Episode credited cast: | |||
Peter Coyote | ... |
Narrator
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John Beard | ... |
Himself
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Barbara Boxer | ... |
Herself
(archive footage)
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George W. Bush | ... |
Himself
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James Chanos | ... |
Himself
(as Jim Chanos)
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Dick Cheney | ... |
Himself
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Bill Clinton | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Carol Coale | ... |
Herself
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Gray Davis | ... | ||
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Reggie Dees II | ... |
Young man the stripper dances in front of
(as Reggie Deets II)
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Joseph Dunn | ... |
Himself
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Max Eberts | ... |
Himself
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Peter Elkind | ... |
Himself
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Andrew Fastow | ... |
Himself
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David Freeman | ... |
Himself
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Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, a multidimensional study of one of the biggest business scandals in American history. The chronicle takes a look at one of the greatest corporate disasters in history, in which top executives from the 7th largest company in this country walked away with over one billion dollars, leaving investors and employees with nothing. The film features insider accounts and rare corporate audio and video tapes that reveal colossal personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy. The human drama that unfolds within Enron's walls resembles a Greek tragedy and produces a domino effect that could shape the face of our economy and ethical code for years to come. Written by Sujit R. Varma
Yes, it is about numbers. I know that is hard for some to take. In fact, I know that some people don't want to hear about intricate financial details. That is very evident by the voting patterns here in America. But, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is more about people. The characters that led Enron to its downfall are really interesting and come across in a way that, if you weren't watching them in a documentary, you would want to watch a movie about them.
The unholy trinity of Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling and Andy Fastow managed to manipulate the numbers, manipulate the stock analysts, manipulate the press, and manipulate the financial institutions to a point that is just beyond belief. The corporate motto was "Ask why." A whole lot of people outside the corporation failed to ask why, or crumbled like the White House press corps when they were getting smoke blown up their skirts.
Two things really stand out in this film besides the three people mentioned. The employees of Enron themselves for the most part didn't see the crumbling of the company because they just didn't want to add things up.
Also, this movie is rated "R" for some brief nudity and for the language of the traders handling the California energy mess. When you hear those traders who took down the California energy grid, you would agree that this film should have been rated XXX. It was just plain obscene to listen to the greed and callousness of these traders.
The bottom line is that every voter who goes to the polls in 2006 without seeing this film first is just plain irresponsible. But that is just my opinion.