Food Inc. - B

On DVD. Rated PG, 94 minutes. Trailer.

Food Inc. is a documentary examining the American food industry and its impact on consumers. Its proponents make it sound like a modern day version of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle but it fails to live up to the hype. Those viewers who are already obsessed with 'food origin' and always eating organic pancakes with vegan honey will think this film is a religious experience. For me, a middle-of-the-road eater, the film was interesting and surprisingly realistic in its portrayal of the problem and the solution, but frustrated me with its overly dramatic tone and lack of any major revelations or insights. Click below for more an Oscar nominated FOOD:

The following are the 'big reveals' of the film: (1) Most food comes from a few companies; (2) An insane amount of food is corn based; and (3) Cheap food isn't as healthy as organic, expensive food - None of which are shocking or revelatory to any informed person. The film starts with an interview with Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, in a diner while he eats a hamburger and fries - a refreshingly realistic way to start the movie. Next we hear all about the consolidation of food production over the past century into the hands of only 4 companies. The director, Robert Kenner, uses interesting visual cues and setups to display the changes in food production and the food itself.

The music and voiceovers are too heavy-handed given the subject matter. Food is an important subject, but give me a break. I can't fault the filmmakers for taking their subject seriously, but it undermined the effectiveness of the film for me. My favorite parts were the interviews with the ex-hippie, current organic company CEO talking about how the way to fix the system is to vote with your dollars because the market serves the people - an amazing truth spoken by leftist. There are also a series of scenes with an organic farmer that work because of his earnestness and plainspoken manner. The final argument in the film is against Monsanto, which owns the patent to the main soybean used in America and agressively enforces its rights - the blame for this is put on the government and former ceos of the affected companies.

All in all, an interesting film. It is weird that a head of lettuce costs the same as a hamburger, and I do wish food was healthier, but I am not sure I am ready to pay for it. I think The Cove is better than this, but this will probably win the Oscar for best documentary because it reinforces the food as religion feelings of a big percentage of the Academy.