Dark Waters (2019)

If you’re looking to feel good you could do worse than this docudrama directed by Todd Haynes with a star-studded cast: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, etc., etc. It tells the story of Rob Bilott, the brave and hardworking attorney who sought to hold the chemical company DuPont accountable for their deceitful treatment of so-called “forever chemicals” and other microplastics that live in most of us now with the lead and mercury. Teflon is probably the most famous forever chemical. Yes, they’re bad. Yes, they’re very bad. No, they’re not worth the easy wipe and clean. DuPont knew it, Bilott knew they knew it, etc., etc. If you’ve seen The Insider, the story of the tobacco industry and its legal reckoning (directed by Michael Mann, starring Russell Crowe, nominated for seven Academy Awards), then you have a good idea of what you’re in for with this one. Erin Brockovich is another good comparison point (directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Julia Roberts, nominated for five Academy Awards, Roberts the winner for Best Actress). On one level Dark Waters, like the others, is simple outrage porn, satisfying in a kind of grinding morally righteous way. But I also think it’s worth asking why we love these heroic David and Goliath battles instead of simply insisting that stuff be done right in the first place. Give the government sufficient authority to provide the necessary informed oversight and make corporations behave responsibly as part of their internal cultures. That's what I say. Oh stop, oh stop now, now you’re cracking me up. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good laugh. I know how it goes. How can people be so cruel? Easy to be hard. Easy to be cold. Especially people who care about— Wait a second, that’s an old pop song. Anyway, I’ve got enough to be outraged about these days (have you heard about the $10 million cash Egyptian bribe?!?) but I guess I can save room for a little more, especially when Todd Haynes is at the helm. It’s not as lunatic inspired as some of his best stuff—it’s about a serious issue and he seemed to be leaning more toward straightforward professional restrained with this and, for that matter, with his previous picture too, Wonderstruck. But on that level he certainly delivers. You can’t say he doesn’t know how to make a picture. This one is beautiful, often gripping, and a pleasure to watch, even if it leaves you feeling mad about things.