Idea Bulb: A stock image of one is shown before we see Skilling's face.This lead to the International division signing hundreds of dogshit deals to build power plants across the world, most of which lost money. The book contains even more details of the criminality and dysfunction at Enron, most notably the ridiculous compensation system that the International division's originators had, where they were paid bonuses based on the claimed value of the deals they landed, rather than whether they actually made Enron any money. Film of the Book: The film is based on the book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.Fanservice Extra: A bunch of naked strippers in the scene where people talk about Lou Pai's fondness for strip clubs.Evil Tower of Ominousness: Enron's former highrise in Houston is certainly shot as if it were one.This is slightly at odds with the book, which notes that plenty of Enron businesses did make real profits - pipelines and wholesale trading for example - and that Enron until 1996 was a fairly ordinary energy firm, albeit one that contained the seeds of its future destruction. Evil, Inc.: Enron is portrayed in the film as a criminal enterprise since its inception in The '80s.Evil Genius: Andrew Fastow, what with his labyrinthine "partnerships.".Driven to Suicide: The film begins with a dramatic reenactment of the suicide of Enron executive Cliff Baxter.To add insult to injury, on-screen text at the close of the film tells us how regular Enron employees lost thousands in savings while the people responsible for their predicament walked away with millions in bonuses.Downer Ending: Made obvious from the tagline: "Come see where all your money went.".Disproportionate Retribution: Corporate legend attests Pai once banished an executive to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for making a bad joke.In the commentary, Gibney said that the use of the Tom Waits song "What's He Building In There?" from Mule Variations at the start of the film could alternately apply to Ken Lay, Jeffrey Skilling, or Andy Fastow. Diabolical Mastermind: All of the major Enron figures, in his own way, could be considered one.The film does portray them somewhat sympathetically by showing what led up to the scandal, though it never outright excuses anything. Corrupt Corporate Executive: Everyone.Corporate Samurai: Pai was this to Skilling and Enron, and not because of his Asian ethnicity.The entirety of Skilling's trading business was based on the accounting version of this from the beginning.Blatant Lies: On the part of Lay when he insists the company is in good financial condition.Big Red Devil: Trader Tim Belden dressed as one at a Halloween party.Berserk Button: Do not remind Skilling that Enron does not provide a balance sheet or cash flow statement.This created the impression that Enron had lots of supply, giving Muckleroy and his team time to unwind Enron's position and limit their exposure from $1bn+ to a manageable $200m. Muckleroy therefore bought eight million barrels of oil and called round the big oil trading houses offering to sell them. If other firms found out how desperate Enron was, they would surely demand Enron post collateral it didn't have to cover its positions, bankrupting the company. Thanks to crooked traders, Enron found itself on the hook for billions of dollars of hydrocarbons it couldn't possibly deliver. Backup Bluff: The book explains that this is how Mike Muckleroy dug Enron out of the enormous hole created by the 1987 Valhalla scandal.Richard Grubman of the hedge fund Highfield Capital asking for a cash flow statement and balance sheet for Enron's Q1 2001 earnings, prompting the famous "asshole" response.Armor-Piercing Question: Bethany MacLean's article: "Is Enron Overpriced?".Arc Words: "Ask why," Enron's slogan at its peak as well as a reflection on the internal corruption that plagued the company.