There are lots of ways to start a revolution. James Scurlock plans to do it with a movie. His new documentary, Maxed Out, lays bare how a credit industry is preying on ordinary middle class families.
Scurlock may have the next breakout movie—think, Supersize Me or March of the Penguins. His story is by turns funny, frightening and so infuriating that politicians should consider whether something that looks as boring as credit reform could be turned into a rabble-rousing stump speech.
The film has its share of jaw-dropping moments. Did you know, for example, that while you need to sweat out your credit report,the credit bureaus keep a special “V.I.P.” list of prominent citizens whose reports are specially tidied up so they look cleaner than they really are? If the big boys never experience the harassment or increased costs of a credit ding, then they are a lot less likely to insist on more legal oversight. There are many ways to lobby, and this one requires no reporting at all.
The film premiered this week-end at a film festival in Austin, Texas. For anyone in the area, you still have two chances to see it: Paramount Theater, Tuesday, March 14, at 4:15 PM and Friday, March 17, at 11 AM. The next stop is Full Frame in Durham, NC (Duke University) from April 6-9th. You can visit the website for updates.
Go see it. The reviewers like it. And you might get a glimpse of the first spark in a revolution.
