Billions in Change (2015) User Reviews

#workisneverdone

[chettiyar-senthil · 10/10 · 6 December 2015]

There are certain films or documentaries that you cant rate by judging its direction, cinematography or screenplay. You just cant rate it because its about a person who does things which we can never or will ever do. You have to rate it considering the motive of the person it is about, how humble the person is, his contributions to the society, and when a film is able to bring all of his major achievements and make us understand his goals and also inspire us to do something in our lives to help others, it has succeeded. And this 1 hits a bulls-eye in these terms. Salute to this man.

#MovieAddict

Good intentions, weak execution

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 23 November 2015]

"Billions in Change" is a 42-minute short film that has scientist Manoj Bhargava being interviewed from start to finish, only interrupted by archive footage of known celebrities. It is about energy, water and how we can go easier on the planet in the next years. I must say this is an important subject, but I cannot say I was too happy about the way they elaborated on it in here. Sometimes it's too scientific for general audiences, other times it's just that we get all these information constantly and there is just no time to process it. Also, it's a very sterile movie that did never make an emotional impact by bringing in all these people dying from lack of water for example. I think they should have given this a totally different approach. What they came up with here is only a watch for Bhargava's fellow scientists, but general audience will lose interest quickly. Quite a pity as the issue deserves something better. Not recommended.

Feels more like a commercial than a documentary

[peefyn · 5/10 · 24 January 2016]

I am critical of this documentary. I want to trust it, and I want to believe that Manoj Bhargava is doing some fantastic work - but the documentary feels so much like a commercial, that my gut reaction to it is: He is trying to sell something. Hopefully that something is an idea, using your wealth to make the world a better place, getting as big an impact as possible, etc. But from the way this entire thing is made - a one sided look into the kind of work they are doing - it just gives off the feeling of something being wrong.

I like one thing, though. Instead of spending lots of time showing the people they want to help - they work on the assumption that it is obvious (as it is) that many people need this. I can imagine someone else making the same documentary, only 30 minutes longer, to maximize emotional impact. At times the documentary is not afraid to get technical, and if anything I wish they would have gone further in this direction. After seeing it, I still had questions about some of these innovations.

So, my grade on this documentary is not at all a reflection of my opinion on Manoj Bhargava or the work he is doing, but rather on Billions in Change as a documentary.

Well made but ultimately just a PR piece for a billionaire

[blutac2 · 5/10 · 18 March 2016]

I enjoyed it, and it definitely raised some interesting areas, but I think it ultimately had little substance. To me it was a puff piece for a man who is doing some interesting things, not a documentary.

The film introduced complex issues and pretended that (1) they are simple) and (2) that are not being dealt with because no one else is as entrepreneurial/ visionary/ etc. as the leader of this company (who also commissioned and starred in this documentary!).

The huge claims and lack of any attempt at exploring potential barriers made me suspicious of all the science/ engineering discussed. I think this might be backed up by me not finding much online about these technologies.

Man invented energy drink, got rich, started trying to change the world. Nice story, but lets get real about the chances that he then goes on to revolutionise energy production, water and healthcare (all the while curing poverty). Lets also remember that this was to a large degree an ADVERT for his company.