‘Musk’ Review: Alex Gibney’s Mammoth Elon Musk Doc Is a Poleaxing Portrait of the Tech Titan as a Con Man Given Way Too Much Power to Be Stopped

Alex Gibney's four-hour documentary "Musk" delves into the rise of Elon Musk, scrutinizing the power and influence the tech mogul has amassed. Beginning with an ominous image of Earth's destruction, Gibney sets the tone for his harrowing exploration of Musk's life, spanning from the late 1990s to the present day. The film's thesis questions Musk's ascent to power and the role we played in enabling it.

Utilizing interviews, archival footage, and animations, Gibney chronicles Musk's ventures, from Zip2 to PayPal to Tesla, emphasizing Musk's self-promotion and his fluctuating reputation depending on circumstances. By integrating AI-generated visuals, Gibney underscores the omnipresence of Musk in our lives, even if he's unwilling to grant interviews.

The film introduces a dual perspective with interviews featuring Musk's ex-wife and a former partner, highlighting the personal toll of his success. As the film progresses into 2020, Gibney exposes Musk's corporate misconduct and decision to cut USAID funding, resulting in staggering statistics like 14 million affected individuals.

The second half of "Musk" focuses on the impact of Musk's actions on the world in 2024, painting him as a modern-day menace who wields near-total control over multiple sectors. Gibney concludes the documentary with an apocalyptic vision of a world dominated by a single, all-powerful individual, reminding viewers that "Musk" is not just a reflection of Musk but a warning of our potential future under such control. The film is set to be released by Bleecker Street on October 16.