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Occupy the Cinema: "Deepwater Horizon" and the Ruinous Results of Greed

Fri, 10/28/2016 - by Bill Arceneaux

The almost nightmarish reality of the modern American working class is the most prominent theme in "Deepwater Horizon." Represented most visually via the famous explosion and fiery flames that consumed a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, that nightmare is the end result of choosing to tow the bottom line over providing safety for your brothers and sisters in labor.

Often, my former union president father will bring up concerns about colleagues and management at his job, seething to ruffle some feathers. Suffice to say, one of his favorite movies is the Jimmy Hoffa biopic where Jack Nicholson leads the teamsters. But where "Hoffa" made a complex man into a martyr, "Deepwater Horizon" shines a light on the climb up the corporate ladder most violently, and for all its wrongdoing and evil.

Most unexpectedly, too.

Early talk spoke of Director Peter Berg’s latest as more action flick than anything else. It is true, Berg tends to go for Michael Bay spectacle and sentiment over meaningful depth. However, I would argue that his style is much more controlled and mannered than, say, a "Transformers" movie, which is the epitome of obnoxious screen time. With "Horizon," Berg has reached peak skillset, going above and beyond mere “action” and sliding most comfortably into thrilling drama. Why can’t action and drama merge without looking silly? Because one makes the other weak, and the whole falls apart. But "Horizon" never falls into this trap, tempering its dramatics with charismatic and committed acting, and building up its action with looming tension and foreshadowing.

Mark Wahlberg’s character tells his superior, a BP manager played expertly by John Malkovich, “Hope alone ain’t gonna save you.” He was referencing the manager’s chance-taking with safety measures that were lacking on their rig. Malkovich's corner cutting, driven by his need for recognition and promotion, is what leads to the downfall. Malkovich attempts some sly intimidation, but crawls into desperation when cornered.

Anyone who has worked nine to five knows this type of boss – the spineless and frustrated individual who hopes things will just work out, mostly for him/her, at the expense of everyone. At once, he is the embodiment of the BP (British Petroleum) mantra and a victim of corporate treat dangling. But while the idea of getting your slice of the pie if you make money fast enough is enticing for some, and complete bull for others. In a way, Malkovich’s performance may be the best on-screen potential Trump voter yet. He could be any one of us, really. Given the right circumstances, we all could become blinded by greed-driven goals.

"Deepwater Horizon" never gets exploitative with its "true events" tagline, remaining a thoughtful memorial to those that survived and those who passed. As characters walk down hallways, before and after the destruction, photographs on walls and in the background remind us of the human toll this event took on so many families, beyond the rig itself and into the oil spill days. "United 93" almost works as a good measurement for this film, with similar camera movements and dedication to the real people.

But "Horizon" makes a leap forward by taking appropriate creative license, expressing the public's distaste and disgust that was, and still is, toward BP and negligent corporate culture in general. Perhaps some things didn’t happen exactly as depicted, but I’d venture to say that "Horizon" got at the heart and feel of these moments, even if it had to elevate and heighten them.

After the disastrous explosion, survivors were greeted at a hotel by BP lawyers, who handed out pamphlets and requested that nobody talk to press. Clearly, they care. Still, they too are just doing their jobs in an attempt to fulfill their dreams and achieve that “promise” of reaching the top. But at what cost to yourself? And at what cost to others? It's possible that even chairmen and CEOs are victims of the monstrous system that benefits them, as they continue to play the ponzi scheme and reach for the reigns of God which, of course, remain out of reach.

Are you successful enough? Never. It is an epidemic and a vast majority are sick. Not even a massive fire on a ship in the ocean can offer a cure. What, then, will?