by Josh Sewell
Courtroom dramas have long been a staple of cinema and television, mainly due to their penchant for high stakes speechifying in front of the camera and stable, relatively inexpensive locations behind the scenes. Naturally, when the riveting facts of a real-life case intersect with the ongoing controversies of genetically modified food and massive corporations putting local farmers out of business, it makes sense that it would be perfect subject matter for the genre.
That’s precisely what viewers will get with Percy Vs Goliath, a recent film that tackles one farmer’s quest to expose agricultural behemoth Monsanto’s shady, cutthroat business practices. Directed by veteran actor and filmmaker Clark Johnson, the drama does an admirable job of laying out the complex details of the case for a general audience, all while keeping it grounded by showing the toll a long, costly legal battle takes on regular folks who don’t have access to a team of expensive, high-powered attorneys.
Christopher Walken plays Percy Schmeiser, a third-generation farmer in Canada who is sued by Monsanto for allegedly growing their patented seeds without a permit. With few resources to fight back and the corporation threatening to drive him into bankruptcy, Schmeiser and his wife Louise (Roberta Maxwell) turn to attorney Jackson Weaver (Zach Braff) and environmental activist Rebecca Salcau (Christina Ricci) for help.
Facing adversity from every direction, including derision from their once-supportive neighbors, the Schmeisers take their monumental case all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court. However, there’s a chance that the players’ personal agendas could derail everything.
Percy Vs Goliath wears its heart on its sleeve, so for the most part it’s a compelling watch. However, screenwriters Garfield Lindsay Miller and Hilary Pryor sometimes get bogged down in didactic sermonizing. It also doesn’t help that some of the supporting characters’ personalities change on a whim, depending on the needs of the script.
Fortunately, the brief 90-minute runtime and strong performances keep it from going off the rails. Walken is phenomenal in a quiet, understated performance that should remind viewers why he’s an Oscar winner, not just the “more cowbell” guy whose distinctive voice spawned a million terrible impressions. He deserves to be a part of the upcoming awards season’s Best Actor conversation, but I’m guessing the film’s almost invisible release will keep him sidelined.
Braff is strong as Schmeiser’s attorney, a well-intentioned guy who quickly realizes he’s in over his head against a corporation with virtually unlimited resources. He’s only in a few scenes, but he makes his character endearing and hints at a backstory that I would’ve liked to learn more about. Adam Beach, always a welcome presence onscreen (even when he’s wasted in junk like the first Suicide Squad), is also great as a local farmer who faces repercussions for supporting his friend.
Sadly, if anyone gets short shrift in the film, it’s Ricci. Her character’s personality alternates between kind, cynical, cutthroat and back again with almost no warning, which is disorienting to say the least. It’s a testament to the actress’ immense talent that her performance is still strong despite the role’s tendency to induce mental whiplash.
From an artistic standpoint, Percy Vs Goliath is pretty standard fare. Aside from a handful of beautiful establishing shots of Canadian farmland – and India, in a clunky subplot that attempts to establish the global stakes of Schmeiser’s battle – this could be a made-for-television movie that was a network staple back in the 1990s.
Nevertheless, the story’s noble intentions and an important message about the necessity of small businesses and the power of local activists make it an interesting watch. Since it preaches to the choir, it essentially serves as a pep rally for viewers who understand the importance of standing up against corporate bullying, even when it seems like a futile effort. However, for the people who stumble across it for the interesting story and fantastic cast, Percy Vs Goliath is a solid entry point into one of the most important fights of our era.
Percy Vs Goliath is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements. Available on DVD and digital.
Grade: B
That’s precisely what viewers will get with Percy Vs Goliath, a recent film that tackles one farmer’s quest to expose agricultural behemoth Monsanto’s shady, cutthroat business practices. Directed by veteran actor and filmmaker Clark Johnson, the drama does an admirable job of laying out the complex details of the case for a general audience, all while keeping it grounded by showing the toll a long, costly legal battle takes on regular folks who don’t have access to a team of expensive, high-powered attorneys.
Christopher Walken plays Percy Schmeiser, a third-generation farmer in Canada who is sued by Monsanto for allegedly growing their patented seeds without a permit. With few resources to fight back and the corporation threatening to drive him into bankruptcy, Schmeiser and his wife Louise (Roberta Maxwell) turn to attorney Jackson Weaver (Zach Braff) and environmental activist Rebecca Salcau (Christina Ricci) for help.
Facing adversity from every direction, including derision from their once-supportive neighbors, the Schmeisers take their monumental case all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court. However, there’s a chance that the players’ personal agendas could derail everything.
Percy Vs Goliath wears its heart on its sleeve, so for the most part it’s a compelling watch. However, screenwriters Garfield Lindsay Miller and Hilary Pryor sometimes get bogged down in didactic sermonizing. It also doesn’t help that some of the supporting characters’ personalities change on a whim, depending on the needs of the script.
Fortunately, the brief 90-minute runtime and strong performances keep it from going off the rails. Walken is phenomenal in a quiet, understated performance that should remind viewers why he’s an Oscar winner, not just the “more cowbell” guy whose distinctive voice spawned a million terrible impressions. He deserves to be a part of the upcoming awards season’s Best Actor conversation, but I’m guessing the film’s almost invisible release will keep him sidelined.
Braff is strong as Schmeiser’s attorney, a well-intentioned guy who quickly realizes he’s in over his head against a corporation with virtually unlimited resources. He’s only in a few scenes, but he makes his character endearing and hints at a backstory that I would’ve liked to learn more about. Adam Beach, always a welcome presence onscreen (even when he’s wasted in junk like the first Suicide Squad), is also great as a local farmer who faces repercussions for supporting his friend.
Sadly, if anyone gets short shrift in the film, it’s Ricci. Her character’s personality alternates between kind, cynical, cutthroat and back again with almost no warning, which is disorienting to say the least. It’s a testament to the actress’ immense talent that her performance is still strong despite the role’s tendency to induce mental whiplash.
From an artistic standpoint, Percy Vs Goliath is pretty standard fare. Aside from a handful of beautiful establishing shots of Canadian farmland – and India, in a clunky subplot that attempts to establish the global stakes of Schmeiser’s battle – this could be a made-for-television movie that was a network staple back in the 1990s.
Nevertheless, the story’s noble intentions and an important message about the necessity of small businesses and the power of local activists make it an interesting watch. Since it preaches to the choir, it essentially serves as a pep rally for viewers who understand the importance of standing up against corporate bullying, even when it seems like a futile effort. However, for the people who stumble across it for the interesting story and fantastic cast, Percy Vs Goliath is a solid entry point into one of the most important fights of our era.
Percy Vs Goliath is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements. Available on DVD and digital.
Grade: B
Reach out to Josh Sewell on Twitter @IAmJoshSewell
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