An Inconvenient Truth Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 06.23.2006
Sometimes the truth hurts.
Featuring:
Al Gore as Himself
Directed by: Davis Guggenheim
Release Date: May 24, 2006
Running Time: 100 minutes
Rated PG for mild thematic elements.
What first springs to mind when one ponders a documentary on global warming starring Al Gore? The thoughts that creep into ones brain will most likely be boredom, tiresome, and uninspiring, when in fact, the resulting emotions are quite the contrary to those unwarranted terms. I felt that I needed to see it, and now that I have watched it, I will continue to urge my peers take 100 minutes out of their monotonous lives, and become enlightened to the danger that is gradually devastating our world. As regular people, many of us go to work, sit in class, and tend to household chores everyday without really concerning ourselves with "the big picture." I am as guilty as anyone. An Inconvenient Truth is not just an important film to see, it is a mandatory film to see. It is not perfect, but it is riveting from start to finish because it submits an absolutely terrifying vision of what is to come.
The film commences with Mr. Gore taking the stage to begin his slide show on global warming. He opens on a humorous note by saying "I'm Al Gore. I used to be the next President of the United States." The first image the audience is shown is the first picture taken of the Earth from space. It was known as "Earth Rise." Thankfully, his message avoids dissidence by making it clear that something needs to be done about global warming now. The "before and after" photos of the prominent glaciers that were once vast and powerful are quite startling. Gore also puts to rest any myths about the issue at hand. The use of various charts and graphs to illustrate various significant points was very instructive and informative. It would be wrong of me to further spoil the statistics and trends he introduces. The data touches home in a way we can all relate to. After staring at his poignant photographs of the environment, and upsetting figures, it is evident that we could be headed for a major catastrophe.
An Inconvenient Truth has two parts, and one is obviously global warming. The other portion deals with Al Gore, the man. After losing the election, he decided that it was time to expand the communication of this understanding of which he has devoted so much time. He has traveled to more than 1000 U.S. cities for his effort over a 20 year period. The biographical segments are beautifully handled, and we get to know Mr. Gore as a child, student, and family man (luckily Tipper is not mentioned), instead of solely a politician. I admired Gore's speech qualities. He was enthusiastic, undaunted, and articulate, while his presentation was well structured, diverse, and invigorating.
One thing bothered me like a nagging fly after the film had concluded, and I had time to contemplate it. A small portion covers the election with President Bush. I understand what point Gore and Director Davis Guggenheim were getting at, but Bush was portrayed as an evil villain similar to a poor campaign advertisement. As this was playing the eerie music was in the background, and I heard a couple of groans from the theater seats. Come on, just the site of the President disgusts you? For the record, I am an Independent, but this reaction was exactly what the filmmakers were aiming to achieve, and honestly I thought that was ridiculous. This is a trivial objection actually. The film could have benefited immensely from a more balanced arrangement on who is responsible for global warming, but as a whole, that flaw is relatively minor.
The camera is graceful and unvarying as it follows Gore across the globe as he is taking notes, working on his computer, and driving through childhood memories. If one were to award a grade based exclusively on direction, Davis Guggenheim would receive a B- in my estimation. For the most part, he deserves a pat on the back. Guggenheim might be a new name many, but rest assured, he has directed numerous episodes of acclaimed televisions shows such as Deadwood, The Shield, and 24. He centers on Gore and displays him talking to us, not at us, and educating rather than lecturing. Besides the subtle shots at Republicans, the majority of this film is fashioned with a respect for the material. The utilization of cartoons and nifty maps causes this report to be sagacious and penetrating.
What was praiseworthy more so than any other facet was Gore's repeated stressing that this is not a political issue, but a morality issue. After viewing this documentary, I feel that Al Gore is a misunderstood person. He wants all of us to pitch in and help resolve this ongoing misfortune. Of course many might be familiar with these facts, and that is great, but this film was created to inform more people. We all live on Earth, and we all have a responsibility to protect its forests, mountains, farms, and so on to better comfort the lives of future generations. True, certain details about global warming are still sketchy, but no one can ignore the evidence that is revealed right in front of our eyes by the former Vice-President. This is an imposing, ambitious, and magnificent achievement regardless of the petty setbacks. Moviegoers have countless choices in terms of what to see this summer from comedies, to dramas, and action, but choosing An Inconvenient Truth will be rewarding, not just because it is absorbing and even suspenseful, but because it is a reason to take initiative sooner rather than later before our world becomes permanently crippled.
The 411: An Inconvenient Truth shows us aspects of the world and Al Gore in a different light. It is a fascinating and compelling film, that is not flawless, but it never meant to be. It was one of those few films in which everyone clapped at the end. I have read that it is on its way to DVD pretty soon. If you don’t see in theaters, I recommend looking for it at the rental store.
