another "Capsule Review" so soon after posting my long piece the other day with four films, but the movie I saw on Sunday, Dark Waters, was one I liked so much that I figured I should. In fact, I was planning to leave the theater as soon as the movie ended, because it was dinner time, but it was so interesting that I stayed a while to hear the Q&A with the screenwriters. In full confession up front, this is the sort of story I love, whether as a movie or non-fiction book. But my personal preferences aside, it's terrific. Sort of a cross between Erin Brokovich and A Civil Action, the movie is based on a New York Times Magazine article, “The Lawyer Who Became Dupont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich. It stars Mark Ruffalo (who also produced -- you may know he’s a major environmentalist, and one of the leading outspoken advocates against fracking, so his heart is clearly in the right place here), with Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Victor Garber and Bill Pullman, and also a wonderful actor Bill Camp who is terrific as the farmer who angrily and unrelentingly brings his story to the law firm. The film is told in a pretty straightforward way, but very effectively -- taut and personal. It was written by Matthew Michael Carnahan and Mario Correa, and directed by Todd Haynes (Carol and Wonderstruck).. By the way, several people who are part of the real story have cameos in the film, and in a nice touch they visually identify them at the beginning of the end credits, one of which is a big surprise and not a noticeable reaction from the audience, Here's the trailer. It's a bit heavy-handed with the full-screen cuts to graphic cards and pounding ka-thump music, but does a respectable job with presenting the film.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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