.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

John Beard, Tim Belden, Barbara Boxer

Directed by Alex Gibney
Rolling Stone: star rating
5 3
Community: star rating
5 3 0
April 21, 2005

It's scarier than The Amityville Horror, as scandalous as Fahrenheit 9/11 and loaded with more conspiracies than The Interpreter. Alex Gibney's riveting documentary is a rape story, with the public trust as the victim. The perp is Enron, the Houston power company led by Kenneth Lay and his wingman Jeff Skilling. Based on the book of the same name that traced the events that brought down Enron in 2001, the film is no rehash. It's a ringing indictment of corporate greed that extends to the Bush family and the legal loopholes Enron exploited to steal employee benefits and put thousands out of jobs. There's even gallows humor: After a speech praising Enron, Lay reads a written question from the audience: "Are you on crack?" Nah. The drug of choice here is hubris.

prev
Movie Review Main Next

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Movie Reviews

    More Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “Is It True”

    Brenda Lee | 1964

    As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

    More Song Stories entries »