Plunder: The Crime of Our Time, at its heart, is a film championing the little guy — the wronged, screwed-over, little guy. It knows no neutrality, blatantly decrying the misdeeds of the wealthy (at least the dishonest wealthy, but come on — is there really any other kind?) and standing up for the people cheated by these misdeeds.
Plunder, Danny "the News Dissector" Schechter's look into how closely Wall Street influenced — even caused — the financial crisis in which we're living today, focuses on those at fault, and the reactions of the citizens most directly affected by the so-called "Second Depression." Schechter conducts interview after interview with economic analysts and experts, as well as journalists, and even Sam Antar, the former CPA of Crazy Eddie, Inc. and a convicted white-collar criminal, who dishes the dirt on his colleagues. Protesters, usually homeowners who took the brunt of the injustice, were filmed swarming the offenders outside their homes or invading their workplaces.
Plunder, as a doc is inherently designed to educate, and does so in a way that will keep you interested regardless of whether you're familiar with the Wall Street crisis or not (the only reason I knew who Bernie Madoff prior to watching this is because I've have to copy-edit articles about him). It does not, however, do so in a particularly neutral way. It zeros in less on Madoff and his underlings, but rather on the bigger firms who knew what was happening and did nothing about it, openly chastising them for the role they played in the downfall of our economy.
Also in the hot seat are the media outlets who let these stories slide under the radar, keeping most of America virtually in the dark about what was happening. The doc mentions the Eliot Spitzer scandal, which proved a relief for those in the process of being ousted as thieves — with Spitzer in the spotlight they could breathe easy, at least until the commotion died down.
Created as a follow-up to his book of the same name, which served as a prediction of the crisis, and an earlier doc, 2006's In Debt We Trust, which chronicles the often alarming credit-based practices of Americans, Plunder is only the beginning of the much-needed investigation of a crime that needs much more delving into. One of the more disturbing practices discussed is that of hedge funders taking out insurance policies on homes in New Orleans just before Katrina hit, so they could collect millions when the homes were destroyed.
The actual presentation of the doc can be a bit hokey at times, but pleasantly so. It opens on a green MPAA-rating-style screen with white lettering which reads: "'Warning: This film is not a comedy. It is a tragedy and a wake-up call.' - From your friends at Globalvision: committing journalism since 1987". Most of the music was developed specifically for the film, including the theme song, a funk-style 'f--k you' to the the film's villains.
DVD Bonus Features:
"John Kenneth Galbraith and the History of Wall Street Crime," a slightly boring but informative look at John F. Kennedy's former advisor, an apparently likable guy who was made president of the American Economic Association back in the '70s.
"Sex on Wall Street," a short look at the effect jobs (and crime) on Wall Street (and other high-paying positions of power) have on the psyche of the wealthy (Eliot Spitzer is again used as an example). There are moments that suggest an ironic self-awareness, like using a sexy pop song while discussing Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, and then using the same song during the bit about older women (sugar mamas) taking out younger men.
Interview with Plunder Director/"News Dissector" Danny Schechter, a former Emmy-winning producer for ABC's "20/20," as well as for CNN
A list of donors
"Plunder: The Crime of Our Time" is on sale April 6, 2010 and is not rated. Documentary. Written and directed by Danny Schechter. Starring Danny Schechter.
