Killer at Large (2008)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Steven Greenstreet

Writers:

Steven Greenstreet (writer)
Elias Pate (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

An overview of the politics, social effects and problems associated with the rising epidemic of American obesity. |

Plot Keywords:

Obesity | Expose

Cast

Richard Atkinson	...	Himself - Director, Obetech Obesity Research Center
Denise Austin	...	Herself - President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (archive footage)
Brooke Bates	...	Herself
Richard Berman	...	Himself - Center for Consumer Freedom (archive footage)
Shmuley Boteach	...	Himself - Author, Television Host (as Rabbi Shmuley Boteach)
Sam Brownback	...	Himself - U.S. Senator, (R-KS)
Kelly Brownell	...	Himself - Author, Food Fight
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
Earl L. Butz	...	Himself - Secretary of Agriculture, 1971-1976 (archive footage)
Richard Carmona	...	Himself - U.S. Surgeon General, 2002-2006 (archive footage)
Bill Clinton	...	Himself - 42nd President of the United States (archive footage)
Deborah Cohen	...	Herself
Chef Ann Cooper	...	Herself - Author, Lunch Lessons
Walter Cronkite	...	Himself (archive footage)
Morgan Downey	...	Himself - Executive Vice President, NAASO
Arthur Frank	...	Himself - Medical Director, George Washington University Weight Management Program
Barry Glassner	...	Himself - Author, The Gospel of Food
Tom Harkin	...	Himself - U.S. Senator (D-IA) (archive footage) (as Senator Tom Harkin)
Jim Hightower	...	Himself - Author / Radio Commentator
Mike Huckabee	...	Himself - Presidential Candidate (archive footage)
Michael F. Jacobson	...	Himself - Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Dr. Linda Kinsinger	...	Herself - Director, VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Neil LaBute	...	Himself - Film Director / Author, Fat Pig
Michael Leavitt	...	Himself - Secretary of Health and Human Services (archive footage)
Susan Linn	...	Herself - Author, Consuming Kids
Ronald McDonald	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ralph Nader	...	Himself - Consumer Advocate
Marion Nestle	...	Herself - Author, Food Politics
Richard Newman	...	Overweight business man
Bill O'Reilly	...	Himself (archive footage)
Deborah Platt Majoras	...	Herself - Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Michael Pollan	...	Himself, Author, The Omnivores Dilemma
Barry Popkin	...	Himself - Prof. of Nutrition & Economics, UNC
Meme Roth	...	Herself - National Action Against Obesity
Douglas Rushkoff	...	Himself - Author, Screenagers
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Himself - Governor of California (archive footage)
Michele Simon	...	Herself, Author, Appetite for Profit
Shawn M. Talbott	...	Himself - Nutritional Biochemist
Dr. Lionel Tiger	...	Himself - Author, The Pursuit of Pleasure
Brian Wansink	...	Himself - Author, Mindless Eating
Margo Wootan	...	Herself - Nutrition Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Also Known As:

Untitled Obesity Documentary (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

ShineBox Media Productions

Trivia:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture declined numerous interview requests. The last voice mail received from them said, "We have no one here qualified to talk to you about agriculture."

Quotes:

Himself - Author, Television Host: We also can't be emaciated scarecrows that get upset and go on Prozac for a month because we ate something that has a couple calories. Moderation... Moderation...

A serious social Issue

Before I write a review, I suppose I should let all the readers know that I am an athletic adult that tries to eat a proper diet. The reason why I bring this up, is because my views may be personally biased in favor of eating well.

So on with the review. Killer at large starts by illuminating the issue of obesity by educating us with the history of the matter. The movie then progresses to the groups involved in the obesity issue, them being as such; the individual, the farmers/food providers, corporations and then the govt. For each groups Killer at Large does a great job with in depth analysis.

The movie then is completed by showing how this issue of obesity is being counteracted.

My only issues with the film was that it almost seemed like it wanted to veer off into conspiracies at times. I would have also liked to see more information based on the farmers and how corporations ARE helping to solve the obesity epidemic.

Overall, I rather enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to someone interested in the obesity issue.