Review of The Devil Has a Name

This is another tale of a little guy taking on a corporate entity with deep pockets, so it's no surprise his case looks hopeless. Once the case gets to court, what looks like a slam dunk for the farmer (David Strathairn) gets countered by video footage of him reacting like a lunatic, while employing an immigrant foreman who's set up on a charge of domestic terrorism. For their part, the Royal Shore Oil company hires a menacing thug (Pablo Schreiber) who stops at nothing to intimidate Fred Stern (Strathairn), his hired hands, and even a Royal executive (Kate Bosworth) who unsuccessfully tries to buy off the farmer with a measly fifty grand. It's the classic David vs Goliath story which can only have one outcome, otherwise you wouldn't have a picture. But the finale comes with a couple minor twists that at least eliminates the two biggest bad guys in the story, so there's an additional level of satisfaction besides seeing Stern win his case. If you're into eco-dramas, you can make it a Netflix double header watching this one along with 2019's "Dark Waters".