Maxed Out

The documentary my group watched was called "Maxed Out", and was directed by James D. Scurlock. The film is an in depth exploration on credit card debt. It tells stories from different including those tragically trapped in debt and the collectors that hound after them. Scurlock uses some extreme, depressing instances to get the viewers emotional, but for a good reason. At its worst, credit card debt can drive people to hysteria and suicide. Banks like to push credit cards into the hands of those who are unlikely to pay back their debts. This is because people who can only make minimum payments or who get fines provide great profits for banks. Once you are deep in debt, it is painfully difficult to get out. Sometimes the only option is bankruptcy. It is important to be aware of the dangers of credit card debt. The movie also reveals shady tactics within the credit industry. Like loaners pushing people to sign documents, credit card companies targeting college campuses, and collectors gaining personal information through computer databases. The film also raises awareness about the obscenely high U.S National Debt.

I read a review by Stephen Holden from The New York Times that has some good points. Holden, and our film group, noticed that the lack of a narrator makes the film disjointed and disorientating. The movie throws a bunch of facts at us and expects us to understand complex financial terms. The movie also offers us little hope or practical ways we can change the system. But, at least "Maxed Out" shows that there is a huge problem and an overwhelming amount of greed in the credit card industry. It will definitely make me careful if I ever get a credit card, and also careful not to sign any financial documents that I don't understand.