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Wednesday, October 23, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW Inequality For
All
The Macro & Micro Of Poverty & Economics, Via Reich
Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, narrator and subject of Jacob
Kornbluth's documentary "Inequality For All".
Radius TWC
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Wednesday,
October 23,
2013
"Four hundred and fifty people in the U.S. have more wealth than half the
population of the country combined." That and other jaw-dropping
statistics populate Jacob Kornbluth's excellent documentary "Inequality For
All", a deeply sobering and poignant film about the financial state of the
average American and the economic earthquake that has subverted the American Dream.
Mr. Kornbluth takes a macro and micro approach, using former U.S. Labor
Secretary Robert Reich as messenger and narrator as the avuncular advocate
affectionately talks of his shortcomings in stature. By contrast, Mr.
Reich leads us on a paycheck-to-paycheck journey of the average American many
identify with. One woman says her entire net worth is the $25 in her
checking account. She hasn't eaten a meal so far on a particular day.
"Well, there's gas in the tank," she adds, as a tear streaks down her cheek.
There's Seattle CEO Nick Hanauer, who hates paying only 11% tax on the billions
he makes annually. (Most Americans pay between 28% and 35% in taxes each
year.) Mr. Hanauer shatters the myth that the rich are "job-creators", a
mantra often trumpeted by Republican politicians.
Myriad statistics, archival footage, television clips and news reports
contextualize very harsh realities including that the American middle class of
the 1950s has been eviscerated. There's the super rich and the rest of
us. This isn't a revelation, and any information presented is delivered
matter-of-factly without need for additional alarm. The facts and figures
sound it.
There's a psychological component to "Inequality For All" that
is unspoken: How much do we as a people need on a daily basis? How much
money do you need to feel "good" about yourself? Is money a barometer for
self-esteem, and to what extent? How do you define comfort?
Emotionally, financially? And does living in America today bring you
comfort? In what way? Economically or otherwise?
Mr. Reich, a professor of economics at the University Of California at Berkeley,
seen in the film teaching his students over the course of a semester, has a big
heart. At times on camera he's something of a ham, as we see in various moments of
comic relief, some welcome, some bordering on self-cheerleading and
congratulation. Still, it's necessary to have such a charismatic, even
adorable figure in "Inequality For All" as the literal and metaphorical "little
guy" going up against poverty, the systemic, inherently unbalanced economic
structure and the goliath of greed: the CEOs making billions and shrinking wages
to generate even more profits for themselves. This last tactic is one of the
most disturbing aspects of Mr. Kornbluth's devastating film.
"Inequality For All" takes an historical look at the economy, politics,
presidencies, lobbying system, Tea Party, Occupy movement, 1979 -- the turning
point year of the economic downturn post-Depression era -- and the
tried-and-true social fallout, racial hostility and backlash in the U.S. whenever the economy tanks.
Each of these is carefully analyzed and explained as if we are students in Mr.
Reich's class. The film, much of it non-partisan, doesn't condescend.
It doles out cautionary bolts of lightning.
The former Clinton Administration cabinet member argues not that inequality
itself is bad but that the severity and degree of it is. "How much
inequality can we as a society survive with before it does lasting damage to our
nation?", Mr. Reich asks.
Easy to understand but hard to swallow, "Inequality For All" offers insightful
and an equally dire and hopeful outlook on the American family and the country's
economic future. As viewers we are asked to do some heavy lifting of our
own, not just in the industrialized worker sense but in activating ourselves to
do more to combat poverty. A timely, intelligent dissertation and one of the best and most important films of the
year, "Inequality For All" is a must-see for all.
"Inequality For All" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association Of America for
thematic elements, some violence,
language and smoking images. The film's
running time is one hour and 32 minutes.
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