But with "Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer" there is this: Emerging from the shadows of previous media reporting to seem -- and in some circumstances sneer -- facing Gibney's unblinking cameras are a host of characters that could make Dickens weep with joy.
The film is paying homage to Marina Zenovich's Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, when a documentarian requires a fresh have a look at what seems like an overly familiar report only to surprise you with details and backstories that eluded reporters of the time.
The film plays around with quick takes on Spitzer's psychological makeup and stories about playing Monopoly together with his real-estate mogul dad. But the film genuinely hits its stride when it zeroes in on Spitzer's years as New York's governor.
The film singles out two, who cheerfully appear prior to Gibney's cameras to gloat: Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, former chairman and CEO of the now-infamous AIG, and venture capitalist Ken Langone, the New York Stock Exchange board director who signed off by using an outrageous pay package for the chairman and CEO, Richard Grasso.
Spitzer's biggest mistake may well are already to personalize his battles with such individuals. The film strongly implies these men worked behind the curtain to bring Spitzer down.
As also does Roger Stone, who's the G. Gordon Liddy of the bizarre case. A Republican dirty trickster disdained even by numerous in his own party, Stone poses for beefcake pictures, displays a tattoo on his back of his hero Nixon and shows participation of swinging. He also was hired by New York republicans to look following Spitzer. The person is not credible in interviews, but he does not mind teasing suggestions he played some role in Spitzer's downfall.
Spitzer, who's precise in a lot of recollections, delivers only foggy generalizations to spell out his hubris. The truth remains that American politicians of most stripes in no way get laid low by lying for the public or taking questionable contributions. In passing, an early Spitzer aide muses a French politician would treat such a scandal being a campaign asset. But this perhaps is really a subject for yet another intriguing Gibney documentary.
