Barbarians at the Gate

Barbarians at the Gate Review

This is the film version of the 1989 leveraged buyout of the RJR Nabisco, one of the biggest buyout in history until that time. James Garner plays F. Ross Johnson, the CEO of RJR Nabisco who tried to buy out the shareholders and takeover the company and he played it very, very, well. The other actors were also well casted and the script moved along. The film had a dated feel to it, but the subject matter is certainly still current. (I guess corporate greed never goes out of fashion!) This DVD wasn't as enthralling as watching "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room", but it was fun. I enjoyed it.

Barbarians at the Gate Overview

WHEN THE CEO OF NABISCO DECIDES TO BUY OUT THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TAKE OVER THE COMPANY, NO ONE IS PREPARED FOR WHAT HITS THE FAN IN THIS COMEDY ABOUT BIG BUSINESS AND BIG BUCKS.

Barbarians at the Gate Specifications

This HBO original comedy, adapted by Larry Gelbart (Tootsie) from the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, concerns one of the most compelling tales of corporate buyout madness in the go-go 1980s. James Garner plays F. Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco. Following failed and expensive efforts to sell a smokeless cigarette to the public, Johnson decides that he's had enough of navigating around the wrath of the company's stockholders. Drawing up plans to buy RJR Nabisco outright, he soon finds himself outmatched (though still determined) in a race for the prize with takeover king Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce). The ensuing battle is both bitterly funny and full of acid-tinged insights into the '80s greed that changed corporate America forever. Besides Gelbart's great script and Glenn Jordan's competent direction, the star of this exciting film is Garner, who is absolutely wonderful as the gracious Johnson. --Tom Keogh

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