The Corporation (2003)

Documentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.

Directors:

Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott (co-director)

Writers:

Joel Bakan, Joel Bakan (based on the book "The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power" by)

Stars:

Mikela Jay, Rob Beckwermert, Christopher Gora

12 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mikela Jay	...	Herself - Narrator (voice) (as Mikela J. Mikael)
Rob Beckwermert	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Christopher Gora	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Nina Jones	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Richard Kopycinski	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Karen Lam	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Sean Lang	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Bert Phillips	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Diana Wilson	...	Actor - Dramatizations
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jane Akre	...	Herself - Investigative Reporter
Ray Anderson	...	Himself - CEO, Interface
Joe Badaracco	...	Himself - Professor of Business Ethics, Harvard Business School
Maude Barlow	...	Herself - Chairperson, Council of Canadians
Chris Barrett	...	Himself - Corporate Sponsored University Students
Marc Barry	...	Himself - Competitive Intelligence Professional

Storyline

Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in the its behaviour, this type of "person" typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it.

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Plot Keywords:

14th amendment | corporation | business | civilization | anti consumerism | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Corporation

Filming Locations:

Celebration, Florida, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,671, 6 June 2004

Gross USA:

$1,879,301

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Picture Media Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min 150 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente) 165 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Contrary to popular belief and this film's focus on primarily American corporations and the New York Stock Exchange/Wall Street greed, The Corporation is largely a Canadian production, although it does have ties to American interviewees and some of its crew/cast was American.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: 150 years ago, the business corporation was a relatively insignificant institution. Today, it is all-pervasive. Like the Church, the Monarchy and the Communist Party in other times and places, the corporation is today's dominant institution. This documentary examines the nature, evolution, impacts, and possible futures of the modern business corporation. Initially given a narrow legal mandate, what has allowed today's corporation to achieve such extraordinary power and influence ...

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the movie, after the directors name are listed - BART SIMPSON (no relation to Homer & Marge) has been credited as one of the writers of the documentary.

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Connections

Features The Big One (1997)

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Soundtracks

Discrete Entropy
Written and Performed by loscil (Scott Morgan)
Courtesy kranky

User Reviews

I'm the rope

I base this review on the shareware version, currently available for free on YouTube, under the user machbar. It is between 2 and two and a half hours long. This goes into all the damage corporations do, the fact that they are granted rights as if they were individuals(!) and the general callous nature of them. Sounds one-sided? Well, Michael Moore isn't in this for nothing. It is somewhat like propaganda, but at the same time, I can't come up with any real arguments for the other side. I will say that it would be good to have someone from there come in so we could see just how weak their position is, and how based on personal greed it is. It's not difficult to shred their claims with actual facts, and I suppose the choice to not do so was a fear that there might be people who weren't compelled into action by this. With that said, this is a well-done documentary. It is interesting throughout in spite of the running time, and the personal anecdotes, investigative journalism and editing(if it is a tad manipulative at times) all make a convincing case. There is quite a bit of disturbing content in this, and it is effective not only on account of it being real. I recommend this to everyone, though I fear that it is preaching to the converted more than changing any minds. 8/10