The Corporation: Movie Critique

What is the principal purpose of this documentary?

The principal purpose of this documentary is to show the impacts, nature, evolution and possible future of the business corporation.

What does the film critique? How do you know that?

The film critiques the different aspects of the business corporation; it does this through breaking down these different aspects. It separates the aspects of corporations into different sections, some including Democracy Ltd, Hostile Take Over, and Unsettling Accounts. In Unsettling Accounts, the film talks about the company Monsanto and the effect of its bovine growth hormone. This is just one of the many examples of what they show within the divided sections. The film also critiques the many things that are wrong in the corporation world and how harmful corporations actually are in a number of ways. There is a section where they actually go through the many different ways corporations can harm people, animal, the environment, etc. They flip through these ways and then stop on one and explain it a bit more, for example child labour as a form of harm against humans or drug testing as a form of harm against animals.

What methods did the filmmaker use to increase public awareness about corporate responsibility and affect people’s beliefs and behaviour?

One of the main things the filmmaker does to increase public awareness about corporate responsibility is give what the speakers were saying a sort of familiarity. They matched some of the stuff the speakers were saying with video clips, some more popular than others. What this did was gave viewers a better understanding of what message the filmmakers were trying get across. They did this when talking about the Monsanto controversy with their bovine growth hormone. They were talking about how two reporters were being paid to keep their mouths shut about what was going on as well as having their report about Monsanto rewritten. The reporters were instead being told by the company what to write in their report and as the reporters are talking about this the filmmakers show hands typing on a keyboard and then showing a finger pressing the “control” button. Here the filmmaker subtly shows how corporations were trying to control others in order protect themselves. That instead of taking responsibility for the negative effects of their product, Monsanto did all it could to “control” the situation and to have a certain power over others in order to have a clean record.

Which methods of theirs did you think were most effective in supporting their position on corporate responsibility? Why?

One of the most effective ways the filmmaker shows his position on corporate responsibility is when comparisons are being made, the actions of those who are against corporations and those who run corporations. The film went back and forth between showing different clips of the two. It showed activists standing up for what they believe in and being beaten and trying to be contained by police because things were getting out of hand; the streets are both a mess and chaotic. It then flips to scenes of the people who run these corporations. These scenes are completely opposite to what is going on outside, it’s as if they don’t even care about the effect their corporation is having on society. This was an effective method because these scenes truly show how corporations aren't taking responsibility for their actions. It shows that they are oblivious to anything that doesn't benefit them and simply don’t care if they harm anyone else.  Corporation owners are inside living the good life while others are dealing with the repercussions of these same companies.

Did you have any issues with this documentary? What were some parts that you did not agree with, or question? Why?

I didn't really have any issues with this documentary. I thought it was a good representation of what corporations are and what they stand for. It explained its point of view well and went into great detail in order to explain where they stand on corporate responsibility. It gave lots of example, which I enjoy when learning about something new and it's visuals (the certain pictures and different video clips) were very helpful when trying to when trying to explain an intricate point or idea about corporations. 

Describe another film you have watched that has an impact on your values. How and why did that happen?

A film that had an impact on me was Bill Maher’s Religulous. It was basically a film exploring religion from a satirical point of view. I think it had an impact because it was produced in a way that related to me. It was able to convey its point of view through its sarcasm and wit as well as the certain interviews Bill Maher conducted. It is through these things that Religulous made an impact on my belief system. When something is familiar or has some sort of connection to you to makes it easier learn something.