CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER (USA 2010) ***1/2
Directed by Alex Gibney

The master of controversial documentaries such as TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE and ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM, Alex Gibney takes on the story of Eliot Spitzer, the New York Governor who fell from grace in this just as spirited film.

Director Gibney’s work in CLIENT 9 is less difficult than in his other 2 films.  He had to go out exposing the truth in TAXI and ENRON, likely facing reluctance and opposition from companies and the government in releasing information leading to the truth.  In CLIENT 9, Gibney’s subjects (Spitzer and his enemies) would more than likely volunteer information s they would want the world to know their version of the truth.  Here, Spitzer and his enemies are interviewed and both parties are gung-ho in telling their story.

But whatever side one is on, one cannot doubt the guts of Eliot Spitzer for taking on such formidable foes.  Known as the “The Sheriff of Wall Street” when he was New York’s attorney general, Eliot Spitzer aimed his fire at some of America’s largest financial institutions and their most powerful executives in the country.

Spitzer’s roster of business targets included Richard Grasso, onetime head of the New York Stock Exchange; Ken Langone, once an NYSE director; and Hank Greenberg, CEO of AIG.  Eliot Spitzer made a lot of enemies.  One of them claims that it was as good as seeing evil written on Spitzer’s forehead.

Gibney shows both sides of his subject – his good side, exposing the villains and corrupt company officials and also his bad side, when he allows Spitzer’s enemies to say what they want about him on screen.  His rise and downfall are well documented as well as his slow but unsuccessful rise again to political office.

But the audience can see Gibney’s soft side for Spitzer.  He has the point put across that Spitzer’s only sin was his adultery and many, many like Clinton have also succumbed but emerged unscathed.  But it is the powerful enemies of Spitzer who ensue that their enemy is totally destroyed.
Gibeny’s film is full of anger and spirit with hardly a dull moment.  At the end of the film, one only wishes that Spitzer never visited the Emperor’s Club so that he could continue exposing the corrupt, but all human beings are fallible one way or the other.
.