THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL JOB IN AMERICA: PUTTING A PRICE ON HUMAN LIFE

Cinemavixion Review

This documentary, "Playing God," offers a stark and often uncomfortable examination of Kenneth Feinberg, a figure widely known as the "Master of Disaster." Feinberg's controversial role involves determining monetary compensation for victims of catastrophic events and financial crises. The film navigates the complex ethical landscape of assigning a monetary value to human life and suffering, drawing on cases such as the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, the BP oil spill, and the AIG executive pay cap controversy. Through interviews with Feinberg, affected families who hold deeply divided opinions of him, and representatives of the corporations involved, the documentary probes the intricacies of American justice, corporate responsibility, and the intersection of profound grief with cold, hard calculation. It is a compelling, if disquieting, exploration of a unique and challenging profession.