McLibel (2005)

DVD: McLibel

The McNightmare is Real

Two London activists go up against the global McMafia in what became the longest trial in British history.

This film should be taught in every grammar school — or at least junior high.

I was ecstatic when I first learned about this film, and I put it at the top of my queue. England has draconian libel laws and the balance is clearly skewed to the one with the bigger pocketbook. In this case the mismatch was so gratuitous and ridiculous, that even if you were a McDonald’s shareholder you’d have to be rooting for Dave and Helen by the end.

The hidden microphone conversations with the capos is hilarious. Some McHonchos flew over to try and force a settlement, while not actually agreeing to anything in exchange. The conversations are revealing of a corporate criminal mindset and disdain for the concept of free speech.

I’m not sure how anyone can eat at the open grease pit, which is the subject of the film, but people do. Perhaps if they saw this film, they wouldn’t.

McLibel’s got a third act, and a twist ending … and that’s all I’ll say.

DVD: Super Size Me

Except they also gave a shout out to Morgan Spurlock and his Supersize Me experiment.