AVERAGE

This limited series came on the heels of Dopesick (2021) and suffered in comparison. Focus lies on an investigator’s (Uzo Aduba) struggle to expose the aggressive and ruthless business tactics behind the Sackler family’s success; we also meet some of the people whose lives are destroyed because of the family’s highly addictive OxyContin drug, and Richard Sackler (Matthew Broderick) himself, who’s haunted by his domineering uncle Arthur (Clark Gregg). Lively, never dull… but also shallow, with annoyingly repetitious dramatic flourishes. The Sacklers come across as evil caricatures, not real people. 

2023-U.S. 286 min. Color. Created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster. Directed by Peter Berg. Cast: Matthew Broderick (Richard Sackler), Uzo Aduba (Edie Flowers), Taylor Kitsch (Glen Kryger), Clark Gregg, West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi.

Trivia: Originally shown in six episodes. Co-executive produced by Berg and Alex Gibney. Based on a New Yorker article and a book by Barry Meier.