Director
Todd Haynes
(WONDERSTRUCK, CAROL, FAR FROM HEAVEN, I’M NOT THERE)

Starring
Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Bill Camp, Victor Garber and Tim Robbins

If courtroom dramas and films that tackle true life social and/or political matters are of instant and major appeal to you as they to me, then mark down DARK WATERS as a must-see film, for it fits both descriptions.

Based on a 2016 article published in The New York Times, DARK WATERS chronicles the environmental lawsuit against chemical company giant DuPont and focuses on the professional and personal challenges and consequences faced by the corporate defence attorney suing them, Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo). As a devout Christian and devoted family man, Rob simply cannot ignore or sit idly after a farmer from West Virginia, Wilbur (Bill Camp) visits the Cincinnati law firm he works for in a distressed and rather aggressive state. Wilbur insists that Rob investigates the link between DuPont and a high number of livestock he owns that have died and/or suffered from mysterious medical ailments.

As I eluded to earlier, DARK WATERS presents a story that I immediately become inherently engaged and absorbed by. The film heightened my level of involvement from very early courtesy of the crystal clear explanations given of all detail, but especially some very specific and vital information, and its perfect pacing. However, while writing this review, I had to remind myself of something quite important. Stories such as the one rendered here can quite easily consume every ounce of my attention and appreciation. As a result, any other filmmaking woes or achievements may get overlooked. So, placing the plot aside, is DARK WATERS as engrossing and high in quality as it sounds?

The answer is no. When watching a film based on a true story, sometimes you observe certain scenes, pieces of a plot or sub-plot, or characters whose purpose is to enhance the dramatisation of the film. Though I don’t know everything that is fact versus what is fiction here, DARK WATERS also fits that description. Of course, almost all biopics are produced this way, but it’s definitely been done so more seamlessly than it is here. One spoiler-free example I can give is the characterisation of Rob’s wife Sarah Bilott (Anne Hathway), which I found to be ill-conceived by the end.

Though the film’s fairly minor indiscretions keep it a class below similar types of movies such as Oscar-winner SPOTLIGHT and recent release OFFICIAL SECRETS, they’re never significant enough to render it a film to miss. It’s also important to make viewers aware that this drama places its entire focus on the central character and his good-willed efforts to uncover the truth and bring justice upon the perpetrators. We get to learn many of the details pertaining to the case simultaneously with Rob, which I feel does benefit the film. What that also means though, is the writers (and probably the article this story is based upon) don’t allow or devote much time at all to any downfalls there may be at the conclusion of this case. As such, the ending can feel anti-climactic and a tad abrupt. Hopefully this piece of information helps you to attend a session of DARK WATERS with the right expectations to avoid any feeling of disappointment.

3½ stars

Viewer Discretion
M (Mature themes and coarse language)

Trailer
DARK WATERS

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

DARK WATERS is released in cinemas throughout Australia from 5th March, 2020.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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