Director: Andrew Levitas
Starring: Johnny Depp, Minami, Bill Nighy
Running Time: 115 minutes
Synopsis: It's 1971, and the reputation of celebrated World War Two photojournalist W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) is fading. In New York City, he is approached by Japanese activist Aileen Mioko (Minami), who implores him to help bring attention to industrial pollution impacting the Japanese coastal community of Minamata. Gene convinces Life magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy) to back the story, and sets off to Japan with Aileen to investigate. He uncovers a wrenching human tragedy caused by mercury poisoning and arrogant corporate corruption.
What Works Well: An individual quest for the truth combines with a dark tale of industrial pollution to confirm the power of stark images. Johnny Depp finds a career highlight as the hard drinking, almost down-and-out photojournalist with a glorious past, no present, but perhaps one more meaningful assignment. The mercury poisoning victims and their families, mostly villagers living in the shadow of an imposing chemical factory and battling both physical and emotional trauma, are treated with remarkable dignity.
What Does Not Work As Well: While Smith's photographs help publicize the tragedy, the dogged local activists who organize daily protests and demand investigations, negotiation, and compensation are also heroic. They are present in this telling of the story, but not as prominent as the cynical and perpetually inebriated American in a foreign land.
Key Quote:
Aileen (to Gene): The people need help. We need global attention. We need you.
All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We welcome reader comments about this post.