Alex Gibney's documentary, titled 'Musk,' which runs for almost four hours, premiered in Venice. The film is dedicated to Elon Musk, a billionaire and provocateur with enormous global influence in the fields of business, politics, and space.
The film 'Musk,' which debuted at the Venice Film Festival, seeks to reexamine the history of the world's richest man. His stated goals include colonizing Mars, transitioning the planet to sustainable energy, and defending freedom of speech. Documentarian Alex Gibney, an Oscar winner, stated that the film reveals 'the unreality of his narrative.'
Director Gibney noted that he wanted to understand what game Musk was playing. He described Musk as a rule-breaking genius whose unpredictable behavior and shift towards right-wing political views caused confusion and alienation among many viewers. Gibney compared Musk's story to other prominent figures he had covered previously, such as executives linked to the Enron scandal and former Theranos head Elizabeth Holmes.
In Gibney's view, Musk's story resembles 'old wine in a new bottle,' representing the tale of a fraudster and stock market manipulator. He added that a significant portion of Musk's statements 'possesses an aura of unreality.' Gibney argued that Musk's initial 'noble goals' were overshadowed by the 'corruption of a noble cause.'
Gibney quoted Musk, who stated: 'My goal is noble. And therefore, in pursuit of my goal, I am ready and able and must do everything for my goal, and this justifies the means.' He further continued that this leads to 'legal and moral corruption,' which allows the election of a United States president whose main goal is 'Burn, baby, burn, storm, baby, storm,' in order to effectively destroy the planet.
Elon's Cult of Personality
The film vividly demonstrates Elon's cult of personality, evident both in the near-hysterical adoration of Tesla fans and in Donald Trump's open support and that of his MAGA movement supporters during the 2024 presidential campaign.
The film traces Musk's dizzying rise, starting from his early Silicon Valley projects and bold innovations at SpaceX and Tesla, to his current engagement with right-wing leaders worldwide. Gibney emphasized the importance of the 'pragmatic, crony capitalist aspect of his political goals.'
The film repeatedly exposes Musk's grand promises that have not been fulfilled. This includes dangerous limitations in Tesla's autopilot technology, which have led to deaths, as well as promises to reduce waste through the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which resulted in the cessation of vital programs globally. When Gibney first contacted Musk for the film, Musk called him a 'slander.'
The Relationship Assembly Line
The documentary also presents Musk's personal life, including the fact that he has fathered no fewer than 14 children with different women. Musk's first wife, Justine, jokes about this, comparing it to an 'assembly line.'
Ashley Kentler, a former MAGA influencer and former girlfriend of Musk with whom he has a child, reveals in the film that she withdrew from a $40 million non-disclosure agreement after their breakup. She admitted to regretting her involvement in promoting right-wing politics in the US, noting that her decision was driven by an 'aura of ignorance.' However, Kentler added that this ignorance does not excuse her role, and she hopes that her current risks associated with public statements and attempts to counter the situation will help somewhat.
Kentler claims that Musk 'ignites nonexistent flames' through his controversial and often provocative comments on X. She believes he intentionally sows division that could become catastrophic if not regulated or quelled, or if we ourselves do not participate in suppressing this phenomenon. Gibney, the renowned documentarian who won an Oscar in 2008 for 'Taxi to the Dark Side,' stated that while Musk is a central figure in his film, 'we are all involved in this story.' He concluded that 'for Musk and many tech oligarchs, we allowed them to create immense power.'