Movie Review - King Corn

King Corn (2007)
Director: Aaron Woolf
Actors: Earl Butz, Ian Cheney, Curt Ellis

Overall:
I really enjoyed this documentary because it wasn't a big budget, propaganda-filled film. It just focused on the issues and came across like an independent film about the realities of our modern diets. There's a lot that we should know about the agricultural industry and what we're putting in our bodies. It's actually quite amazing to discover how much corn-based product we consume on a daily basis.

Plot:
This film is a documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis are college buddies who travel to a small town in the heartland of America to learn about where their food comes from and with the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow an acre of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain. Along the way they also point out how pervasive corn has become in the modern American diet.

Setting/Mood:
Set in the sprawling corn fields of Iowa, the film paints a distinct picture of what life is like for the average American corn farmer and illustrates what they must do to stay in business. Nestled among the corn fields are also these anonymous small towns that are struggling to stay alive as the corn industry nears a crossroads. Although depressing at times, the underlying feeling throughout the film is that we ultimately have a choice about what we put into our bodies.

Acting:
What can you really expect from a couple of college students filming a documentary. They actually are pretty good on screen and keep it interesting. The supporting cast of characters are great and provide an authentic element to the film. With some of the farmers, you can just tell they haven't made it off the farm much.

Recommendation:
I'd recommend this film for anyone interested in the American agricultural industry, anyone concerned about what we put into our bodies, or anyone who just enjoys documentaries.