Outside the theatre today, two people in line in front of us were taking their time with the automated ticket machine. One of them asked "What's An Inconvenient Truth?" and the other answered, "Oh, that's Al Gore's PowerPoint presentation." Put that way, I almost didn't want to be seen buying the tickets.In a highly irregular move, I've been watching a lot of movies lately. The latest, of course, being Al Gore's PowerPoint presentation.
It was half depressing, half inspiring. A friend I ran into on the street last week was slightly disturbed that Gore "dumbed down" his lecture, but that was fine with me, since I ususally fall asleep when there's too much science involved in something. But I enjoyed all the data. It was compelling and well-presented. The slightly weird parts were Gore's reminisces about his childhood, his family, and the 2000 election (bad, bad flashbacks when that footage played). I know the point was to humanize him, but it didn't seem to fit.
But in general, the film is preaching to the choir. The partisan comments were disguised as critique of the Bush administration, and ultimately I think that's what makes the film a bit ineffective. People who need to be convinced to change policy and personal habits won't go see a ...PowerPoint presentation... by Al Gore.
At the end of the film, there was a list of ways to take action (set to a cool new Melissa Etheridge song): a website and a ton of suggestions for little ways to make a difference. This one reminded me of a go-getter friend: "Write to Congress. If they won't listen, run for Congress." This one made my sister leap to mind: "If you believe in prayer, pray that people will have the courage to change." (And I think I know what her next birthday present will be, after realizing consumer changes can happen when you switch the frame of reference.
But in the meantime, we should all buy mountaintop property and practice swimming.
3 comments:
don't you think most political documentaries are preaching to the choir? what right-winger is going to line up for Michael Moore? don't know how to change any of that though.t
and what's up with you posting about movies i keep trying to get people to go see but am shot down? this past week people refused me on both superman and inconvenient truth. why am i not in seattle?
Yeah, you're right about documentaries. The ironic thing is that ones of the themes of An Inconvenient Truth was that global warming isn't a political issue, it's a moral one.
Who wouldn't see Superman????????
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