As a documentary movie aficionado I see dozens of documentaries a year, about people/social issues, the environment, corporate greed, you name it I'll see it. I usually have an underdog penchant and find such documentaries quite appealing to my sense of fairness and justice. If they are well done in a movie sense, then that is a bonus on top of the message.
This film Bananas failed in both regards. From the outset, the sleazy Cuban/American ambulance chasing lawyer is completely untrustworthy looking and suspicious. Shown racing around in his noisy red Lamborghini, contemplating his riches while puffing on a huge cigar, showing off his nice office, doing radio shows were he parades his achievements... Everything about this lawyer is off-putting.
Then the material itself, witnesses who purger themselves, no investigation shown, confusing legalese as to whether it's a class action or only for the six first clients, to which were added six other clients??? Very little contact time with main lawyer. To add to the confusion, the time-line is often unclear. That particular pesticide was banned in the late 70s and it appears that the workers were questioned regarding work conditions during that period. I do not recall the film mentioning at which date the pesticide stopped being used. But the film does insinuate that it is no longer in use at present date.
Really the only interesting scenes were those where one of Doles VPs concedes to all points raised by the prosecution, but seeming to be very secure regarding the pesticide application methods practiced by the company.
Unfortunately, the most truth resonating moment in the film is in the epilogue. Where it is stated that the partial victory was overturned due to perjury by witness and prosecuting team.
This topic had great potential to make for an excellent documentary, but it failed miserably on all counts. I suspect the failure is in large part due to the ambulance-chasing lawyer's suspicious behaviour and lack of professionalism. How unfortunate to waste such a great opportunity.
This film Bananas failed in both regards. From the outset, the sleazy Cuban/American ambulance chasing lawyer is completely untrustworthy looking and suspicious. Shown racing around in his noisy red Lamborghini, contemplating his riches while puffing on a huge cigar, showing off his nice office, doing radio shows were he parades his achievements... Everything about this lawyer is off-putting.
Then the material itself, witnesses who purger themselves, no investigation shown, confusing legalese as to whether it's a class action or only for the six first clients, to which were added six other clients??? Very little contact time with main lawyer. To add to the confusion, the time-line is often unclear. That particular pesticide was banned in the late 70s and it appears that the workers were questioned regarding work conditions during that period. I do not recall the film mentioning at which date the pesticide stopped being used. But the film does insinuate that it is no longer in use at present date.
Really the only interesting scenes were those where one of Doles VPs concedes to all points raised by the prosecution, but seeming to be very secure regarding the pesticide application methods practiced by the company.
Unfortunately, the most truth resonating moment in the film is in the epilogue. Where it is stated that the partial victory was overturned due to perjury by witness and prosecuting team.
This topic had great potential to make for an excellent documentary, but it failed miserably on all counts. I suspect the failure is in large part due to the ambulance-chasing lawyer's suspicious behaviour and lack of professionalism. How unfortunate to waste such a great opportunity.