Inconvenient Truth Review

May 30, 2006 2:01 PM
by [email]

If pictures of post-Hurricane Katrina Louisiana aren’t enough to scare you into awareness- at least- of environmental action, Al Gore will. And, refreshingly, with ninety minutes of pertinent information and zero self importance.

Directed by David Guggenheim (of “Deadwood” fame), the smartly titled documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” does mention Gore’s 2000 defeat as it spotlights the former Vice President’s debatably failed campaign; to ignore it, I think, would be more disturbing than to include it.

But don’t let politics scare you away: the drowning polar bears get more screen time. So do frightening predictions (New York underwater) and worrisome glances at rising carbon dioxide emissions. Almost immediately after Bush’s victory, Gore distracted himself - and hundreds of audiences in lecture halls across the country- with his slide show/lecture presentation detailing the dangers of carbon dioxide, the threat of global warning, and, most importantly, what we can do to help.

For fear of rambling, I’ll simply say the facts are in the movie, and Gore is a charming host. The pace slows towards the end, but it picks up with an introduction of the personal- a near fatal accident involving Gore’s young son. That almost-tragedy set led him to pursue a truth as urgent as it was - and is – inconvenient, and to inspire others to save the planet for future generations (the ultimate unselfish act, in my opinion).

While this definitely isn’t a popcorn movie (are movie theater popping methods all that good for the environment?) it works well as a date flick. She’ll be impressed, he’ll be enlightened, and what better way to start an evening than with a film that surely will spark conversation?

Grade: A-
By Jenny Halper