Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Monsanto is the world leader in genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as one of the most controversial corporations in industrial history. This century-old empire has created some of the most toxic products ever sold, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the herbicide Agent Orange. Based on a painstaking investigation, The World According to Monsanto puts together the pieces of the company’s history, calling on hitherto unpublished documents and numerous first-hand accounts.
A methodical investigative documentary that assembles damning archival evidence and firsthand accounts about Monsanto's history of toxic products and corporate malfeasance. The plot/structure is competent but follows a fairly standard expose format—effective but not cinematically inventive. Cinematography is functional documentary work with talking heads and archival footage, nothing visually distinguished. Novelty earns a modest above-average score for its depth of research and the specificity of its subject at the time, though the corporate-villain documentary format is well-worn. The ending lands with appropriate gravity, reinforcing the investigative thesis without offering resolution. Acting category reflects interview subjects rather than performers—credible but uneven in screen presence.