Inequality for All attempts to do for income inequality what An Inconvenient Truth did for the global warming/climate change debate. Immediately, if you agree with Reich's talking points about economics and who is exactly at fault for the economic downturn of recent years, you'll likely love Inequality for All and perhaps quote its statistical data in future debates. If you don't agree with Reich's points, you'll likely wind up hating the picture, dismissing it as biased, lefty-fodder and never think about it again. In other words, it's another typical political documentary in the regard that those who really need to see it and take things away from it probably won't.

That doesn't mean Reich's commentary on this particular issue should be casually dismissed and regarded as biased senselessness. Reich makes several great points in this documentary, and the film is worth seeing on the merits that he is a charismatic and very likable screen presence. The fact that Reich assumes a tone that is witty and informative without being too didactic and pompous already makes the film much more accomplished than An Inconvenient Truth. For starters, Reich's background is in economics. He has studied the field for many years and has worked under the Ford, Carter, and Clinton administrations, working as the Secretary of Labor under Clinton. To dismiss Reich's claims immediately as lefty-fodder or something along those lines is criminal just because he is at least more experienced than many people reviewing this film. I can't dismiss Reich's claims, nor can I back them up. I can simply try and view eye-to-eye with him before moving on.

Reich's film instantly feels like a PowerPoint presentation, with numerous infographs, charts, video clips, montages, etc appearing with Reich narrating and stating each piece of information's significance. This style makes for a basic, but very accessible film, which is what we need in the line of documentaries concerning politics and economics. They are topics that can get alienating and complex very easily, and Reich seems to be totally aware of that. What the man winds up doing, to combat the intimidating subjects, is offer a cleanly edited film, mixing in the aforementioned ingredients with bits of his lectures at Berkeley in order to create a very interesting and thoroughly entertaining film.

Probably his strongest takeaway point, even if, I feel, many of us already know this, is that a strong middle class is the key to a strong economy. One of his wealthy subjects is Nick Hanauer, a venture capitalist who makes the bold assertion that the rich do not create jobs or benefit the economy in a way that is as significant as what the middle class does. He sums this up nicely, commenting that while some people make in excess of $10 to $30 million dollars a year, paradoxically, they spend very little of it. Most of their money goes into investments or into a vault for their savings. The middle class, on the other hand, can only donate so much of their money to savings because many of them have outstanding bills that need be paid by a certain day. Hanauer also comments that America needs to forgo the failed concept of "trickle-down economics" in favor of "middle-out economics," which is the pro-business ideology to create a strong, viable middle class akin to that of the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. The question is how do we get there? Reich's other strong takeaway point is that the American "free market" isn't completely free in a large sense. For better or for worse, depending on what you believe, the government has regulated the market with countless organizations that either limit production, tell us how to produce something, and work in efforts to regulate business in a way that makes it meet certain requirements. For some, this will be old news but for others, like me, it provides a moment to truly think about. There truly is not such thing as a free-market; the only one that would exist would be under complete anarchy with no regulations whatsoever.

Director Jacob Kornbluth constantly makes an effort to show how baffling and simultaneously captivating Reich can be. At one point during Reich's presentation, he asks for an audience member's iPhone and questions to the masses where most of the proceeds from each purchase of an iPhone goes to. Many guess China and the United States, two countries directly involved in the solicitation and the manufacturing of said phone. It turns out 23% goes to Japan, 6% goes to the United States, roughly 3% goes back to China, something like 17% goes to Germany, and the remaining percent is scattered across the globe. The idea is that while iPhones are manufactured in one particular place (China),the parts for manufacturing just one phone come from all over the world, leaving many countries to share the profits unevenly.

While Inequality for All is a good lesson in economics, the real treat is getting to know Reich, who stands tall at just four feet, eleven inches, loves his MINI Cooper car because it feels in proportion to himself, and always brings a small wooden box to stand on wherever he goes to speak. The guy is just nine miles past adorable, and, agree or disagree with his points in the film, he has enough charisma to brighten a room and enough intelligence that everyone can take away something he says by the end of the documentary.

Starring: Robert Reich. Directed by: Jacob Kornbluth.

I write this review knowing that this documentary will be repulsive to certain people, especially people of a certain political party. For everyone else, this will be a wonderful documentary.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reish discusses economic inequality in America--its causes, its effects, and some of the solutions. Yes, I said solutions because income inequality is a problem. And maybe saying income inequality is a problem isn't correct, because there will always be income inequality; but the exorbitant income inequality we have now is a problem because of the grossly absurd amount of wealth that a few people have compared to the masses, and the outsized voice they have because of that wealth.

As was said in the documentary, "With money comes the capacity to control government."

At the time of the recording of this documentary the country's wealthiest 400 people had as much wealth as the bottom 150 million. That was nine years ago. I can almost guarantee that the inequality has grown. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk alone, whom I have no quarrel with, have as much wealth as the bottom 150 million people today.

"Inequality for All" is not just liberal whining and complaining. Reish highlights the problem, chronicles how we got here, shows why it is a problem, and mentions what we can do to reverse it. He doesn't deride capitalism or the U. S. government. He points out flaws as he sees them per his education and studies, and what can be done to fix them. One such solution was mentioned by an interviewee when he said, "We need to replace trickle down economics with middle out economics" because the middle class are the engine of our financial machine.

I liked the format, I liked Reish's expertise and his ability to clearly express himself. This documentary is not for everyone (especially if you're rich),but it can be a comfort to many knowing that you're not crazy, there is something wrong with our economic model.

Free on Tubi TV and with Amazon Prime.

I have become so cynical politically. I watched this and began to think, "OK. Another dose of reality for the powerless to absorb. I agree with Robert Reich but wonder where it will all end. The Koch brothers are down there buying political candidates (as are some of the liberal moneybags) and the middle class is being sold down the river. Instead of engaging the government, the Tea Party wants to end big government (ain't gonna happen) and there is more fragmentation all the time. We see those who oppose us (whatever side we're on) as our enemies. Do people realize that we are kind of set up for the new French Revolution? It probably doesn't matter because in about a hundred years we will deplete our resources and half the populated parts of our country will be flooded. Most interesting in this film was the shift of the 70's where women began to "have" to work, the extension of the workday (as well as second jobs) and the borrowing (second mortgages, etc.) have led us down this road. I see there are some single star reviews. This is the ridiculous effort to somehow diminish the rating of a film like this. The film makes many valid points and whether your in the pocket of the plutocrats or not, there is a lot to learn before it is too late.