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From DOGE to "space lasers," Alex Gibney peels back the many layers of Elon Musk
Developing
In Short: Director Alex Gibney's new documentary, 'Musk,' delves into the multifaceted life of the tech mogul, from his early days in Silicon Valley to his current influence on politics and culture.
Alex Gibney's new documentary, 'Musk,' offers a comprehensive look at the life and influence of tech titan Elon Musk, from his early days in Silicon Valley to his current role as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. The film, which runs for three hours and 45 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission, features interviews with pivotal characters in Musk's life, including his father Errol, ex-wives, and former business associates. According to Gibney, the film aims to reveal the many facets of modern life that are being influenced by Musk, who he considers a danger to society.
Gibney first began the project in 2023, initially planning a more focused look at Musk. However, the film evolved into a more ambitious and extensive project, reflecting the breadth of Musk's influence. 'The story of Musk was not in a way a new tech story,' Gibney said in Venice, adding, 'It's about how one man can shape so many aspects of our lives.
The film traces Musk's journey from his early days as a dot-com-era entrepreneur to his current position as a key figure in the federal government. It includes his involvement in Donald Trump's 2024 campaign and his subsequent entry into the White House, where he has exerted significant influence through his cost-cutting efforts and the controversial 'DOGE' initiative. This led to some observers describing Musk as the 'shadow vice president.
Gibney's documentary taps into pivotal moments in Musk's life, providing a nuanced view of the tech mogul. While there were few new revelations, the film's comprehensive nature makes it a compelling account of Musk's impact. 'When you’re into hundreds of thousands of people who are killed by performative cruelty, it’s really a staggering moral stain on Elon Musk and the federal government,' Gibney argued, expressing his concerns about the current political landscape.
What's still developing
- It left a real mark on Eberhard's mind, since Musk would later take unconditional credit for Tesla's runaway success and anoint himself its sole founder, setting off litigation and an eventual settlement that allowed Eberhard and Musk, along with three others, to all claim the title of co-founders of Tesla Motors.
- Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard remembers having dinner with Elon Musk in the early 2000s, when the billionaire became a key investor in the fledgling electric car company.
- Director Alex Gibney believes those remarks provide a glimpse into who Musk really is: A confidence man who will deceive, gaslight and fabricate to get what he wants.
- I've covered Musk for years, and have been the target of his attacks, so I was initially interested in whether Gibney would dredge up any new revelations, or connect the dots in ways obscured by the steady stream of news about Musk and his many ventures.
- “I reached out immediately… But he clearly wasn’t interested in talking. We made so many formal outreaches to him, and with the exception of his remarks on Twitter, we received nothing back,” Gibney said during a keynote conversation in Toronto.
- “I do worry about the storm clouds on the horizon and the fact that they (HBO) are in the midst of a takeover battle by Paramount. Larry Ellison, who is cited in the film, is one of Elon’s friends and one of the investors in his takeover of Twitter. And his son David Ellison has shown he’ll twist whatever facts are at his disposal in order to please the Capo dei Capi who happens to be the President of the United States,” Gibney said.
Sources
- R Street Institutelink