Dirty Money (2018)

Dirty Money is a riveting and hard-hitting Netflix documentary series released in 2018. The series delves into the world of corporate scandal, investigating cases of corruption and deceit rampant in the corporate culture. The action in this show is not typically cinematic chases or shootouts, but it's all about investigations, interrogations, and interviews showing real-life corporate crimes.

Each episode of Dirty Money stands alone, focusing on distinct financial corruption stories. The tales of white-collar crime and corporate greed span across industries and countries, featuring stories from Wall Street to international car companies to shady payday lenders. As you navigate through this show, you will bear witness to how corporations and financial powerhouses have continually manipulated and sidestepped the law to amass wealth and power.

The series showcases six episodes in its debut season. Directed by different acclaimed movie makers, these stories feature interviews with key players involved in the scandal alongside archival footage, re-enactments, and expert opinions. It does a spectacular job of humanizing the impact of white-collar crime, showing the viewers what happens when dishonesty and greed go unchecked. As the title suggests, the money that gets made in each of these cases is 'dirty' — tainted by dishonesty, deceit, and sometimes, outright theft and fraud.

The first season covers a wide range of topics. From revealing the Volkswagen emission scandal to the price backlash over life-saving pharmaceuticals to fraud, and predatory tactics in the payday lending industry, Dirty Money illustrates one fraudulent enterprise after another. The series dissects these scandals thoroughly, focusing on both the perpetrators and the victims. The complex financial narratives are presented in a palatable and engaging manner, providing easy understanding for people who may not be well-versed with the intricacies of such unfolding scandals.

Dirty Money does not shy away from raising critical questions about corporate morality and accountability. It's a wake-up call that forces the viewer to question the ethics of large corporations and their executives. The whistleblower testimonials, the investigative journalist interviews, and the legal and economic experts who weigh in, all serve to construct a narrative of each scandal, making viewers question how far corporations will go for the sake of profit and power.

The strength of the series lies in its storytelling. It combines investigative journalism with gripping storytelling techniques. This is not a fictionalized account or dramatized portrayal; it is a raw and real saga of money and corruption that shapes the world we live in. Dirty Money transforms somewhat complex economic and legal intricacies into engaging narratives that usually reserve for crime thrillers. It leaves you hanging on every word, waiting for the next plot twist and craving some kind of justice.

Visually, the series is sleek and polished, keeping the viewer engaged with high-quality graphics and illustrations used to explain the complex corporate schemes visually. It is a social justice documentary that uses artful cinematography and graphics in visually engaging and creative ways - even the title sequence is a fascinating blend of ink and money, setting the tone for the stories to come.

Dirty Money not only opens the viewer's eye to the greed that breeds within major companies but also humanizes those affected by the broad range of injustices. The series is robust and heavy, in a good way, digging deep into the world of corporate capitalism and exposing the grimy underbelly of an otherwise glittery and gleaming financial world.

Overall, Dirty Money is an eye-opening series, providing a deep and thorough look into the fraudulence happening in different industries. With narratives crafted to urge viewers to analyse their consumption habits, it is a frontier of investigative journalism, making for captivating viewing. This Netflix series is an excellently produced expose on the shadowy deals of corporate greed, making Dirty Money a must-watch in the true crime genre.