2nd Sunday Cinema – THE INFORMANT – WHEN: Sunday September 8, 2013 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains 246 South Church Street Grass Valley,CA 95945 COST: Suggested Donation $5 - $10 CONTACT: UUCM and Peace Center of Nevada County 530 615-7859 Second Sunday Cinema presents a slight departure from its usual fare of documentary films and presents Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 political spoof thriller, “The Informant!” The story centers around Mark Whitacre who was the highest-ranking executive in U.S. history to blow the whistle in a case of corporate fraud. Whitacre, played by Matt Damon, was a top vice president of Archer Daniels Midland in Decatur, Illinois, one of the 50 largest corporations in America. Whitacre knew that ADM and its competitors were engaged in global price-fixing that cost consumers billions. The FBI recruits Whitacre as an informant, taps phones, teaches him to wear a wire and even videotapes price-fixing meetings, building an airtight case. Eventually three officials, including vice chairman Michael Andreas, son of the founder, were found guilty; the company was fined $100 million and paid another $400 million in a class action lawsuit. Convicted of embezzlement, Whitacre himself ended up with a prison sentence three times longer than any of the criminal executives he exposed. “The Informant!” is a smart, cynical movie about how we live now. Discussion to follow. Popcorn and goodies will be available. All proceeds shared with UUCM and the Peace Center of Nevada County.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 07:09:54 +0000