I love documentaries but since the age of Michael Moore where Documentaries became main stream entertainment I feel like you really have to watch these documentaries with at least a small grain of salt. Food Inc. is scary, shocking, eye opening and for the most part probably very true. The film also doesn't just show you where most of our food is coming and the problems with where its coming but tackles the major industries controlling the food production and farming and also shows some very scary control schemes that these industries are apparently forcing on certain farmers working for them. The biggest issue with the film in my opinion was that despite showing practical extortion against these farmers forcing them to raise and abuse animals in the most disgusting way to get food from them they don't attempt any resolution. They don't directly go after the corporations. Michael Moore or even Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) would pull some horrendously entertaining prank to bring this issue to their doorstep. Instead you're left only feeling complete and utter shock over the treatment of these animals, the corner that these farmers are pushed into.
However, even without this you are shown some really disturbing things done to food of all types that end up on our tables. I suppose the goal of this film is accomplished to me because sometimes consciously and sometimes sub consciously I have almost eliminated buying food from far away. I buy local grown meat etc. I'm sure organics truly is the key to health but not always an option but the film still gives you plenty of information to give you decent alternatives. I do believe this issue is very important to director Robert Kenner and that does matter. He doesn't hold any punches and shows some drastically disturbing images. If nothing else Food Inc. doesn't particularly go out of its way to be entertaining but instead goes for the message and does decently well. I didn't feel like it was world altering or "brilliant" but solid. 7/10
However, even without this you are shown some really disturbing things done to food of all types that end up on our tables. I suppose the goal of this film is accomplished to me because sometimes consciously and sometimes sub consciously I have almost eliminated buying food from far away. I buy local grown meat etc. I'm sure organics truly is the key to health but not always an option but the film still gives you plenty of information to give you decent alternatives. I do believe this issue is very important to director Robert Kenner and that does matter. He doesn't hold any punches and shows some drastically disturbing images. If nothing else Food Inc. doesn't particularly go out of its way to be entertaining but instead goes for the message and does decently well. I didn't feel like it was world altering or "brilliant" but solid. 7/10