Watch The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy is a 2016 documentary film that takes a hard-hitting look at American democracy and the way that money influences politics. Directed by investigative journalist Greg Palast, the film draws on his years of experience covering the intersection of politics and finance to present a compelling and occasionally shocking analysis of the current state of American politics.

One of the biggest strengths of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy is its ability to make complex political issues accessible to a wide audience. Palast is a gifted storyteller, and he uses a range of different narrative techniques to keep viewers engaged and informed throughout. These range from animation and reenactments to interviews with key political figures and data visualizations that help to illustrate some of the more complex points that he is trying to make.

The film is unapologetically left-leaning, and it is clear from the outset that Palast's aim is to expose the ways in which the American system is rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful. This is not to say that he is blindly partisan—he is equally critical of both major political parties—but rather that he sees money as the root of many of the problems facing American democracy today.

One of the key themes of the film is the way in which voter suppression is used to suppress the voice of ordinary citizens. Palast spends a lot of time looking at the various ways in which voter suppression is carried out, from gerrymandering to restrictive voter ID laws. He also examines the ways in which elections are influenced by big money, looking at the role of Super PACs and the way in which corporations often fund both sides of a political campaign in order to hedge their bets.

Palast is an engaging and entertaining presenter, and he is ably supported by a range of high-profile interviewees, including Rosario Dawson, Willie Nelson, and Richard Belzer. One of the most memorable interviews comes with Edward Asner, who is a long-standing critic of what he sees as the corrupting influence of money on politics.

The film is not without its flaws, however. Palast has a tendency to be somewhat glib at times, and his relentless focus on the negative aspects of American democracy can be somewhat wearing. Some viewers may also find the somewhat conspiratorial tone of the film off-putting, although this is perhaps to be expected given Palast's background as an investigative journalist.

Despite its flaws, however, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy is an important and timely film that offers a powerful critique of the state of American democracy today. It is a call to arms for those who believe that politics should be about more than just money and power, and a rallying cry for those who are committed to building a fairer and more just society. Whether you are a political junkie or simply someone who is interested in the health of democracy, this is a film that is well worth watching.

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 58.