The Pursuit (2019) User Reviews

Pleasant but not accurate

[spok1234 · 5/10 · 9 August 2019]

A documentary defending capitalism is welcomed. But this person is clearly confused about what USA capitalism is. He is a kind and sympathetic person but his arguments are incomplete (and in some cases wrong).

Socialism is not about keeping people unemployed and giving them benefits; it's about giving every citizen a chance by being healthy and educated. On the other hand capitalism in more effective in creating wealth but he fails to argue that properly because I think he deliberately avoids to mention the huge corporations of the USA.

I admire the Dalai Lama for not wishing to disappoint this man (although he does mention that they need the help of westerners) but I can only give 5 starts to this movie.

Missing Perspectives. 2 Points

[reis-joaonuno · 5/10 · 5 September 2019]

1- Not only the lack of opportunities itself, but moreover, the opportunity to bounce back. That is the US says. 2 - Culture. In Europe we work to live, we do not live to work.

Great Documentary.

[jaredletoinfinity · 10/10 · 28 April 2020]

Got to learn a lot from it. It's well researched and true . I think the left and communists just can't digest the fact that capitalism isn't inherently evil and that people are.

Disingenuous

[rvndpr · 1/10 · 11 August 2019]

The presenter sees what he wants to see and shows what he wants you to see.

1947-1991 - he was apparently told by someone that India was a socialist country. Subsequently, in another country, he tells someone "that isn't capitalism... that's cronyism". I never heard him say "that isn't socialism... that's cronyism". Nobody told him that India has always been a country run by cronies. They opened up markets... sure. But the presenter does not talk about the value lost by the Indian rupee, and how poverty has just been redefined in India. People might say that they earn more money - but what is the worth of that money ?

He presents the slum in Bombay called Dharavi. Sure... they use every inch for small scale industry without the safety standards. But did he take you to the villages outside every major city of India, where the residents are not allowed to use the water from their local water bodies because the water mafia has paid of the politicians so that they can exploit the water, transport it in trucks to supply to the high rise buildings at a high price. Dharavi has been industrious even before 1991. The water mafia is a much more recent phenomenon because capitalism concentrates wealth in a few hands and brings more and more people to the cities where a tiny part of that wealth hopefully trickles down.

He goes on to smear Scandinavian countries. He shows us their conformist culture and mildly suggests that exceptional people may not do well there. But he provides no evidence... just conjecture..

Without taking away from the few people who were genuinely being helped in this documentary, it was just the same old platitudes that capitalists never fail to dish out in their artificially soft voices.

Yes - people need purpose and dignity. Who ever said that Socialism doesn't strive to give people that purpose and dignity ? And didn't capitalism deprive coal country of that purpose and dignity ? Of course, none of this is addressed in this pursuit of platitudes and hot air.

Facts that have helped the world to succeed

[stanleysalazar · 10/10 · 1 September 2019]

Great documentary that teach us the real facts that have made this world to succeed all over. While Capitalism is the key for encouraging populations to look for their best and anything related to Socialism/ Communism brings misery and failures to the nations that have embraced it

Doesn't mention that the USA is socialist when big corporations are failing

[almacloudy · 4/10 · 9 June 2020]

I agree with many of the other reviews that there is a clear bias right from the start trying to glorify capitalism as the best system. However they did not show the exploitation that still persists toward immigrants and people of color. under this system. They failed to mention that the USA cares more about big business and corporations more than it does the average citizen, as witnessed by its values such as no universal health care, advanced education too expensive, military focus, and the government run by lobbyist and corporations. This film should also have focused on the oppressed, and the racism as a result of the wealth divide created by capitalism. I wish this film would have been less biased and also mention the negative side of capitalism and not just try to make it seems like everyone benefits under capitalism. Maybe the flaws in this capitalistic society is one of the reasons why so many people are protesting and marching in the streets in countries based on capitalism. There are some positives to capitalism, but I would rather have a blended version of Democratic socialism, with personal freedoms and shared prosperity.

Brilliant and much needed in an age where young people are attracted towards Socialism and Communism

[salilf · 10/10 · 16 August 2019]

Having grown in India this documentary shows to the wider world the curse of Socialism. India, under influence of communist USSR, adopted socialism after independence. The who system decayed under government control. In 1991 when India was on the verge of going bankrupt the government fillet decided to open up its economy to market force. The rest is history.

A wakeup lesson for young people in US and Europe!

Lacks substance

[brent-biles · 4/10 · 17 August 2019]

The filmmaker rightly points out that Capitalism can be very effective at creating wealth. Unfortunately the filmmaker fails to recognize that a blend of Socialism and Capitalism, depending upon the task at hand, can be more effective at helping people find self actualization. Ultimately I am left feeling that Mr. Brooks is a kind man, that means well, but lacks the understanding that in areas such as health care, education, and law enforcement Capitalism simply doesn't work as well as Socialism This becomes glaringly apparent when the filmmakers note that Scandinavian societies, with their socialized education and health care, are the happiest on earth , and even show idyllic scenes of Scandinavian life, and yet, spend fifteen minutes dredging up every reason possible that 88% of everyone there is wrong and Scandinavia should, instead, be seeking ways to cater to the sliver of their society that still can't seem to find their place.

Fantastic!!

[jeremyla-24027 · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

Finally a documentary that highlights just how great capitalism is. It also breaks through the myths of Denmark's supposed socialist utopia. Give me 1 unsuccessful person in the USA who worked hard in high school, got good grades and test scores, got a job, went to college, took out student loans, made it happen. Got a valuable degree(s), created opportunity for themselves, saved and invested money, made good decisions, etc etc. This film highlights that if you build a solid foundation early on, you will be successful. I have friends from high school who are multi-millionaires from starting at Mcdonalds and working up. This film shows that if you are even looking at socialism, you probably aren't doing very well. Because if you are, why would you want to change anything.

I tried my best to complete, but I could only be fed so much $%^&

[terrillmelville · 3/10 · 21 August 2019]

I was hoping for a even handed exploration of both systems, not the case. It was nauseating. He started off by saying they he had and earnest goal of finding the answer to fix poverty and that he would explore both socialism and capitalism. It was clear he had his mind made up. There was no exploration. Pure propaganda. We all want capitalism and nobody is suggesting we do away with capitalism. That would clearly be a bad idea, but you must recognize the merits of socialized programs and also of regulating the market. You won't learn anything from this.

Great doc

[chance_a66 · 10/10 · 24 August 2019]

It is sincere, factually based, socially minded, and open-minded. It centers on the question of happiness itself. What are the essential elements that make it possible? Brooks argues his case based on extensive travels around the world, his true desire to understand the perspective of those with whom he disagrees, his willingness to subject his outlook to empirical and logical tests, and his heart-felt desire to reduce suffering in the world and increase opportunity for all.

Propaganda as Hell. Obvious capitalist agenda to suppress social ideas.

[mikeinator24 · 1/10 · 20 August 2019]

Very narrow view and overplayed arguments. Listen to the way he talks. There is a clear bias from the beginning. Orwellian syntax used, "set people free" -with capitalism. Ha, how many hours a week do you work? Oh Full time until you are 70? Sure that's the freedom the capitalism provides.

I'm surprised Hollywood allowed this film to be made

[jim-49635 · 10/10 · 14 August 2019]

There is no better an example of hypocrisy than the hundreds of movie "stars" carping about how the country needs to be a more socialist society while making millions working for capitalists. I'm still amazed they let someone make this movie.

It is literally described as "AEI's documentary film" on its website

[msa-91335 · 1/10 · 14 August 2019]

As other reviews say, Arthur gives one-side of the argument and fails to mention the current usage of "socialist" tactics by the conservative American party (Republicans) to do exactly what he says is the wrong thing for progress: providing welfare.

But I also have two main problems with Arthur: 1) He's a millionaire, so maybe he isn't the best one to be defending capitalism. 2) He got a PhD from RAND. Now he's supporting the world-view that protects the dominant power that companies, such as AEI and RAND, enjoy.

This documentary has the power to truly misinform many people, which is clearly Brooks intention. Broadcasters should reconsider carrying poorly researched propaganda.

Capitalist Propaganda, pure and simple

[martyn_dawson · 1/10 · 22 August 2019]

The first part of the film is spent in India. Which system does he think brought India to it's knees in the first place and slaughtered millions? lol ..No mention of the multiple US capitalist wars since WW2 either which killed millions and plunged many into poverty. This guy is a joke living in his own utopian capitalist bubble.

What a joke

[realshane · 1/10 · 8 October 2019]

I tried to watch this to get a new perspective on capitalism. But any movie that has the millionaire narrator and billionaire financiers claiming that the last 30 years haven't benefited the rich is a freaking joke. Oh, American immigrants of the turn of the century built the American dream on free enterprise! You forgot to mention the part where that was before the deregulation of the 1970s. This movie was made to make white rich people feel good about themselves. If that's your goal, then this is the film for you!

Capitalism propaganda

[jtc-23119 · 1/10 · 24 August 2019]

Nothing but a propaganda film funded by the American Enterprise institute, a right wing think tank, which is bought and paid for by multinational corporations. Their goal is to scare people away from social democracy in favour of the current "business as usual," exploitive capitalism. We're supposed to be content with CEO's enslaving us, because maybe someday we could be one, if we "work hard enough." If not, we should be content with poverty. That's the narrative they're pushing here.

Extreme bootlicking.

Rich closet case wants us to believe capitalism works

[modestman83 · 1/10 · 4 September 2019]

This closet case rich white man is trying to convince me that capitalism works. He doesn't understand because he grew up rich.

Obvious Conservative propaganda.

[timothyjosephmorton · 1/10 · 30 October 2019]

I watched this the same day as I watched 'saving capitalism.' It turns out the two docs are each others counterpoint and both center around former secretaries of labor Arthur Brooks (the pursuit) and Robert Reich ('saving capitalism.')

The Pursuit felt waaaay more propagandistic in that the interviewers were saying infomercial-esque statements and the graphs and statistics were presented in an absurdly elementary and simplistic manner to promote capitalism as a panacea, a fix all to problems in the developing world. The sweeping conclusions of the film are suited for non-critical masses of uninformed viewers. It's shallow in its scope.

Watch 'saving capitalism' and compare. This one is narrower in scope in that it focuses on American capitalism specifically. It is not trying to point the finger at either political party or at conservative/progressives, but tries to hone in on the problem of crony capitalism - and gives several examples of policies that have led to greater and greater income inequality. He speaks to several republicans and democrats who are seeing similar problems in the system.

In the end 'saving capitalism' and 'the pursuit' are similar in structure; both follow former Secretaries of State as the two men assemble a case for what become film versions of their respective books. 'The pursuit' tends to stay in the realm of giving easy answers (capitalism good), while 'saving capitalism' leaves us asking profound questions (capitalism complicated). For me, the latter is more honest and intriguing.

50% agree because one-sided

[yumamovie · 3/10 · 14 August 2019]

I can agree only 50% with Arthur Brooks because he did not talk about any issues of capitalism in the current USA. But it is a nice documentary to show why capitalist thinks capitalism is the best. It is too one-sided to good things about capitalism and problems of democratic socialism. So, it is better to watch together with Michael Moore's documentary "capitalism" to learn problems of capitalism and good things about democratic socialism.

Arthur Brooks says, "capitalism removes poverty, but capitalism fails without ethics when people always put themselves before other's needs. Real evil is not capitalism but selfishness for the love of money and discrimination which divides citizens. Handout of welfare does not make people happy. What makes people happy is the sense of "needed" by society. To be happy, people need to work for something to contribute to society. And also, people need to give back other people opportunities to contribute to society. That is how citizens can make a great country together. Poverty is when young people have no ambition." Arthur criticizes Scandinavian's welfare, racism, and no-individualism culture by citing their words and "The Law of Jante": "over-ambition is bad," "don't think you are special."

Arthur praises current India and old America's economic growth, and he thinks people are happy in such a situation.

Will America be great if every American stop admiring democratic socialism? Will America be great if every American becomes an entrepreneur and works hard and gives back to others individually without government's regulation as Authur suggests? Can all current American have such chances without the government's intervention? Didn't old America have a much smaller gap between the middle class and the top 2%?

Sometimes he seemed to be confused and contradicted to his ideology when he praises capitalism and criticizes democratic socialism. Dalai lama looked confused, talking with him too.

If it smells like propaganda and it tastes like propaganda...

[rafasan-50403 · 2/10 · 13 September 2019]

This has all the tell tale sings of Right/Conservative propaganda. Capitalism is great for those who hold the money and power. If you don't have government oversight and control you end up with a society much like the US today (or the rest of the under-developed economies out there for that matter). More and more resources concentrated at the top; people at the bottom keep getting squeezed; competition disappears and oligarchy surges; private interests purchase the elected leadership to do their bidding, etc. And that is exactly what we have today. What most people don't realize is that what mostly created that "American Prosperity" was FDR's "New Deal". A 100% socialist policy which basically built the American middle class. The same middle class that began crumbling as soon as privatization of industry started taking place. This is not an either or question... we need to find the middle ground and take the best of all systems of government and economy so that we can create a fair and equitable society that works for all. Not what we have today by the way...

Dreadful pro-Capitalist biased propaganda

[harryburgundy · 2/10 · 25 November 2019]

The lack of objectivity was clear within 8 mins of watching the film - but in the interests of research I watched another 30 mins before I had to take a rest. This is a deeply flawed documentary that, from the word go, conflates social democracy with state capitalism. The premise that capitalism has enriched the poor without examining how the poor class was constructed in the first place is very selective. Neither does it explore the inevitable contradictions of capitalism but arrogantly and condescendingly criticises the welfare state for ' 'suppressing drive and entrepreneurship' when capitalism fails. I did watch up to the final 10 mins but couldn't watch anymore. A lightweight documentary for the economically illiterate from a white man of privilege, opportunity and fortune.