Barbarians at the Gate (1993) Film Review: A Sharp, Satirical Look at Corporate Greed and Power

Barbarians at the Gate (1993), directed by Glenn Jordan and based on the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, is a biting, satirical drama that chronicles one of the most famous corporate battles in American history—the leveraged buyout (LBO) of RJR Nabisco in the late 1980s. Starring James Garner and Jonathan Pryce, the film depicts the high-stakes world of corporate finance, where billion-dollar deals are made and broken with ruthless ambition, backdoor deals, and personal vendettas.

Set against the backdrop of Wall Street's financial frenzy, Barbarians at the Gate offers a fascinating, often comedic, but also sobering look at the excesses and ethical ambiguities of corporate America. It’s a compelling drama about greed, power, and the clash between personal interests and corporate objectives, all told through the lens of the men and women fighting to control one of the largest companies in the world.

The Plot: A Battle for Control of RJR Nabisco

At the center of Barbarians at the Gate is the battle for control of RJR Nabisco, a food and tobacco conglomerate, between its CEO, F. Ross Johnson (James Garner), and a group of corporate raiders led by the infamous financier, Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce), from the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR). The film begins with the announcement that Johnson, after years of questionable management, decides to take RJR Nabisco private by orchestrating an LBO, which would allow him to buy out the company and turn it into a private entity.

However, things quickly take a turn when Kravis and other firms enter the fray, offering a higher bid for the company and launching a full-scale bidding war. As the financial maneuvering becomes more aggressive, the film delves into the personal rivalries, corporate politics, and ethics that drive the deal forward.

The title Barbarians at the Gate refers to the way the Wall Street financiers, including Kravis, were seen by Johnson and other executives of RJR Nabisco. They view these corporate raiders as outsiders—"barbarians"—threatening to dismantle the company for profit. This conflict between the corporate insiders and the outsiders trying to seize control is the central theme of the film.

James Garner’s Charismatic Performance as F. Ross Johnson

James Garner delivers a standout performance as F. Ross Johnson, the charming and often arrogant CEO of RJR Nabisco. Garner’s portrayal of Johnson is both humorous and tragic, capturing the character’s self-confidence, naivety, and eventual downfall. Johnson is a man who believes in his own invincibility and is convinced that he deserves to control the company he helped build, despite his mismanagement of it.

Garner brings an air of likability to Johnson, making him a character who is hard to completely dislike, even though his actions often reflect corporate greed and arrogance. His portrayal is full of energy and wit, making Johnson both a compelling figure and an object of ridicule as his overconfidence leads him into increasingly desperate and foolish moves.

Johnson’s relationship with his colleagues and his perception of the power he holds within RJR Nabisco is at the heart of his character arc. His belief that he can outsmart the competition, despite his lack of awareness about the shifting corporate landscape, adds layers of complexity to the story. Garner’s performance shows the personal toll Johnson’s ambition and sense of entitlement take on him as the battle for the company grows more brutal.

Jonathan Pryce as Henry Kravis: The Ruthless Corporate Raider

Jonathan Pryce plays Henry Kravis, the financier at the helm of KKR, with cold precision and calculating ambition. Kravis is everything Johnson is not—focused, driven, and willing to do whatever it takes to win the deal, even if it means employing morally questionable tactics. Pryce’s portrayal of Kravis is filled with a quiet intensity that makes him both magnetic and unlikable. He embodies the corporate raider archetype—someone who sees companies not as entities to nurture and build but as assets to be stripped for value.

Pryce’s Kravis is deeply pragmatic, motivated solely by the desire to make a deal and maximize profit, showing little concern for the human element of the corporations he takes over. The tension between his detached professionalism and the personal cost of his decisions plays a crucial role in making Kravis a compelling, if morally ambiguous, figure.

Themes of Corporate Greed, Power, and Ethics

At its core, Barbarians at the Gate is a story about the excesses and moral compromises that come with corporate power. The film takes a critical look at the culture of Wall Street in the 1980s, where financial success and the pursuit of wealth often came at the expense of ethical considerations. The battle over RJR Nabisco becomes a symbol for the larger issues of corporate America—greed, manipulation, and the prioritization of profit over people.

The film highlights the ethical ambiguities of the LBO process, showing how the personal interests of the various parties involved often overshadow the well-being of the company and its employees. The executives involved in the deal view themselves as businessmen making savvy financial decisions, while the public and employees are left in the wake of these high-stakes games.

Another key theme in the film is the nature of corporate ownership and control. Johnson and Kravis represent two different visions for how companies should be managed—Johnson’s vision of ownership as a personal right and Kravis’s view of ownership as a financial asset. The film suggests that, in a world dominated by big money and corporate takeovers, the human element often gets lost, leaving behind a wake of destruction, regardless of who “wins.”

The Satirical Tone: Humor Amidst the High-Stakes Drama

Despite the serious subject matter, Barbarians at the Gate maintains a satirical and often comedic tone, particularly in its portrayal of the corporate world’s absurdities. The film is not just a dry account of a financial transaction but a sharp commentary on the personalities and behaviors that drive such transactions. The executives are depicted as both comically out of touch and deeply flawed, often making ridiculous decisions driven by vanity, ego, and greed.

The humor in the film helps to balance its darker themes, offering an engaging and sometimes ironic look at the corporate world. The film’s lighthearted approach to the subject matter allows it to remain accessible, while still providing a scathing critique of the excesses and failures of corporate culture.

The Film’s Cinematic Style and Direction

Bennett Miller’s direction ensures that Barbarians at the Gate remains engaging and visually dynamic, even though much of the action takes place in boardrooms and office spaces. The pacing of the film is tight, with the narrative moving quickly from one dramatic moment to the next. The cinematography is clean and professional, reflecting the business-oriented setting of the story, but Miller also incorporates moments of tension and drama that highlight the stakes of the deal.

The screenplay, adapted from Bryan Burrough and John Helyar’s book, balances factual accuracy with engaging dialogue and humor. The film’s script effectively conveys the complexities of the financial world while keeping the characters and their motivations at the forefront, making it both educational and entertaining.

Conclusion: A Smart, Entertaining Corporate Drama

Barbarians at the Gate is a fascinating and sharp critique of corporate greed and the ruthless pursuit of wealth, told through the lens of one of the most infamous business battles in American history. With stellar performances from James Garner and Jonathan Pryce, a witty script, and a compelling narrative, the film provides both an engaging look at the world of finance and a satirical commentary on the personal and ethical costs of corporate ambition.

By blending humor with drama and offering a behind-the-scenes look at the financial world, Barbarians at the Gate succeeds in making a complex subject matter accessible and entertaining. It’s a film that explores the intersection of power, wealth, and morality, and leaves the audience reflecting on the true cost of corporate success.