Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo stars in Dark Waters, a tense legal drama now available on BBC iPlayer. Released in 2019 and directed by Todd Haynes, the film is based on the true story of lawyer Robert Bilott, whose investigation into a major corporation uncovers a deeply unsettling cover-up with life-changing consequences.
Plot and Cast
Written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan, the film draws inspiration from Nathaniel Rich's 2016 New York Times Magazine article, The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare. Alongside Mark Ruffalo, the cast features Anne Hathaway and Victor Garber, delivering performances that elevate the gripping narrative.
Fans of true-life dramas and whistleblower stories such as Spotlight, The Post, and Dirty Business are likely to find Dark Waters very compelling. Viewers have called it 'spectacular' and praised Ruffalo's performance, with some saying he deserved an Oscar.
Story Synopsis
The film follows corporate environmental defence attorney Rob Bilott, who has just made partner at his prestigious Cincinnati law firm, largely due to his work defending Big Chem companies. He becomes conflicted after being contacted by two West Virginia farmers who believe the local DuPont plant is dumping toxic waste in a nearby landfill, destroying their fields and killing their cattle.
With help from his supervising partner Tom Terp, Bilott files a complaint that marks the beginning of an epic 15-year fight—one that tests his relationship with his wife Sarah, his reputation, his health, and his livelihood.
Speaking on The View in 2019, Mark Ruffalo described the true events behind the film as 'probably one of the greatest cover-ups in American history, and it affects everyone in the world now, and nobody knows about it.'
Dark Waters is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
