The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron
The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron | |
---|---|
Directed by | Penelope Spheeris |
Written by | Stephen Mazur |
Produced by | Robert Greenwald |
Starring | Brian Dennehy Shannon Elizabeth Christian Kane Mike Farrell Cameron Bancroft |
Music by | Brad Chiet |
Release date | January 5, 2003 |
Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron is an American television movie aired by CBS in January 2003, which was based on the book Anatomy of Greed by Brian Cruver.[1] The film, which stars Brian Dennehy, Christian Kane and Mike Farrell, and was directed by Penelope Spheeris, was a ratings hit for the network.[2][3]
Synopsis
Based on the first-person book by Brian Cruver, Anatomy of Greed, The Crooked E television movie chronicles the rise and fall of the Houston-based Enron Corporation. The film offers the perspective of Cruver, played by Christian Kane, depicted as a brilliant but naïve young salesman who was seduced by the company's "get rich quick" mantra. The extravagant company culture is shown through scenes of extreme office parties, over-the-top expense accounts, and sexy female employees. When the company inevitably crashes in the fall of 2001, the film shows how shareholders and employees suffered the most. Real-life executives are portrayed in the film, including Enron Chairman Ken Lay played by Mike Farrell, CEO Jeff Skilling played by Jon Ted Wynne, and whistleblower Sherron Watkins played by Jan Skene, while other characters are renamed (presumably to protect the innocent) such as senior executive Mr. Blue played by Brian Dennehy.
Cast
- Christian Kane as Brian Cruver
- Philip Lockwood as Brian Cruver (10-years-old)
- Shannon Elizabeth as Courtney
- Cameron Bancroft as Duffy
- Nancy Anne Sakovich as Liz Perry (credited as Nancy Sakovich)
- Jonas Chernick as Bernie Bickers
- J.D. Jenson-Eirickson as Bernie Bickers (10-years-old)
- Natalie Brown as Amber St. Pierre / Miss April
- Aleks Paunovic as Lazarri
- Jonathan Higgins as Greg McLainey
- Mike Farrell as Kenneth Lay
- Brian Dennehy as Mr. Blue
- Jon Ted Wynne as Jeff Skilling
- Paul Christie as Andrew Tillman
- Tom Keenan as Allen Flemming
- Larissa Gomes as Anna-Marie
- Jennifer Hill as Miss August
- Steven Ratzlaff as Welling
- Erin Selby as Jill Hacket, Reporter
- Wayne Nicklas as Richard Grubman, Analyst
- Robert Huculak as Andrew Fastow
- Kate Steen as Miss June
- Bradley Sawatzky as Mr. E.
- Jeremy Koz as Jeremy, Courtney's Brother (credited as Jeremy Kozielec)
- John Bluethner as Ted, Brian's Father
- Jan Skene as Sheron Watkins
- Edward Sutton as Courtney's Dad
- Warren Louis Wiltshire as Ken Rice
Production
The Crooked E was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Criticism
The author of the book and ex-Enron employee says that the strippers hired as secretaries have more exposure in the film than they did in his book and that the employee rallies were more dramatic in real life than in the film, but for the most part, the TV movie gets it right.[1]
Related books and films
- Anatomy of Greed – Brian Cruver's book on which The Crooked E is based.
- Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room - Documentary film depicting the rise and fall of Enron.
References
- ^ McDaniel, Mike and Clifford Pugh. "'Crooked E' scores direct hit in local ratings battle." Houston Chronicle. January 7, 2003. Retrieved on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Article about The Crooked E