Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is an excellent documentary that sheds light on the collapse of the once-mighty energy giant in 2001. Directed by Alex Gibney, this film is an essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding the complex events that led to one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in history. Featuring interviews from key players including Jeff Skilling, Kenneth Lay, and Andrew Fastow, as well as archival footage and news clips, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room provides a fascinating look into a company whose culture was driven by greed and self-interest. With its gripping narrative and masterful storytelling, this documentary is a must-see for any fan of investigative journalism.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a documentary film that tells the story of one of America’s most notorious corporate collapses. This riveting and insightful movie takes a hard look at how an energy company rose to become one of the world’s largest, only to come crashing down due to corporate greed and unethical practices.
Key features include: 1. Insightful interviews with former Enron executives and employees. 2. Exploring the political implications of Enron’s rise and fall. 3. In-depth analysis of the corporate culture of Enron. 4. Uncovering the lies, manipulations, and deceptions of those at the top.
This Academy Award nominated documentary exposes the inner workings of a corporation that used accounting tricks and white-collar crime to make millions while investors lost their entire savings in what has been called one of history’s biggest business scandals. With an all-star ensemble cast led by Peter Coyote, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is an eye-opening examination into corporate responsibility and corruption. Don’t miss out on this must-see film!
Product Details
Title
Format
Subtitles
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
DVD
English, French, Spanish
Director
Alex Gibney
Actors
Peter Coyote, John Beard, Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche, Tim Belden, Jeffrey Skilling, Kenneth Lay, and many more
Various Enron Employees and Associates
Studio
Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date
November 8, 2005
Run Time
110 minutes
Rated
R (Restricted)
(…)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Pros and Cons
1. Pros Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a thorough and fascinating look into the history of the infamous energy giant. With an award-winning cast and crew, this documentary provides a detailed account of how Enron rose and fell, while also examining its impact on corporate America and global markets. The film features interviews with many former Enron employees, including CEO Jeff Skilling, offering an intimate and revealing look at one of the most notorious companies of all time. 2. Cons While Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room does provide an interesting overview of the company’s past, some viewers may find it overly long and overly detailed. Additionally, there are certain aspects of the story that are glossed over or not discussed in depth, leaving some important questions unanswered.
Who are They for
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a critically acclaimed documentary that provides an in-depth look into the infamous Enron scandal. Directed by Alex Gibney, this film tells the story of how Enron went from being one of America’s most admired companies to one of its biggest corporate scandals. Through interviews and archival footage, the film examines how the company manipulated its financial statements to hide billions of dollars in debt. It also looks at how corporate greed and ambition eventually led to Enron’s downfall. The film features interviews with many of the key players involved in the scandal, including former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, former CFO Andrew Fastow, and former employee whistle blower Sherron Watkins. This riveting documentary takes viewers inside the events leading up to Enron’s collapse and provides insight into the dark side of corporate America.
My Experience for Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
I remember the day I watched Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, and it changed my life. I was mesmerized by the incredible story of a company whose meteoric rise and eventual spectacular downfall was remarkable.
As I watched, I felt like I was seeing behind the curtain of corporate America, as if for the first time. The movie opens with a voiceover from Peter Coyote that claimed Enron to be “the most innovative company of the 21st century”. But then, as if part of some twisted joke, we are shown how Enron’s success was built on lies.
It’s amazing to think that these seemingly smart and savvy business people could have been so blinded by their own greed and ambition. As someone who has worked in corporate America before, watching Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room gave me a newfound appreciation for ethical business practices.
This documentary is an eye-opening experience that everyone should watch once in their lifetime. You’ll never look at big business the same way again!
What I don’t Like
1. Narrative structure could be improved, as some viewers find it too long and convoluted. 2. Lack of depth in certain areas that are important to a full understanding of the Enron scandal. 3. Not enough focus on individuals, leaving out potentially interesting stories and characters in the midst of the complex narrative. 4. The film’s conclusion is open-ended, which leaves many questions unanswered and may leave some viewers unsatisfied. 5. Some aspects of the story are simplified or glossed over, including the role of accounting firm Arthur Andersen and its role in the demise of Enron. 6. There is a lack of detailed information on Enron’s financial frauds, leaving the audience with only a basic understanding of how they were perpetrated.
How to Learn From the Mistakes of Enron
The documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is an eye-opening look into how corporate greed and unethical behavior can have disastrous effects on an organization. The film covers the meteoric rise and the equally swift fall of the energy giant Enron, which was once one of America’s most successful companies. Through interviews with former employees, stockholders, and analysts, the film provides a comprehensive analysis of what went wrong behind closed doors at Enron. Learning from their mistakes can help businesses today recognize signs of potential risk and put safeguards in place against mismanagement and corruption.
Establish Clear Lines of Communication. One of the main factors contributing to Enron’s downfall was their lack of communication between different departments. This allowed their executives to make decisions without any oversight or accountability. To prevent similar issues in your own business, ensure that there are clear lines of communication between all areas of your operations. This will help you keep track of who is responsible for what and discourage anyone from taking advantage of any situation.
Set Up a Systematic Process for Evaluating Risk. Before making any business decisions, it is important to evaluate potential risks beforehand. At Enron, many investments were made without considering potential repercussions or looking at long-term consequences. To protect your company from these types of mistakes, establish a systematic process for evaluating risk before any major decisions are made. This could involve having a team review all proposed projects before they move forward.
Encourage Transparency and Openness. Another issue that plagued Enron was their culture of secrecy surrounding key financial information and decision-making processes. This created an environment where bad decisions could be made without consequence. To combat this type of problem in your business, encourage transparency throughout all areas of your operations. Make sure that everyone is aware of what is going on in different parts of the company and that everyone has access to the same information so that no one person can take advantage of any situation.
Questions about Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
What is Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room?
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a documentary that dives deeply into the infamous corporate scandal that rocked the nation and changed the face of business forever. Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Peter Coyote, it explores how an energy giant was taken down by its own greed and corruption.
What does Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room cover?
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room covers the rise and fall of Enron Corporation, from its humble beginnings as an energy company to its spectacular downfall due to fraudulent business practices. It examines how top executives such as Jeffrey Skilling, Kenneth Lay, and Andy Fastow were able to manipulate the system for their own personal gain.
Is Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room suitable for all audiences?
No, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is not suitable for all audiences. This documentary contains some explicit language and content that may be too intense or inappropriate for younger viewers. It is recommended for those aged 16 and over.
Ray Cooley
I'm a movie enthusiast with a passion for discovering the latest and greatest films. I love to watch movies with friends, discuss them online, and share my thoughts about them in reviews. The only thing I enjoy more than watching a great film is telling others why it's so special!