Vergiftete Wahrheit

Dark Waters benefits primarily from three things. A portly, boisterous, and superb Mark Ruffalo playing an attorney who doesn't look like much at first, but the longer the game plays out, the more adamant he eventually becomes. An excellent, almost Chernobyl-like gloomy atmosphere, and of course the fact that it all takes place in a long time span and is based on a true story. A remarkable procedural that might have benefited from a slightly sharper pace at times, but the message speaks for itself. (11.04.2020)

Dark Waters is a rather standard, though high-quality, drama about a long “David versus Goliath" legislative battle in which the arrangement is clear. A conglomerate hiding its misconduct against nature/humanity and a lawyer who is becoming disillusioned but not losing his ethics. It follows the plot of the well-known Erin Brockovich and other, similar movies. What makes this memorable is the impressively disturbing Chernobyl-esque atmosphere, especially during the first half. (01.03.2020)

A dark, disturbing, distressing, but above all excellent psychological drama based on real events with an excellent Mark Ruffalo. The story focuses on a farmer whose cattle start dying in an unpleasant way and he suspects that there are pollutants in the water from the chemical giant Dupont, and would like to sue them. Every lawyer is afraid to risk their career against that massive corporation so he tries to approach Ruffalo, who represents the company. This is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity and I would make it compulsory to show the film in schools. The film has a grim atmosphere, like Chernobyl, an oppressive setting and lots of interesting information, and the scene where the farmer describes and shows what the chemicals have done to his cows was a highlight. I was very uncomfortable at times, but I definitely recommend it. Must see affair. Story*****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence*, Entertainment****, Music***, Visuals****, Atmosphere*****, Suspense****. 8/10. (27.09.2020)

A disturbing and chilling courtroom drama that benefits most from engaging direction, skillfully built tension and, most importantly, a great performance by Mark Ruffalo, here in a different role than the Hulk we usually know him as. The whole case is extremely interesting, the fight of a group of lawyers against a large corporation that has been deliberately poisoning the water and air of Virginia for years is insane, it draws you pretty well into the story and you eagerly await the final denouement and verdict. It has a few deaf spots, but as a whole it's more than good and the amount of information you learn from the film is priceless. I just love these courtroom thrillers. (03.08.2022)

I expected big things and basically that’s what I got. Overall, it’s perhaps a by-the-numbers and straightforward legal drama that actually communicates very smartly with the viewer, generating a feeling of total frustration over the pragmatically cold delay and the inability of the law to move with a clear case despite the obvious evidence. What’s most interesting is that the attention is not supposed to be directed backwards but forwards, towards the clearly desired outcome, which is just as unpleasant as the events before, though. If the script was more supportive of the traditionally excellent Ruffalo and focused less on family clichés about work and self-sacrifice, this could have been one of the best films of the year. 85% (18.03.2020)