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Peter Coyote, Amanda Martin-Brock, Andrew Fastow, Bethany McLean, David Freeman ... see more see more... , Gray Davis , Jeff Skilling , John Beard , Ken Lay , Lou L. Pai , Kenneth Lay , Andy Fastow , Al Kaseweter , Carol Coale , Dick Cheney , Jim Chanos , Joseph Dunn , Max Eberts , Peter Elkind , Philip Hilder , Reggie Dees II

Alex Gibney, who wrote and produced Eugene Jarecki's The Trials of Henry Kissinger, examines the rise and fall of an infamous corporate juggernaut in Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, which he wro... read more read more...te and directed. The film, based on the book by Fortune Magazine reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, opens with a reenactment of the suicide of Enron executive Cliff Baxter, then travels back in time, describing Enron chairman Kenneth Lay's humble beginnings as the son of a preacher, his ascent in the corporate world as an "apostle of deregulation," his fortuitous friendship with the Bush family, and the development of his business strategies in natural gas futures. The film points out that the culture of financial malfeasance at Enron was evident as far back as 1987, when Lay apparently encouraged the outrageous risk taking and profit skimming of two oil traders in Enron's Valhalla office because they were bringing a lot of money into the company. But it wasn't until eventual CEO Jeff Skilling arrived at Enron that the company's "aggressive accounting" philosophy truly took hold. The Smartest Guys in the Room explores the lengths to which the company went in order to appear incredibly profitable. Their win-at-all-costs strategy included suborning financial analysts with huge contracts for their firms, hiding debts by essentially having the company loan money to itself, and using California's deregulation of the electricity market to manipulate the state's energy supply. Gibney's film reveals how Lay, Skilling, and other execs managed to keep their riches, while thousands of lower-level employees saw their loyalty repaid with the loss of their jobs and their retirement funds. The filmmaker posits the Enron scandal not as an anomaly, but as a natural outgrowth of free-market capitalism. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

30,103 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

117 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Alex Gibney

Release Date: April 29, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 17, 2006

Stats: 1,133 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,133)

  • hunterjt13
    June 1, 2011
    hunterjt13
    This documentary spins the tale of the nation's most disastrous failure of accounting standards and corporate greed in recent memory.
    The narration and visuals uniquely balance a straight presentation of the facts and an indictment of the scandal's main players. We get images of... read more lurid strip clubs, where one of the Enron executives spent his billions of loot, and we also see sober, intelligent investigative reporters telling us about mark-to-market accounting and stock options. However, I think, by the end of the film, the balance tips in favor of pathos arguments, as the film attempts to get us more outraged.
    Also, the film hints at a broader social commentary, but I don't see this followed through. One "talking head" says, "[The Enron scandal] could happen again." I'm assuming this is even after Sarbanes-Oxley. Likewise, we're instructed by the film to get to know these characters, and by knowing them, perhaps we could see their hubris elsewhere. However, as I said, I don't see these themes explored with the depth they deserve. I want to hear people smarter than I explaining why Americans feel the obsessive need to compile what eventually amounts to Monopoly money. After all, it's virtually impossible to spend a hundred billion dollars in a lifetime, but we sure do try.
  • blkbomb
    May 27, 2011
    blkbomb
    The Smartest Guys in the Room is a fascinating and well made documentary. It chronicles the rise and fall of Enron and it's corrupt leaders. It balances the serious situation with some humor well, making it an entertaining look at Enrons fall.
  • danperry17
    September 26, 2010
    danperry17
    One of the better contemporary documentaries I've seen, this film is thorough but accessible, and it's on rock-solid footing, based on the book by journalist Bethany McLean as it is. Even if you're not well-acquainted with the business section of your daily newspaper, you will st... read moreay with this one until the end. Enron is a stunning story, and this doc captures it well. What the film does best is this: it answers its own questions. I watched it with my girlfriend, who might be the only person I know that's less business savvy than me, so we paused a few times to discuss. Every time we hit play, the film answered the question that we had just asked. A very conscious and worthwhile film.
  • rjayhutchinson
    July 30, 2010
    rjayhutchinson
    A fast-paced examination of the fall of Enron, this film is certainly a well-made documentary that took me from having absolutely no knowledge to having a pretty good understanding of the greatest corporate scandal in American history. Highly recommended.
  • kiriyamakazou
    January 21, 2010
    kiriyamakazou
    This is the story of Enron, a legacy that unraveled so fast, that at the the time, I had no idea what was going on. The film manages to describe, in some detail, all the shady goings on. We are given an in depth look at corruption, greed and absent morals. Money is lost, money is... read more embezzled and it soon becomes so complex that your head might explode. Luckily, the subject matter is so engaging and riveting that you can't look away. Some of those responsible for the mess do come across as tragic characters that have lost their way. A brilliant piece of work that may be one sided, but surely there's only one side to be on.
  • Gx7
    August 29, 2008
    Gx7
    The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron

    A dramatized crime story of how Enron became one of the largest corporations in America. Its like listening to a news coverage with dramatizations mixed with some funky sounds from the millenium.

    Watching this will either make you g... read moreasp or make you mad. Its astonishing that even Fortune magazine was conned into listing this company as a Fortune 500 company. I guess in the end them folks at Fortune had to do something for the mistake they made as well, hence this video documentary slash true crime story..

    "The documentary is based on the best-selling book of the same title, co-written by Fortune magazine's Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. It is assembled out of a wealth of documentary and video footage, narrated by Peter Coyote, from testimony at congressional hearings, and from interviews with such figures as disillusioned Enron exec Mike Muckleroy and whistle-blower Sherron Watkins." ~ Roger Ebert

    As educational and interesting as the story is, how they compiled all these facts into a film wasnt that effective. But if youre just interested with the facts, best be in a comfy couch cuz this is one long news story.

    Running time: 1 hr and 50 mins.
    Genre: Documentary/True crime story

    Related News Articles: The Enron Scandal
    BBC: Enron Scandal at a Glance
  • MovieGeek13
    April 12, 2007
    MovieGeek13
    Investigates the scandal with serious insight so you understand what really happened.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    September 10, 2006
    MidnightMadwoman
    This movie was really well made, and a real eye-opener for those curious about the whole culture of book-cooking and backroom deals that govern corporate America. I mean, what was shown was appalling though. Wanna know why California experiences those blackouts? Watch this movie.... read more This is one for those who don't like to be coddled by thier entertainment.
  • mrbungle7821
    May 20, 2006
    mrbungle7821
    [color=darkred][center][font=Arial][color=darkred][img]http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5787/photo010hn.jpg[/img][/color][/font][/center]
    [font=Arial][color=darkred][/color][/font]
    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Crash ? A searing look at race relations and a powerful human drama a... read moret that. This flick has some of the sharpest memories I?ve had from any movie all year, particularly the relationship between a Hispanic locksmith (Michael Pena) and his daughter and a special invisible cloak. Their first scene, where he talks her out of hiding under her bed, is one of the most beautifully written short scenes I have ever witnessed. A late scene involving the two of them knocked the wind out of me completely and is the most vivid moviegoing moment of all 2005 for me. Every character has at least one great moment, though time is not spaced equally amongst this large ensemble. [i]Crash[/i] has the intriguing practice of introducing near every character spouting some kind of racist diatribe, and then the movie spend the rest of its running time opening you up to these characters and getting to like them. Writer/director Paul Haggis has such a natural ear for terse, realistic dialogue that can really define characters with such brevity. A great movie, despite the overarching coincidences (I was rooting for [i]Brokeback[/i] come Oscar night even though they?re neck-and-neck in my view).[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate?s Grade: A[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Millions ? This movie feels like someone is projecting straight from the bountiful imagination of a child. It?s wildly whimsical and fantastical; it?s a fantasy film and a family film that never falters into treacle. Director Danny Boyle ([i]Trainspotting[/i], [i]28 Days Later[/i]) of all people has crafted a masterful living fantasy with great emotional heft. I was left very teary by the end and have remained so with repeat viewings. [i]Millions[/i] has great visuals, great acting, and is a great movie.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate?s Grade: A[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room ? The brilliance of this Oscar-nominated documentary is how distills a complicated, math-heavy scandal and makes it so easily digestible. The Enron tale really is a story calling out for the medium of film, relying on sound bytes, testimonials, public statements, interviews, video clips, and director Alex Gibny masterfully orchestrates the telling. The film is insightful, informative, and incredibly entertaining. It?s a real pleasure to watch, and you?ll be left scratching your head at how certain economic laws are even possible. If you are confused by the Enron scandal or know little to nothing about the biggest corporate scandal of our times (Enron was the seventh biggest corp. at one point), spend two hours of your life and watch this excellent film.[/color][/font]

    [/color][font='Times New Roman'][font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Nate?s Grade: A[/color][/size][/font][/font]
    [font='Times New Roman'][/font]
    [font='Times New Roman'][/font][font=Arial][color=darkred]The Matador ? This is an adequate movie that doesn?t really resonate because at its heart it feels like a lot of interesting ideas and characters that are languished with a sitcom plot. I never thought Pierce Brosnan?s performance as the aging hit man was as funny as the film thought it was. [i]The Matador[/i] is actually a more interesting movie than funny or amusing. The movie doesn?t go deep enough; the story isn?t as refined as it could be, and there are so few set pieces that this flick could have worked as a play. The end feels a bit too tidy and asks Greg Kinnear?s ordinary husband character to act out of character. There?s an extended talk in [i]The Matador[/i] between Kinnear and his wife and Brosnan upon his unexpected visit, and it feels like a sitcom like the wacky neighbor next door has come over and hatched a hilarious scheme. I enjoyed the characters but they really just sit and stew in a really weak story. The characters are richly drawn but have nowhere to go.[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate?s Grade: B-[/color][/font]
  • gator681
    July 10, 2005
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" is a very informative documentary about the rise of fall of Enron, the energy speculating corporation, that massively manipulated its own stock until it all came undone in 2001. It focuses on interviews with people who... read more were involved and with various journalists. My only problem with the documentary was that it did not focus on the rank and file employees who suffered the most. [/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]Enron had manipulated its stock by forecasting profits that simply did not exist. [/font][font=Century Gothic]The documentary showed the stock market as nothing more than legalized gambling. It makes the perfect case for regulation because in a totally deregulated market, there would be a massive free-for-all where a select few would become wealthy on the backs of everyone else. For example, Enron enjoyed huge profits because of energy deregulation in California which led to the energy crisis and rolling blackouts there. [/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]In this indictment of corporate culture, Ken Lay is eventually responsible for most of the mess as chairman but many more people down the line were also responsible for simply following the corporate line. Also, outside companies like accounting firm Arthur Andersen, shared in the blame. There was simply too much stress on making profits, and not on applied ethics. Simply put, it was intelligence without wisdom. [/font]

View All Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Reviews

Critic Reviews

Bill Muller
May 26, 2005
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

A meticulously researched and ably handled chronicle of one of the largest corporate scandals in American history. Full Review

Roger Moore
May 20, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

This thorough and thoroughly depressing account of the biggest corporate bankruptcy in history, and the rip-off that accompanied it, is so infuriating and dispiriting that your blood will boil, if not... Full Review

Steven Rea
May 5, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

It's not an indictment, so much. It's more like a mirror.

Geoff Pevere
April 29, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Doesn't require an interest in business affairs to be captivating. It unfolds like a Wall St. disaster movie with two eminently hissable villains presiding over the catastrophe. Full Review

Michael Booth
April 29, 2005
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Go see it before you buy another stock you don't understand. Go see it before you bank your retirement on the company pension fund. Go see it before you vote in another election. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
April 29, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Working in a slick, high-gloss style, director Alex Gibney presents the lurid Enron essentials in a film that will have you shaking your head in disbelief and dismay.

Jonathan Curiel
April 29, 2005
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle

There will be lots of seething at the sight of it all, but there are enough good laughs to make the experience more than worthwhile. Full Review

Ty Burr
April 29, 2005
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Gibney has been able to get his hands on the right materials, and he assembles the right talking heads to string the story together. Full Review

Terry Lawson
April 29, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Allow yourself the pleasure of being thoroughly entertained while being equally outraged by this movie. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
April 28, 2005
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

It's a chilling, completely fascinating documentary that reveals the face of unregulated greed in a way that's every bit as terrifying as Lon Chaney's unmasking in The Phantom of the Opera. Maybe more... Full Review

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