Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

Producer, director and activist Robert Greenwald takes aim at the corporate giant that's come to symbolize big business in America: Wal-Mart. Blasting the box-store Goliath for allegedly paying substandard wages, skimping on employee health benefits and eviscerating communities, this hard-hitting, emotional documentary profiles the struggle of everyday folks from around the country who've committed themselves to fighting the mega-retailer.

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» Reviewed by 10 people

This film covers a very important range of topics: how Wal-Mart hurts it's employees, it's customers, the economy, etc. Unfortunately, the documentary itself as a film is very poorly made. I found myself annoyed at the awful editing and overall filmmaking. Scenes stop abruptly for no reason, music drowns out dialog, text and headlines flash by too quickly to read, or worse still, text stays on the screen for an unsually long time. (And just wait until the "Victory!" headlines at the very end of the film when the director must have asked the editor: "Can we use every title font you have stored on your Avid?") The film comes across as a mismatched series of scenes and ideas, never hanging together as a coherent film. The evils of Wal-Mart deserve a more in-depth and well-made documentary -- this isn't it.
- jca

I'm not a fan of Walmart, but I don't like any form of investigatory report that starts off already having made up its mind whether its pro or con to the topic its addressing. This documentary straight from the title has decided that Walmart is bad, and the movie goes on to say why. I prefer that such presentation give me an unbiased report on the facts of the topic and then let me decide weather I agree with it or not. This movie to me was nothing but anti-walmart propaganda. Instead I would recommend watching the Frontline report: Is Walmart good for America? It is far more informative and unbiased than this movie
- AM 1477323

The most interesting part of this movie, for me, was seeing for the first time the complete disconnect that exsists in the minds of some these hardcore Bush supporters. They're all about a deregulated free market capitalism, except when it effects them negatively. The sad thing is, even after being personally devistated by these policies, they're going to keep voting republicans into office simply because they don't want to see two people of the same sex have the same rights they do.
- Chad and Steph

I've always liked documentaries about business, especially when they're even-handed and expose the murky gray waters that exist between personal ethics and capitalism. This, however, is not one of those movies. Yes, it does shine a light on the rampant self-interest of Wal-Mart, but it tells only one side of the story. (I am an MBA with a previous career as a financial journalist, so I take these kinds of reports seriously.) If you're not aware of the horrible things Wal-Mart has done to towns and people throughout the U.S., watch this film. But if you're looking for more insight into the headlines we've seen in the news the past several years, you won't find it here.
- Author Allen

This is an important topic, and it is fully covered in this film -- so if you have a Walmart coming to your town and you want to fight it -- by all means, watch this film and organize to stop them. But as for its value as a documentary, it's not even in the same food group as Born into Brothels or Murderball or any of dozens of "real" docs. It's crappy propaganda, albeit for the right side!--but i'd never imagine anyone would enjoy this as a film...
- droidmaker

This film is so slanted and overtly biased, it is disgusting. Never once did the filmmakers seek to remain neutral and show both sides of the issue. Robert Greenwald should team up with Michael Moore, as they both have similar styles of one-siding the issues. It was quite obvious that the interviewees in this film were disgruntled and the only news segments were those depicting the corporation in a negative light. Where were the articles about all the new jobs created through construction costs, new employees, and utility costs? It is unfortunate that smaller businesses are unable to compete with the checkbook of a world-wide corporation, but such is the way of capitalism; such is the way of America. If a competing company can provide products and services to customers at lower costs than any others, where is the crime here? The only crime is the sad individuals who seek to prevent their fellow community members from saving money by shopping at Wal-Mart.
- Travalier

This was a fantastic movie that outlined the effects of Wal-Mart on towns and their small businesses. It showed how jobs were lost because the smaller companies were unable to compete with the giant retailer. It detailed the practices of Wal-Mart to ensure that none of the companies surrounding would be able to survive for very long after Wal-Mart had moved into a neighborhood. It also showed the treatment of it’s workers here and overseas, and it’s effects on the environment in the towns in which it operated. It was very devastating to watch. I came away saddened and outraged at Wal-Mart and the people who shop there because for many of them, saving 15 cents on a 5 dollar item or 4 bucks on a 100 dollar item, is more important than making sure a business that has operated in the town for 40 years can survive. I highly recommend this film.
- gpr 924586

This documentary is as biased as they come. Its one and only purpose is to paint Wal-mart as the devil. With zero objectivity, they guide the viewer into learning about the evils of Wal-Mart; and evil they may be but, a little objectivity may have been good. The documentary does raise some interesting things that the general public may not know (I learned quite a few things). The documentary is a bit too long and boring, but interesting nonetheless.
- Goddess

A top quality documentary, great editing and post-production. They don't beat any of the points to death, thus they show a lot of information collected against Walmart (some of which is public knowledge, some of it isn't). This is NOT a liberal film at all, this reaches beyond politics and in-fact most of the people in the film talking about the affects of Walmart are southern conservatives. Sad stories of various families are told, but by the end it's very uplifting to see all the different cities around our country that have stood up against Walmart and prevented them from invading their communities. I knew quite a bit of this, so I rarely shop at Walmart as it is, after this I will attempt to cut them off completely, for many reasons, my own personal safety being one (Walmart parking lots are homicide central).
- Scorbutic

This is one of those documentaries that everyone should watch but afterwards will be glad they watched and at the same time wish they hadn’t. I live in Northwest Arkansas – the home of Wal-Mart. I have friends who work at the home office. I shop at Wal-Mart, even though periodically I ask myself if I should. I wonder if Wal-mart is the anti-Christ (no, I’m not saying it is, just every once in awhile, I ask myself the question?) But how do you choose differently? No one else comes close in price to the low prices at Wal-Mart. I knew people at Wal-Mart were low paid. But their wages aren’t really any lower than most employers in this area. In fact, the home office pays slightly better. I wasn’t looking at the wages for outside of this area, or how they drive competitive wages down. I wasn’t looking at the union-busting costs. I also didn’t know that Wal-Mart bought most of its products in China. I didn’t know the cost to human lives and dignity in China, Bangladesh and Central and South America. Nor did I know How often Wal-Mart had been fined by the EPA. Or how much Wal-Mart received in tax subsidies. I’m not sure how long-term this will effect, can I give up the Wal-Mart habit? Only time will tell, but I know that I will never again buy something for a low price and think of it like I’m saving money. I’m not. I’m just paying the cost in terms of taxes and water bills. (7/17/08)
- VIP Club