Greedy Lying Bastards

Greedy Lying Bastards is a jaw-dropping 2012 documentary directed by Craig Rosebraugh that sheds light on the manipulation and deceit being employed by the fossil fuel industry on the global stage. Enoch Adams, George W. Bush, and Philip Cooney star in this hard-hitting film that unapologetically pulls back the curtain on climate change denial, showing the public the scandalous truth behind the world's environmental and political landscape.

Enoch Adams, an Inuit community leader from Kivalina in northwest Alaska, is our canary in the coal mine, guiding us through the firsthand climatic changes happening in his community. Adams, with his grounded perspective and intimate experiences, makes for a compelling presence who connects easily with the audience, helping them understand the concrete realities of climate change and its impact on small communities who rely heavily on nature's balance for sustenance.

George W. Bush is present in the film primarily through archival footage and notable instances from his presidency that shaped the direction of climate change policy in the United States. Bush's well-documented connections with the oil industry, his administration's viewpoint on climate change, and their approach to environmental regulations, become all the more prominent when examined in the context of the broader issue at stake.

Philip Cooney serves as a prime example of corporate interference in climate policy. Formerly the chief lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute and then the chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Bush administration, Cooney's role in editing and revising government climate reports to downplay the seriousness of global warming is highlighted.

Greedy Lying Bastards delves deep, shedding light on how Big Oil, fossil fuel interests, and climate change denial machinery have effectively derailed efforts to address the massive global crisis of climate change. The film meticulously details the complex and insidious network comprising multinational corporations, politicians, and clandestine groups, all working together to obstruct legislative climate change measures and misinform the public for their profit-oriented interests.

At the same time, the film offers a global perspective on the human and environmental cost of climate change. It uses specific case studies, like the wildfires in Colorado and the deadly drought in the Horn of Africa, to emphasize that the consequences of climate change are not abstract or confined to the future; they are real, tangible, and happening right now.

Despite the grim picture it paints, Greedy Lying Bastards also proves to be empowering, with segments of the documentary devoted to showing the audience what actions they can take to combat these crippling effects of climate change, thus providing a hopeful note amidst the stark reality of the situation.

Rosebraugh's direction is sharp, candid and always on point. Coupled with an investigative journalistic approach, Greedy Lying Bastards exposes the devastating machinations of the fossil fuel industry and climate deniers with damning evidence, leaving no room for dismissing the gravity of the problem.

Overall, Greedy Lying Bastards is indomitable and thought-provoking. It examines a complex and urgent issue in a way that's accessible, engaging, and deeply disturbing. This is a documentary that educates you, enrages you, and compels you to take action. It's a significant contribution to the world of environmental documentaries and an eye-opening call to arms in the face of an escalating global crisis.