Percy Vs Goliath feels like the kind of populist drama that used to be regular big studio fare, but has now been relegated to independent distributors and streaming services. It’s not a particularly complicated picture, nor one that demands much from its audience, but it tells a human story in an accessible way but without talking down to its audience. Based on the true story of a small town Saskatchewan farmer named Percy Schmeiser (Christopher Walken), who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a court case, being accused by a large corporation, Monsanto, of using seeds that contain a pesticide-resistant gene they invented.
Percy insists that he hasn’t stolen anything, and that all the seeds he uses are ones that he has studied and saved over the years. Despite the insistence of others to settle, he agrees to go to court with Jackson (Zach Braff) as his representation, along with the help of Rebecca (Christina Ricci), an environmental activist who squeezes herself into their team. Of course, the journey proves to be quite difficult, not only because they’re facing off against a massive corporation, but also due to Percy’s own stubbornness, and the accusations putting a major stink on his reputation.
The film is an underdog story in the most classic sense. It doesn’t take long before Percy finds himself under the boot of the corporation, taking everything he has, and putting him in debt. Walken is notable for his rather distinctive presence and idiosyncratic vocal mannerisms, which has led to roles where he plays an extension of his public persona. Percy doesn’t feel like that. His performance here is vulnerable, and captures the kind of bitter, weariness you’d expect from a small town farmer. It’s a really good performance, and he carries it well.
It also helps that the supporting cast delivers solid work as well. Ricci brings a lively energy that really stands out, and frankly, it’s just a delight to see her on screen. I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen her in a film. Roberta Maxwell also shines as Louise, Percy’s wife, who also deals in the fallout from Percy’s fight against Monsanto, but pushes through despite the extra stress on their relationship. Other players like Zach Braff, Adam Beach, Luke Kirby, and Martin Donovan do their part, but not enough to really stand out.
Director, Clark Johnson, and the writers, Garfield Lindsay Miller and Hilary Pryor, know to keep things fairly tight and forward moving. Sometimes the economy in storytelling undercuts a few elements, the biggest one being the relationship between Percy and his son, Peter (Luke Kirby), which seems a bit strained, especially considering he has decided not to take part in the family business. The film doesn’t quite do enough to explore their dynamic, touching on it with only the bare minimum of attention, even though a relationship like this would usually be the focal point in a film like this.
Percy Vs Goliath is by no means a stylish film, or even an inventive one, but it is engaging. It relays a message that is always relevant and worth touching on, that of taking a stand against corporate giants who think they can push around the little guy. It doesn’t take long before you buy into Percy’s struggle, and you root for him. It also knows to expand its ideas beyond the scope of Percy’s individual fight and explore how his fight is being felt by farmers around the globe. There’s a short detour where Percy goes to India to talk to some farmers in a seminar before visiting a village with a local farmer. Interestingly enough, India is currently in the midst of what many consider the biggest protest in history, and it’s led by farmers who are fighting against a series of laws, which would leave them without government safety nets and at the mercy of corporations that will likely put them out of business (I am simplifying this quite a bit, I highly recommend reading up about it). As far as Percy Vs Goliath is concerned, it’s a solid picture with a commendable lead performance, and it might come across even better if, like me, you weren’t aware of this story beforehand.
Percy Vs Goliath is now out in select theaters and VOD platforms.