Liberty at the Movies: Deepwater Horizons and Scully

by | Nov 14, 2016

Liberty at the Movies: Deepwater Horizons and Scully

by | Nov 14, 2016

Deepwater Horizons and Scully are two “based on a true story” films that raise interesting questions about goverment regulations and corporate accountability.
Deepwater Horizons deals with the biggest oil explosion in American history: the 2010 British Petroleum oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The film focuses on the crew of the oil rig.

The first part of the movie moves slowly as it focuses on the rig crews preparations for drilling, with a particular focus on their safety inspections. The film benefits from strong performances by Mark Wahlberg as Mike Williams, who is an oil rig worker engaged in a futile mission to convince the British Petrolatum executives that the rig has safety flaws.

Williams is joined in his efforts by the ship’s supervisor “Mr.Jimmy,” played by libertarian actor Kurt Russell. Their main nemesis is Donald Vidrine, a BP engineer who makes it clear his only concern is to minimize costs in order to get the rig out to the sea as soon as possible.

The filmmakers clearly wanted to make the case that the explosion was due to willful negligence on behalf of BP, but unless you are knowledgeable about the technical details of oil rig safety equipment and standards, much of the exposition of what went wrong will go over your head. However, the scenes depicting what happens after the explosion are incurably suspenseful and masterfully done. See this one in IMAX if you can.

Read the rest at Campaign for Liberty here.

Norman Singleton

Norman Singleton

Norman Singleton is currently a Senior Fellow at the Market Institute. Mr. Singleton worked for Congressman Ron Paul from 1997-2012. Mr. Singleton served as Legislative Aide on Education and Workforce issues for Congressman Paul from 1997-2001, when he became Congressman Paul’s Legislative Director, a position he held until Congressman Paul left Congress in 2013. Mr. Singleton also served as volunteer policy director for the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign. Prior to working for Ron Paul, Mr. Singleton worked for the National Right to Work Committee. Mr. Singleton graduated Cum Laude from Washington and Jefferson College with a degree in economics and is a 1991 graduate of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law. He is also a founding member of the Republican Liberty Caucus.

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