THE CORPORATION is a well-organized and deeply fascinating documentary about the growing prominence of large global businesses, and the way that their decisions are impacting the world. The film shows how corporations have ballooned in size and power since the industrial revolution, and explains the laws and loopholes that allow them to remain nearly unaccountable for their actions. If they break a law, they are willing to admit guilt and pay the fine, because the profits outweigh the penalties. Therefore, they continue to cause serious environmental problems by dumping waste into rivers and oceans and by depleting natural resources, resulting in irreversible damage to the earth which also poses a serious threat to human life. Beyond environmental issues, the film shows how corporations exploit underpaid laborers in third world countries, violate basic human rights, make deals with foreign countries who are known enemies of the U.S., and in some instances perpetuate fascist regimes. Valuable, informative talking-head commentary comes from a diverse group including Ray Anderson, CEO of carpet manufacturer Interface; Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, former chairman of Royal Dutch Shell; Dr. Vandana Shiva, feminist and ecologist; Milton Friedman, Nobel prize-winning economist; Marc Barry, corporate spy; Joe Badaracco, professor of business ethics at Harvard; and activists Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Michael Moore. Providing useful references to major news stories that illustrate various corporate developments, and good information about how the system works, THE CORPORATION empowers viewers and shows them that they can realistically enact change. For that reason, this documentary makes real progress, encouraging viewers to take the world's future into their own hands and away from corporations whose sole interest is profit.
THE CORPORATION is based on the book THE CORPORATION: THE PATHOLOGICAL PURSUIT OF PROFIT AND POWER by Joel Bakan.
DVD Features:
Region (unknown)
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 16:9
2 Disc Set
DISC 1
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentaries - 1. Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott - Directors
2. Joel Bakan - Writer
Production Interviews - Various Segments With the Filmmakers
Bonus Footage - 1. Clips from THE AWFUL TRUTH
2. Joel Bakan Interviewed by Janine Garofolo on MAJORITY
REPORT
3. Grassroots Marketing Segment
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
2. MANUFACTURING CONSENT: NOAM CHOMSKY AND THE MEDIA
DISC 2
Additional Release Material -
Extended/Deleted Scenes
Text Gallery -
Related Film Sources
DVD ROM Features -
Web Links
Featured
Chris Barrett: Featured, THE CORPORATION (2004)
Featured
Howard Zinn: Featured, THE CORPORATION (2004)
Featured
Michael Moore: Documentary filmmaker, ROGER & ME/FAHRENHEIT 9/11
Featured
Noam Chomsky: Featured, NOAM CHOMSKY: POWER AND TERROR (2002)
Narrator
Mikela J. Mikael: Narrator, THE CORPORATION (2004)
Executive Producer
Mark Achbar: Director/"Noam Chomsky.."
Review 1:
"[A] smart, brooding documentary....THE CORPORATION is a dense, complicated and thought-provoking film..."
Source: New York Times
p.E5 06/30/2004
Review 2:
"[The filmmakers] make a cogent, compelling, powerful argument, and they also make a terrific movie."
Source: Premiere
p.34 07/01/2004
Review 3:
"[T]his film will make your blood boil. Essential."
Source: Uncut
p.154 11/01/2004
Review 4:
"THE CORPORATION takes great and successful pains to be as visually diverse and clever as it is intellectually provocative."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.E11 07/09/2004
Review 5:
"THE CORPORATION is deadly serious, and will grip and maybe galvanize any audience prepared to stick with it."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.46 11/01/2004
Review 6:
"[The filmmakers] weave examples of grotesque malfeasance with wry Orwellian forewarning..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.67 04/15/2005