Dark Waters

[zico]

5/10. At the very start, the film provides a self-spoiler by telling you it's based on the book "The Lawyer who became DuPont's worst nightmare". Starts Mark Gruffalo as the lawyer in question. The film tells its story competently enough, but doesn't exactly engage the emotions.

One of those earnest American films based on shocking true-life events which could only be shocking to people who don't think about things much.
Remember the Will Smith film "Concussion" where Will uncovers the astonishing fact that US football players get brain damage if they spend their careers running head-first into other players' heads, and the team owners have been, get this, able to keep this a secret from the unsuspecting public?

This film is in the same vein, as Mark Gruffalo is startled and appalled to discover that it isn't good for people's health to live right next to huge chemical works and toxic waste dumps, and that big corporations don't care too much about people. Let's hope the nasty big chemical firm don't try to cover all this up and wriggle out of its responsibilities and the US government is no help at all in protecting its citizens from big business malpractice, or Mr.Gruffalo will become even more astonished that such things could happen in the good ol' US of A.

The West Virginia tourist office isn't going to be too pleased either with this film, as it's shot in even drearier and darker colours than even West Virginia could be in real life, just to emphasise the grimness of the place. In this film, either Mark Gruffalo is paired with 7 foot tall co-stars, or the man who plays the Incredible Hulk isn't that incredible a hulk.

[todthedog]

I would agree with the above, it was an OK film, didn't grip my emotions, as it went through the motions.
Chemical giant pollutes and doesn't give a cuss.
'Spotlight' I found a much better example of the gendre.

[dionaeamuscipula]

In this film, either Mark Gruffalo is paired with 7 foot tall co-stars, or the man who plays the Incredible Hulk isn't that incredible a hulk.

The Gruffalo* is about 6ft 1in. The Ruffalo is about 5ft 7in - 5ft 8in so a little under average height.

DM

*or at least Robbie Coltrane is.