Unraveled

I watched Unraveled at the Los Angeles Film Festival 2011 and thought it was a great doc. They managed to capture a unique portrait of Marc Drier's story because you watch the failed attorney turned crook sitting in his lavish 10 million dollar NYC penthouse as he is waiting to be sent to prison for a very long time. It was interesting to see how glamorous his apartment and possessions were at one point in time and then the end result of barren walls and packaged boxes. I watch American Greed and that type of show on a regular basis (which Drier was featured on) so this doc was on my must see list. The animations were well done and added a cool look to the movie. If you have a chance to see this I would definitely recommend...Overall a great doc with an interesting story.

I'm not a lawyer but an observer of our political system. This is required viewing. This documentary gives a bird's eye view of how the rich keep getting away with huge financial crimes while only a handful get caught. Many more keep doing what they are doing because of the opportunity and lack of measures in place that keep them in check. All the while, they keep raking in huge profits on the backs of the rest of us. This documentary should be required viewing in every college level ethics class and in every high school social studies class. Very well done. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout.

I'm not an attorney or finance guru but a person that is fascinated by financial crime stories. Let's face it-this was a BIG one. I recommend this documentary if you're interested in understanding the "why" of Marc Dreier's fraud and the economic environment that helped to create his empire. Thus, you will gain some insight into the 2008 financial crisis.

I couldn't help but like Marc Dreier as I watched him engage with his son and dog. His rise & fall was thought-provoking and had me asking myself: Would I ever do the same given the opportunity? What would stop me- virtue(I hope) or the fear of being caught? Also-the injected animations were well-done(similar to comic book)and the irony was not lost on me via our economic climate.

I found this fascinating, but not fun. It was like watching a train wreck. I may have been more interested because I am an attorney. Specifically, as a civil litigator who practiced as a CPA for years before becoming an attorney, I found the interaction between Drier and his attorneys and consultants fascinating. Likewise, the level of incompetence on the parts of others that was necessary for him to get away with his scheme was just amazing.

While watching Drier, the questions of "what was he thinking" and "what is he thinking" are constantly in your mind. It's not clear whether he is remorseful or not. Drier clearly understands that what he did was wrong, but it is not clear that he is remorseful about anything except getting caught.

When you combine that with the post-conviction / pre-sentencing setting time frame of the conversations, it is strange and fascinating. Some of the the things that Drier is concerned about make sense, while others seem completely irrelevant given his circumstances.

While Hollywood has romanticized financial crime in films like Oceans Eleven, the documentary Unraveled provides a surprisingly honest look at large-scale white-collar crime in America. By following Marc Dreier during his house arrest, director Marc Simon captures a once-in-a- lifetime glance into the mindset of a criminal. This true story is propelled by real news clips about the incident and has a very cinematic, narrative feel to it. At times, I forgot I was watching a documentary and not a fiction piece. Dreier's crimes are so large and creative that they seem to be taken straight from a Hollywood film. Unraveled examines the financial climate at the time of Dreier's crimes and follows his activities from the opening of his law firm in 1998 until his sentencing in July of 2009. The film also analyzes the effect Dreier's crimes had on his personal life, especially regarding his relationship with his son and dog.

Unraveled explains how Dreier build his empire on shaky stacks of debt and lies, then follows how it all came falling down. It also relates his case to Bernie Madoff's similar case also going on at the time. During his interviews, Dreier shows remorse and a sense of responsibility for his actions. The documentary leaves you understanding the position Dreier was in, and also learning enough of his personality to understand why he committed the fraud.

Overall, Unraveled does an excellent job explaining the inside situation surrounding Marc Dreier's case and provides a great explanation of the economic climate during the last 20 years. When it was over, I was left feeling informed and sympathetic, but also sure that Dreier got what he deserved.