By: debbie lynn elias
The economic crisis has touched each of us. Don’t lie and shake your head no. We’ve all heard of Bernie Madoff and I would wager that even some attendees at the Fest were directly affected by his misconduct. But how many of you have heard of Marc Drier. A successful New York trial lawyer and philanthropist, Drier had it all. Cars, money, boats, a $10 million dollar penthouse, a $3 million getaway cottage in Antigua and a huge law firm and lifestyle with huge overhead. But to get it all, he embarked on his own form of Ponzi scheme which went beyond robbing Peter to pay Paul. He not only robbed his legal clients and scammed hedge funds, but then falsified loan documents by impersonating his clients. At the end of the day, he stole $400 million. In Marc Simon’s UNRAVELED, we have unprecedented access and meet Marc Drier up close and personal following his conviction. He is under house arrest with armed guards ordered by the Court 24/7 as he, and we, count down the 90 days until his sentencing.
Shot entirely at Drier’s NY apartment, Drier opens up in very candid conversations talking about his life, his law firm, how and why he pulled the cons he pulled, his children, his beloved dog whom Drier knows he will never see again if sentencing is harsh. This is a man who has lost it all and as the clock ticks to sentencing, you see him become more visibly beleaguered and drawn. You hear the remorse in his voice; the apology for his behavior yet his lack of comprehension as to what inside of him made him so morally deficient as to perpetrate the crimes.
Where UNRAVLED excels is in its lack of editorializing. We are presented Drier at face value. Director Simon, a former attorney in Drier’s firm, leaves it to the audience to decide the good, the bad and the ugly; draw out own conclusions as to who and what Drier is. Does he deserve forgiveness? Redemption? Is he a victim of society and the all consuming greed that fuels it? Or is he just a good actor? What would I do if in Drier’s position? You are drawn into Drier’s story thanks to the personalization. From a production standpoint, the film is polished, with crisp, razor-edged cinematography blended with sharp graphic novel illustrative animation that depicts the past and any prior events in Drier’s life. This further aids in the objectivity of the film as there is nothing recreated or simulated for the cameras.
One of my #1 Must See Festival Films at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival, UNRAVELED, is compelling, dramatic, at times even poignant, and as you await the final sentencing order along with Marc Drier, you too, will find yourself on the edge of your seat.
Directed by Marc Simon
