Inequality for All

Cast & Crew

Candice Bergen

Murphy Brown

Mary Tyler Moore

.Mary Richards

Dolly Parton

Doralee Rhodes

Jon Stewart

Self

Lily Tomlin

Violet Newstead

Conan O'Brien

Self

Jacob Kornbluth

Director

Jennifer Chaiken

Producer

Sebastian Dungan

Producer

Stephen M. Silberstein

Executive Producer

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News & Interviews for Inequality for All

New on Netflix in August

Critics Consensus: Rush and Don Jon Certified Fresh

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Critic Reviews for Inequality for All

Audience Reviews for Inequality for All

• Apr 15, 2014

  Former US Labour Secretary Robert Reich's examination of the growing economic gap between the rich and poor makes for very sobering viewing in a kind of financial version of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. If anything, Reich's reputation and employment history makes him an even more credible figure and he clearly and concisely explains how this massive inequality in the distribution of wealth occurred and how it will affect the workers of his country. Of course the entitled right will dismiss everything he says as "propaganda" and "socialism" but anyone with any sense of impartiality will see it as mere common sense; if the super rich continue extracting all the wealth from an economy and fail to inject anything back as they consistently do through tax evasion, investment in the financial sector instead of job creation and manufacture, and the use of offshore accounts and tax havens then the system becomes unsustainable. Reich himself makes an likeable and straight talking front man and although the film, like An Inconvenient Truth, is based upon a lecture, his affability and use of attractive and informative infographics means it never fails to entertain, despite the rather worrying message. Fascinating stuff and I'd have to say that anyone who still thinks that unfettered capitalism is a good thing after viewing this film must be the economic equivalent of a Creationist!
  

  Super Reviewer
• Feb 04, 2014

  This documentary directed by Jacob Kornbluth examines widening income inequality in the United States through the eyes (and narration) of the American economist, author and professor Robert Reich. Someone noticed that it is a book that pretends to be a movie, but with a colourful character like Reich that statement just made no sense! The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in the Documentary Competition section, and won a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement in Filmmaking. Definitely not a book award. The widening income inequality in the U.S.-currently at historic highs-gives Reich an opportunity to explores what effects this increasing gap has not only on the U.S. economy but American democracy itself. At the heart of the film is a simple proposition: What is a good society and what role does the widening income gap play in the deterioration of the nation's economic health? Robert Reich, author, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, official in three administrations, including United States Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, narrates the film. Reich is a thinker on the topic of inequality, having spoken on the subject for nearly three decades. He gives a personal touch to every segment and that is what it makes this documentary to work the best possible way. Public awareness of the issue of income inequality is not new, it has gained a momentum in the wake of the 2007-08 financial crisis and the rise of the Occupy movement. Over the last thirty years, before the latest recession, the U.S. economy doubled. But, according to this documentary, these gains went to a very few: the top 1% of earners now take in more than 20% of all income-three times what they did in 1970. Distortions are even more extreme at the very top. The 400 richest Americans now own more wealth than the bottom 150 million combined. While this level of inequality poses a serious risk to all Americans, regardless of income level, much of the rhetoric on this subject has been fuelled by anger and resentment from a frustrated middle class who feel their birthright - the American Dream - has been taken away from them. Very educational and relevant but sometimes to dry to swallow... all I have to say after watching it is - I am glad I am from Australia!
  

  Super Reviewer
• Oct 14, 2013

  "Inequality for All" is an enlightening documentary wherein Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, eloquently explains the causes of the inbalance of wealth in the United States and how it worsens democracy, via unlimited contributions to PAC's.(And indirectly a look at the rhetoric of certain campaigns versus the ensuing reality.) Throughout, he comes off as the hip professor college students dream of(his class at University of California - Berkeley which is sitting room only frames the movie) with his self-deprecating sense of humor.(Remind me to try and track down that skit he did with Conan O'Brien when I have a chance.) For once, I wish I was taking notes during a movie, because there is a lot of information to take in here. Basically, he takes a sledge hammer to the misguided idea of trickle down economics. In other words, there are only so many yachts, prostitutes and helicopters one can spend money on. Plus the wealthy have not been taxed that highly, and with loopholes, less than many people who make much less, thus lessening their contribution to government. In reality, what society relies on is the spending of the middle class but since wages have stagnated over the decades, they have less to spend and even make ends meet, so there is less to go to public universities(which once were and should be free) and people do not get the education they should and are unable to get decent jobs. As obviously smart as he is, Reich does not see what is in front of him, namely that the economy has been gradually shifting from a manufacturing one to a service economy with lower hourly wages, less benefits, part-time hours and more importantly even less chance to organize unions than before.(Reich overlooks this even though of all the people he talks to across the economic spectrum there are two from the service industry.) And even more disappointing is Reich's lack of possible solutions and ways to turn this around. Personally, I would start with the obvious like single payer healthcare and tryng to get people not to think of socialism as a dirty word any more.
  

  walter m Super Reviewer