The Yes Men, a film that Dan Ollman directs, is a film that explores the anti-consumerism group The Yes Men, and two of their statements that they create by falsifying people and satirizing corporations. The film opens with a scene from the middle of the film, with the two characters trying to work out technical details of their stunt in the bathroom. The film then returns to normal, and lists some of the stunts that the Yes Men had pulled, starting with a satirical website of George Bush that drew fire from the man itself. They then plan their next maneuver, a satire of the WTO in front of a conference in Finland. The presentation they gives claims the US Civil War was unnecessary because there are plenty of near-slaves in third world countries, and that corporations should begin buying votes from citizens. Their next prank takes them to a university, where they try to sell “human digestive by-products” as a potential food source in third-world countries. Their final prank is to head to Australia, and in front of a large panel of accountants and journalists issue a false statement that the World Trade Organization had disbanded, being broadcasted and discussed around the world. The film stays in a rigid chronological order, save for the first few seconds, and generally conveys the message well through their misadventures trough the corporate world.
The film keeps you attention throughout, as the Yes Men attempt to present their satires through their various mediums. The documentary usually uses dramatic footage with which to catch attention of the viewer. For example, in the opening scene, as the protagonists struggle with their comedic suit, and the tension is immediately built as the audience wonders what would happen to these two. Using simple jump cuts and leaving much to the imagination, the film easily hooks an audience within the first few minutes.
Throughout the film, the Yes Men present a strong moral statement. Whether they’re posing as a WTO member on television or speaking at a conference, they always voice the opinion that they are speaking on behalf of those third world nations that cannot have their say at the WTO, which, in their opinion, is a organization the only benefits corporations in the long term. Through the film, they regularly state (when not faking their identities) that they disbelieve in the WTO and what it stands for. This stance makes them appealing to a larger audience, as many people have issues with corporations and what they do. By bringing this statement into the forefront of their activities, the Yes Men appeal to a larger audience in their endeavors.
The Yes Men is a film that truly takes a hard, critical, satirical look at the world of big business in international free markets. The fun it pokes at corporations defiantly keeps the idea of globalization in a slightly negative light; the way they see it, it’s going to happen, but the world is going about it the wrong way. The Yes Men’s take on globalization can be seen as either good, if you are pro human rights, or bad, if you are pro economy/are a big business. All in all, The Yes Men is defiantly a controversial film that will leave the viewer questioning the merits of globalization on a large scale.
