DARK MONEY (B+) - A smart move to focus this on Montana politics drives this powerful polemic about the flood of untraceable contributions to political campaigns in the wake of the Supreme Court's landmark Citzens United decision of 2010. The filmmakers also luck out by latching on to John Adams, a dogged reporter for the Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune who faithfully "follows the money," as Woodward and Bernstein (and Deep Throat) taught us two generations ago.
Director Kimberly Reed (producer/editor of "Paul Goodman Changed My Life") maintains her footing and perspective over the course of 99 riveting minutes. Reed and co-writer Jay Arthur Sterrenberg do their homework, delving into the history of Montana politics and Montanans' century-long fight against the corrupting influence of money in its local politics. All of that history (mainly the longtime influence of the copper mines) -- and the state's constitution -- suffers repeated body blows from the right-wing zealots pushing a corporate-friendly that includes "right to work" bills and other anti-worker provisions.
Reed at one point, her frustration evident, bursts into a back-room bill-writing session at the legislature, where fat-cat politicians are literally allowing corporate lobbyists to draft legislation. Elsewhere she focuses on local and state-wide political races -- including that of incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester -- inundated with racy mailings paid for by right-wing billionaires. Reed follows the money and lays out the process by which non-profits hide behind shell entities and slither around reporting requirements.
Adams is the hero of the story. He won't quit even when Lee Enterprises downsizes him and others from their capitol bureau; instead, Adams downsizes his own life and launches a underdog watchdog blog that hounds a Republican legislator out of office. Reed also focuses on an un-retired prosecutor to dramatize that key corruption trial. She plods year by year from 2010 to 2017 until her story reaches a natural conclusion. The fight is not over, she suggests, but it can be won.
"Dark Money" is streaming on "POV" at PBS.org.
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